By Joseph Lamour and Tom Llamas - NBC News
Grandmothers occupy a special place in many families, especially Latinas, where the grandmother is often the link that holds households together, making it easier for their members to pursue the American dream without forgetting where they come from.
On TODAY's Tuesday, journalist and host Tom Llamas spoke with women who bring the lessons their grandmothers taught to new audiences: some use that inspiration for comedy shows and others to boost culinary projects.
A Cuban-American woman who grew up in Miami uses her childhood experiences as the basis for an alter ego that has become popular on social media. The character, 'Abuela', is a creation of actress and producer Jenny Lorenzo in homage to her Cuban grandmother.
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"It's funny, because when I met my friends' grandmothers, I thought, 'They're all the same. What's going on?" said Lorenzo. "A lot of it is due to facial expressions. Especially his judgmental looks. It pierces your soul."
Lorenzo's more than 232,000 subscribers on the YouTube platform and her more than 261,000 followers on the social network Instagram have seen her take her character to extremes with which they can identify, racking up millions of views in the process.
Viewers can laugh and empathize with her when she rushes to administer flu remedies, enjoy a Thanksgiving meal, and show what happens when a grandmother's meal is refused.
Ani Mezerhane (when she was a baby) and her grandmother. Ani Mezerhane / TODAY
Humor isn't the only way to honor grandmothers in the digital age. Abuela's Cuban Counter, a culinary website, wants to create a space where techniques and recipes can be shared with a wider audience.
Chef Ani Mezerhane and attorney Cristina Bustamante help their followers learn how to cook authentic Cuban food by posting recipes on their website and social media.
"It came from an idea we had during COVID-19, passing on recipes and trying to keep all the traditions we grew up with alive," Mezerhane explained. "I would always sit at my grandmother's table and watch her cook and bring all those recipes to life."
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From black beans to ham croquettes, these meals connect Mezerhane and Bustamante to their childhood, family and grandmothers, whose recipes they now share with crowds.
"There's a lot of tradition in the kitchen, and I think we both connect with that," Bustamante explained. "We both felt there was more than one community to discover that would resonate with more than just us."
"Every time I cook I feel that a piece of it is with me and that I can pass it on to my children," Bustamante continued. "And I think that's what she always wanted."
Mezerhane and Bustamante.TODAY
To celebrate the love for grandmothers, Lorenzo — dressed as 'Abuela' — met with Mezerhane and Bustamante to try some of their dishes.
"I know those girls' grandmothers taught them how to cook," Lorenzo said. He also approved black beans. "How delicious!" he said after tasting a bite.
In the spirit of honoring the grandmothers of then and now, Llamas invited his mother, Lisette, who is now the grandmother of the journalist's three children: Malena, Juliette and Thomas.
"Do you feel a responsibility to be the guardian of the family legend... of the whole history of Cuba so far?" he asked his mother.
"Without a doubt," she replied. "I have begun to instill love for Cuba and love for this country that has opened its doors to us... to respect your country above all else and to never forget where you come from."
An original version of this story was first published in Today.com.