Abigail Borrego, founder of Abichuela Mágica in Sioux City, Iowa. Photo by Jasmín Adriana González.
Abigail Borrego rebuilt her custom baking business after moving from Mexico to the United States, finally finding a home for Abichuela Mágica in Sioux City.
By Maria Arriaga
When Abigail Borrego arrived in the United States, she left behind much more than her life in Monterrey, Nuevo León. She also moved away from her family, friends, and the people who already knew her talent for transforming cakes and cookies into colorful, creative works of art. Immigrating meant starting over without a support network, without customers, and with a language barrier standing in her way.
Originally from Veracruz, Abigail founded Abichuela Mágica Cake Shop in Monterrey in late 2018. Although she studied Business Management Engineering, she had felt a special connection to cooking and baking since childhood. Through her business, she found a way to pursue what she truly loved, develop her creativity, manage her own time, and remain close to her family.
Starting Over in the United States
Her arrival in the United States, however, was marked by uncertainty. Her husband’s job took the family first to Wichita, Kansas, and later to other cities. Over approximately a year and a half, they moved three or four times. Each time Abigail began building a customer base, another move arrived, forcing her to say goodbye and start again in an unfamiliar place.
“It was a year when I cried a lot,” she recalls. “I didn’t know anyone, and I wanted to continue doing what I loved.”
The family finally found stability when they settled in Sioux City, Iowa. Abigail arrived with her talent, her Mexican roots, and a strong determination to move forward, but once again, she did not know a single person. Building a business there meant learning new regulations, completing food-handling courses, navigating the language barrier, and convincing strangers to trust her work.
The First Customer Who Believed in Her
Abigail remembers her first sale with emotion. Liz’s brother ordered a birthday cake from her when she was just getting started. That purchase represented much more than an order. It was the first sign that her dream could still have a place in this new country.
“You were the first person who believed in me when I arrived here,” Abigail reminds Liz whenever she returns to order a cake for herself or her son. Over the years, that first purchase became a lasting relationship built on quality, trust, and creativity.
Little by little, pictures of Abigail’s custom cakes and cookies began attracting attention on social media. Her use of color and attention to detail made her work stand out. Her Mexican roots also became a strength, allowing her to incorporate the flavors, traditions, and visual richness of a culture that celebrates life through food.
Recognizing the Value of Her Work
Growth brought Abigail an essential lesson: she had to recognize the value of her own work. At first, some people considered her prices too high, and she wondered whether she should charge less to attract customers. Over time, she understood that every creation requires hours of preparation, knowledge, materials, and an artistic vision that cannot simply be replaced.
“You have to value your work and all the time you dedicate to it,” she says. “You should not diminish its worth.”
Abichuela Mágica operates primarily through social media and advance orders. Abigail specializes in creative, personalized baking. What she enjoys most is receiving an invitation or general concept and being given the freedom to imagine a unique design.
The business name also preserves a piece of her identity. “Abichuela” was the nickname her friends gave her in Monterrey, while her husband suggested adding “Mágica” to describe what she could create.
A Business That Became a Refuge
Behind every product are early mornings, sacrifices, and hours of work that customers do not always see. Yet being a home baker has allowed Abigail to remain involved in her children’s lives while running her business. Although entrepreneurship requires her to divide her time between work and family, it also gives her the freedom to be a present mother.
Abigail Borrego of Abichuela Mágica in Sioux City, Iowa. Photo by Jasmín Adriana González.
“I have always said that my business saved me,” she shares. “It became my therapy through many different experiences, especially while starting over in another country.”
For Abigail, success does not necessarily mean opening a large bakery or operating multiple locations. Her dream is to grow without sacrificing the freedom to create, manage her time, and remain close to her family. She also wants her children to understand that they can choose a path that inspires them and gives them a sense of fulfillment.
Today, she hopes to inspire other Latinas to trust their talents, even when they are far from home or must start over more than once. Her advice is simple: “Do it even if you are afraid. Just do it.”
Abichuela Mágica demonstrates that you do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes, you only need to recognize the value of what you carry within and find the courage to build, far from home, a new place where you belong.
More stories: Read more profiles from JEFAS Magazine.
