Lisandra Vázquez

Finding her Boricua Voice in the Heart of the South

By Daniela Cintron

Published May 22, 2025
Last Updated May 23, 2025

For Lisandra Vázquez, comedy isn’t just about punchlines — it’s about perspective. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and raised between Ohio, Florida, Los Angeles and now Atlanta, Vázquez has built her career and her identity in the spaces between cultures, coasts and expectations. And through it all, one thing has remained constant: her Boricua essence.

“I love being Puerto Rican,” she says, “but it’s been a journey.” Like many Puerto Ricans born on the island, Vázquez has spent her life navigating the complexities of belonging — part of the United States, but not quite of it. “I’ve always kind of felt like an insider, but also still an outsider,” she reflects. That duality, she says, shapes both her worldview and her comedy. “It helps me be in the scenario, but also comment on it because I’m always a little on the outside.”

Her gift for social observation and satire is sharpened by that in-betweenness. As a comedian, she leans into her ability to “shape shift,” which is a result of growing up Latina in predominantly white spaces. “I don’t have an accent when I speak English, I’m more light-skinned and I dress like someone who works in marketing and listens to murder podcasts before bed,” she jokes. “So I can kind of be a chameleon.”

But that adaptability wasn’t always empowering. For years, she was told to change, be “more this” or “less that,” to fit into an industry mold that didn’t know what to do with a woman who was proudly Puerto Rican and unapologetically herself. It wasn’t until recent years, watching artists like Bad Bunny rewrite the rules, that she felt a shift. “His work gives us permission to just be ourselves. If you don’t understand me, too bad. That’s the energy,” she says.

After more than a decade in Los Angeles, that spirit led her to Atlanta in 2021. She was drawn by the city’s cultural energy, its growing film and comedy scene, and its proximity to Puerto Rico. “I didn’t want to be in New York. I’m not trying to be cold; LA had run its course. Atlanta just made sense,” she explains. “The airport’s good, the industry is thriving and it’s a place where my voice can actually have an impact.”

Moving to Georgia in the wake of Stacey Abrams’ rise on the political scene and the political shift of 2020 felt purposeful. “I wanted to be in a place where my progressive voice could actually make a difference, not just add to a sea of blue,” she says. And the move didn’t just benefit her activism; it reshaped her artistry. “In LA, I was always being told to tweak who I was. In Atlanta, I just get to show up as myself. And as long as I contribute, that’s what matters.”

Today, Vázquez is part of a tight-knit comedy community performing in venues like The Laughing Skull and Smith’s Olde Bar, where mutual support is part of the culture. “If you come here, show up and do the work, you will find community,” she says. “These comedians, they’re like family now.”

Beyond the stage, being in Atlanta means reconnecting with her heritage in new ways. “There are more Puerto Rican restaurants here than in LA,” she laughs. “I’m closer to home. I’m closer to my people. And I feel like my uniqueness — my Boricuaness — is celebrated here.”

For Lisandra Vázquez, being Puerto Rican isn’t a gimmick or an aesthetic; it’s her foundation. It’s her voice, her joy, her commentary and her truth. And in Atlanta, she’s finally found a city where she can be all that and more.

Meet other Puerto Rican creatives in Atlanta.

Daniela is the content manager and bilingual editor for Discover Atlanta. As an award-winning bilingual journalist, she is passionate about shinning light on untold stories about culture, food and Atlanta.