A 20-year-old Cuban girl went viral on TikTok by proudly showcasing the modest home she acquired on the island, defying the criticisms from those who mocked her circumstances. Ana Leyla (@ayla41618) published the video on her TikTok profile at the end of August, and the clip has garnered over 67,700 views, 6,427 likes, and 434 comments.
In the one minute and 27 seconds video, Ana Leyla walks through her house and candidly acknowledges the situation: "I know my house is not pretty, but I’m not going to take offense to that. You have no idea the joy I felt when I bought my own space where my privacy would be respected, where my family could be at ease, and where my son could be happy."
The young woman, a mother of one and in a relationship, explains that her home is almost empty of furniture: "I don't have anything at all, just a couple of little things, but you all know that earning money here in Cuba is quite difficult."
To support her household, Ana Leyla works as a digital content creator: "I'm working on social media and little by little I've been able to earn some things; I'm not in a rush. I know that patience is key, and that's the first thing I need to have because I'm young."
Her most powerful message points directly to the reality faced by thousands of Cubans: "In the society we live in, being poor is a defect. Living surrounded by scarcity in a country that is a challenge every day and confronting increasingly larger problems each day is difficult, but I am grateful and I continue to fight day after day."
It is not the first time that Ana Leyla sparks debate on social media. Last July, the young woman responded to accusations of jineterismo to buy her house, appearing in a video sweeping in front of the unfinished block construction and claiming her effort and dedication; that clip surpassed 17,500 views.
Other Cuban content creators have also shared on social media the conditions of the homes they have lived in. In August, the Cuban tiktoker known as "Milenita" was applauded for showing the wooden house where she lived since birth, garnering over 443,000 views. In May, the tiktoker Diego García del Prado showcased the first home he purchased in Cuba for 2,500 dollars thanks to his digital earnings.
For some young Cubans, TikTok has become a source of foreign currency income that allows them to access modest properties and share those everyday achievements in content that generates both admiration and scrutiny.
Ana Leyla concluded her video with a statement that encapsulates her stance on the criticisms: "There are many, and worse, like these here where I live, and I feel that I am more than grateful."
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