Yvonne and Yvette Rodriguez are identical twins that grew up in South Miami Heights, Florida. The two women have been referred to as the “First Ladies” of cigars by some because theywere among the first women to launch their own cigar brand in the U.S. This is a title that they acknowledge but don’t necessarily claim because they’re well aware of the important and historic role that women have played in the cigar industry for several generations. “It is the women who are rolling [cigars]. Women have always had a huge part in the industry,” says Yvonne. “Every cigar has the sweat of a woman in it,” adds Yvette. “Women have always been involved; it’s just never been showcased.” Cigars have long been viewed as being part of a male-dominated lifestyle, but one can’t deny the integral role women have played in cigar making over the years. It was during a trip to Cuba that the Rodriguez sisters saw this in action. There in the factories were women making cigars. They were involved in many of the different processes included in cigarmaking, from de-veining the tobacco leaves down to rolling the final product. What the Rodriguez sisters also realized was that these women they saw at work in the factories were Afro-Cuban women, but their contributions to the craft often went unnoticed and unacknowledged. Their stories were left untold. Yvonne and Yvette Rodriguez were born to Rafael and Nerida Rodriguez. Their parents were born in Cuba, a country known for its strong and deep roots in tobacco, cigar making and rum. Cuba is also known for its oppressive government that forces many Cubans to adopt a “by any means necessary” mentality. This resolve pushes many Cubans to become entrepreneurs as they work toward doing whatever it takes to take care of themselves and their families. Resolve and the desire to persevere are qualities Yvonne and Yvette grew up with and what inspired their own entrepreneurial pursuit. Rafael and Nerida were no different. Rafael was a Cuban national who defected during a trip to Panama. Nerida also escaped Cuba in 1969 on one of the famed freedom flights. It was Rafael and Nerida’s resolve and their overall persistence that inspired their children to become entrepreneurs and creative problem solvers of their own. “With my parents, for any little thing, they can fix it,” Yvette explains. “My dad was a professional soccer player in Cuba. Now he is like a master carpenter. He’s worked on boats here in Miami. For years and years and years, we’ve grown up owning a boat, and he makes anything out of everything. We have that in us too. Our hobby as children was to create and to make anything into a business.” Another important family member that would shape and mold the two sisters into who they are today was their grandmother, Esperanza. While their mother was always thinking about business and was rarely seen without a fresh manicure and her signature pressed linens, their grandmother was hardly ever seen without a cigar and was what the sisters describe as being a bit more rugged. Though these two women were opposites in some instances, they both taught Yvonne and Yvette what it means to be a feminist and to always embrace their heritage. As the two sisters grew up, they incorporated more of what their parents and grandmother taught them and found different ways of applying it to their professions and their businesses. The Evolution of a Side Hustle Risk-taking has never been a problem for either sister. Both turned toward entrepreneurship as they entered the workforce and sought out fulfillment from their professions. Both sisters also had careers in Y Tres Lindas Cubanas consists of three different cigar blends, including La Negrita, an oscuro maduro cigar with spicy and sweet notes. 64 TOBACCO BUSINESS | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER | 22
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