Noche de Pendejadas with Alannized

Episode: Chow Baby Talks All: Working at 14, Bullying, Break Up, Drama, CHISME & MORE!!
Date: February 20, 2026
Host: Alannized
Guest: Jocelyn Peña aka Ciao Baby

Episode Overview

This episode features internet personality and viral TikTok creator Jocelyn Peña, known as "Ciao Baby," in a wide-ranging, heartfelt, and at times hilarious conversation with host Alannized. They explore Jocelyn’s journey from her childhood, early work experiences, struggles with bullying and self-image, the origins of her internet persona and catchphrases, her recent messy breakup, and balancing influencer life with personal growth and aspirations. Mixing Spanglish and candid honesty, Jocelyn shares advice, chisme, and stories of resilience.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introducing Ciao Baby

• Jocelyn opens up about her busy day: working at Infinite Glow, prepping for the podcast, and her livestream plans.
  • Quote: "I did go ahead and get my nails done as well as my lashes. And I actually was working for like two hours at Infinite Glow. And after the podcast, I am going to be streaming..." (02:31)
• Host and guest acknowledge that on TikTok, people only see the energetic “Ciao Baby,” while livestreams allow for a more authentic, nuanced version of Jocelyn.

2. Upbringing and Dance Life

• Jocelyn shares growing up in West Covina with three sisters and one brother. Dance was a central part of childhood and a source of bonding and joy.
  • Supported by a dance teacher who provided opportunities despite family’s financial struggles.
  • Eventually left dance due to a toxic environment and mockery from teammates over her TikTok persona.
  • Sacrificing dance was a difficult but necessary decision for her peace of mind.
  • Quote: "It was, like, a really hard decision for me. But my dance teacher...did provide that for me and my sisters. So...it was a hard decision since everything was fully paid, but I just couldn't keep dancing because I felt like I didn't really belong there anymore." (07:32)

3. Family, Strict Parents, and Immigrant Experience

• Describes a strict but loving home life, close relationships with siblings, and the difficulty of opening up to parents about bullying or personal struggles.
• Shares her parents' sacrifices as immigrants, including her dad working in construction since 15 and both enduring hard economic times, especially during COVID.
• Early sense of pressure to succeed came from seeing parents’ sacrifices.
  • Example: Started working at 14 via LA Youth Program, after selling cookies and running yard sales to help her family when she couldn’t find “normal” jobs due to her age.
  • Quote: "I started selling cookies. I would wake up at 5am...I was able to see, like, how much sacrifice that they made for me and my siblings." (10:13)

4. The Disney Audition & Childhood Dreams

• Auditioned for Disney at age 6 and was the only one in her family accepted, but couldn’t pursue the opportunity because her family couldn’t afford acting classes and coaching.
• Recalls processing disappointment young but choosing to believe "everything happens for a reason."
  • Selena Gomez was her idol and inspiration to act.
  • Quote: "I just wanted to meet Selena Gomez because Selena Gomez was an actor at the time, so. Yeah." (13:49)

5. Early Work & Responsibility

• At 14, began working at Infinite Glow, a makeup store, initially feeling embarrassed and trying to hide her job from peers.
• Balancing work, school, and social life meant sacrificing typical high school experiences (e.g., missing football games).
  • Quote: “Me working at 14 years old,...it was kind of not embarrassing, but it was like, something that a lot of people didn’t have.” (20:11)

6. Bullying & Self-Image

• Bullied from a young age for her looks, clothing, and fitting in (“trends like fidget spinners, chokers”).
• Internalized bullying led to self-harm and deep insecurities, but a pivotal promise to herself to never let others make her feel that way again.
  • Quote: "...so with that being in my head, I started scratching myself. I have a lot of scars without makeup because I was scratching myself..." (24:00)
• Shares how bullying built resilience, especially in facing online hate and cyberbullying as an influencer.
• First-hand experience with cyberbullying, including a classmate sexualizing her online, police intervention, and turning to family and her sisters for support.
  • Quote: "I bring, like, cyberbullying as, like, a really big attention because...I know a lot of people do, like, unfortunately, like, die because of that." (33:11)

7. Advice for Those Being Bullied

• Encourages seeking help and stresses that “there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
  • Quote: "Honestly, if you're getting bullied right now, like, I would recommend reaching out to someone that you really do trust. And if you...have thoughts of...suicide, like, getting help...You matter in this world, and anybody can make it." (33:55)

8. “Chola Era” and Identity Crisis

• Talks about adopting a “chola” persona in middle school to fit in, complete with makeup, straight hair, and baggy clothes.
• This phase brought temporary popularity, but also negative stereotypes from teachers/admin and problems (like getting into fights and being suspended).
• A fight and getting “snuck” at the mall forced reflection and a decision to change.
  • Quote: "That did not change me. I came back to school and I was like, oh, like, are you ready to fight today or no." (43:14)

9. Academics & Valedictorian Journey

• Despite the external persona, Jocelyn was always a “smart baddie,” becoming 8th grade valedictorian and later juggling high school with college courses and influencer work.
• Her speech detailed evolving from a “wannabe” to striving for more, wanting to “be better, more successful than someone that is hood.”
  • Quote: "I was actually the valedictorian of my eighth grade. Yes, you heard that right, child. Baby, was it out of anyone going, growing up, I've always, always, always, always been smart." (48:20)

10. Juggling Influencer Life, Work, and School

• Shares her disciplined approach to scheduling and consistent hard work to make school, work, and content creation all happen.
  • Quote: "You have to lock in. I have to lock in in order for me to finish my work on time before I have to go to work." (51:01)
• Pushes against the stereotype that influencers give up on education, taking pride in keeping all doors open.

11. Origins of “Chao Baby, Where the Papas At?”

• The “Ciao Baby” catchphrase originated from her mom and a Jenny Rivera concert; became famous after she improvised it in a video collab.
• The “where the papas at?” phrase was trending, and she combined it for her brand.
  • Now in the process of trademarking “Ciao Baby.”
  • Quote: "Let me do my big one right now. You know what? Hold on. I was like a really fast thinker, and I was like, you know what? I have a good idea. Let me just, like, come up to you and be like, ciao, baby, where the papa is at? So I went up to him and everybody in the comments started going crazy." (54:47)

12. Viral Persona vs. Real Self; Rage-Bait Content

• Explains the difference between her exaggerated, rage-bait TikTok persona and her actual personality.
• Sees hate and backlash as engagement and “fire” for her grind, while learning to disconnect emotionally from hate.
  • Quote: "For me, I feel like it does fuel me up. It's like the fire...since I, like, always, like, got bullied, like, I don't really pay attention to it because I feel like you really need to disconnect if you want to become an influencer." (62:03)

13. Advice for Aspiring Influencers

• Encourages ignoring naysayers, being relentless, and staying committed once you find your niche.
  • Quote: “A piece of advice...is to definitely not care what other people have to say, because at the end of the day, if you want to do something, you can do it. Just keep going, keep doing it.” (63:19)

14. Relationship Drama & Public Breakup

• Shares details of her recent, very public relationship and breakup:
  • Relationship grew toxic, boyfriend controlling and insecure about her online persona and collaborations with guys.
  • Discovered he was cheating after seeing his messages, leading to an emotional confrontation, streamed for all to see.
  • Breakup followed by her ex slandering her online.
  • Jocelyn describes initial humiliation and doubt, nearly quitting social media, but ultimately finding support and feeling empowered.
  • Quote: "Honestly when I saw it, I kind of like confronted him about it...like, you know, like why are you texting her? ...I kind of took it back and I was like, you know what, Let me just get off stream." (68:43)
  • Healing involved remembering her worth, focusing on goals, and relying on her supporters/community.

15. Looking to the Future

• In 5 years, Jocelyn sees herself owning a house, acting (specifically on Netflix), and possibly returning to dance—proud of buying her own car outright as a milestone.
  • Quote: "It's crazy to think that, like, this little girl that literally came from nothing is basically accomplishing everything that she dreamed of. And I want to say, like, next five years, I definitely see myself acting specifically on Netflix..." (75:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Resilience:
  • “There's always light at the end of the tunnel.” (33:55, Jocelyn)
• On Her Persona:
  • "People really think that I'm, like, dumb or, like, they think that, like, since I am annoying or like, I'm rage baiting, people think I have no brain." (48:20, Jocelyn)
• On Hate/Engagement:
  • “Any hate is good hate because, I mean, like, they're still giving me attention…” (27:50, Jocelyn)
• On Advice to Creators:
  • “If all these influencers can do it, so can I.” (52:52, Alannized paraphrasing Jocelyn’s mentality)
• Post-breakup Philosophy:
  • “If you have a guy who’s controlling and toxic and is kind of holding you back, I would say just leave him. There’s so many more out there.” (72:51, Jocelyn)

Important Timestamps

• 02:31 – Jocelyn’s busy daily routine and intro to her schedule
• 05:13 – Childhood and dance team memories
• 10:13 – Family sacrifice, immigrant upbringing, and early hustles
• 20:11 – First work experiences at 14
• 24:00 – The impact of bullying and internal struggles
• 33:55 – Jocelyn’s advice to those being bullied
• 35:10 – Her middle school “chola era”
• 48:20 – Becoming 8th grade valedictorian
• 51:01 – Balancing work, school, and influencer life
• 54:47 – Origins of “Ciao Baby, where the papas at?”
• 62:03 – Managing online hate and defining her persona
• 63:19 – Advice for aspiring influencers
• 64:45 – The public breakup and aftermath
• 75:02 – Five-year goals and ambitions
• 76:33 – Jocelyn closes the show with her signature “Ciao, baby!”

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a candid, irreverent, and supportive tone—mixing Spanglish, humor, vulnerability, and tough honesty. Jocelyn’s and Alannized’s banter keeps the conversation lively, affirming, and relatable—especially for young audiences and those navigating similar struggles.

Summary Recap

Jocelyn Peña’s story is one of hustle, resilience, and authenticity—balancing the demands of internet fame with education, family, and past traumas. Her energy, honesty, and self-awareness make this episode both compelling and inspirational, with practical advice for anyone facing bullying, pursuing creative dreams, or healing from toxic relationships.

[For more chisme, drama, and influencer stories, follow Noche de Pendejadas and @alannized on all platforms.]