“Ah bueno, yo siempre ando arreglada — tu sabe,” she said.

Odalis Bolivar, 53, said she never leaves her house without makeup on — she always tries to fix herself up. One must not let herself go, she pointed out.

On this bright Friday afternoon, Bolivar sat at a table outside Orlando Latin Market. She was dressed more casual than usual, but her brown eyelids had a pop of blue on them. Her lips were red, matching her shirt. A month ago, she wanted a change and dyed her hair a vibrant red.

“I can’t let myself fall even when my defense is down,” she said.

(LISTEN: Bolivar speaks in Spanish about keeping her spirits up and the stresses of the job hunt in the below audio clip)

Bolivar is known around the bodega for her personality. She’s got chispa — spark. She speaks slowly, but it’s not a cautious slow. It’s a Cuban drawl. Her voice is low but rises sharply throughout a sentence.

“I don’t know a lot of English but I can at least defend myself,” she said.

Bolivar is currently unemployed and has been hunting for a job for some time. It’s a vicious cycle she’s in — she goes to places, applies for jobs, and hasn’t heard back from any. She said she’s often told her English proficiency isn’t enough for the job. It’s been a rough time, but Bolivar keeps both her appearance and spirits up.

“Go out, dress up! Fix yourself up. Put on the best from the little you have,” she advised other women. “It’s important because this country is very stressful. There’s a lot of stress here.”