Alexander Puga has earned international awards and led creative projects that reached millions of viewers and listeners. But the Miami storyteller measures success by something more personal than recognition or reach.
“If something I've created helps even one young LGBTQ+ person feel a little less alone or a little more confident in who they are, that's a success no award or view count could ever surpass,” Puga said.
Puga, 26, is bisexual and serves as Content Creation Director at PRISM. His work combines creativity, pop culture and advocacy, producing stories and campaigns designed to educate and empower LGBTQ youth.
That purpose emerged before he fully understood his own identity. As a closeted television production student in high school, Puga found himself drawn to stories with queer themes. Those themes continued through college as he learned more about himself.
“My identity doesn't just influence the work I create, it gives it purpose,” he said. “I know firsthand how powerful it can be to see yourself reflected in media, and that's what motivates me to create content that informs, empowers, and reminds young queer people that they belong.”
For Puga, being out means embracing every part of oneself, including what is good, messy and complicated. Self-acceptance, he said, allows people to build meaningful connections and stop letting fear of judgment dictate their choices.
Visibility also creates possibility.
“Every person who chooses to live openly helps create a world where authenticity is celebrated instead of questioned,” he said. “That's how change happens: one person embracing who they are gives someone else the courage to embrace themselves too.”
His advice to LGBTQ youth acknowledges that growth is rarely orderly. Setbacks, heartbreak and uncertainty may feel overwhelming, but they do not define an entire story. Puga urges young people to find support, accept love and give themselves grace while their dreams evolve.
“Growth isn't about having everything figured out, it's about learning to adapt, staying true to yourself, and continuing to move forward,” he said.
Puga is also preparing for a major personal milestone: marrying his partner, Santiago, whom he calls his biggest supporter and rock.
His motto, “Memento Vivere or Remember to Live,” reflects a career and life built around purpose, connection and refusing to let meaningful moments pass unnoticed.
