Baking a Dream: How Yazmin Maestre Turned Passion into Purpose with Luna’s Deli
- Alicia Thompson
- Jul 26
- 3 min read
When Yazmin Maestre arrived in Australia, her plan was simple: improve her English and continue her career in luxury hotels just for a year.
But life in Australia had other plans.
Over time, Yazmin began to feel the pull toward something more meaningful, more personal — something she could shape on her own terms.
“What motivated me to start a business was the freedom I could see coming — the freedom to create a balanced life, to start a family, to set my own schedule, not be tied to fixed holidays, and to build something aligned with my values.”
Like many migrants, she found herself fully committed to jobs that weren’t hers, giving 100% of her energy, creativity, and passion to someone else’s business. Until she asked herself:
“You put in so much effort for others... why not do it for yourself? Even if it’s hard, the rewards are yours.”
QWINBIZ: A Community That Empowers
Yazmin joined QWINBIZ 2023, and the experience gave her more than just knowledge — it gave her community, clarity, and confidence.
“QWINBIZ was beautiful. I met many women going through the same process, I learned from them, and it was an incredible cultural exchange, since we all came from different countries.”
The journey of starting a business can be isolating. But through QWINBIZ, Yazmin found a network of women who understood her struggles, celebrated her wins, and shared the road.
“The community empowers and uplifts. Having a space where we could talk about our processes and help each other was amazing, because the path of entrepreneurship is often very lonely.”
She also found valuable support from the program’s facilitators:
“I loved the facilitators. I learned something from each one, and many of them continued to support me in different parts of my business journey. They helped me polish and improve.”
Most importantly, the program gave her a clear sense of what was missing — and the confidence to keep building.
“There’s so much to learn when you start a business. The program helped me see what I needed to work on, what I hadn’t thought about, and gave me tools to go deeper.”
Luna’s Deli: A Taste of Home, Made From Scratch
With her vision clearer than ever, Yazmin poured her energy into creating Luna’s Deli, a space that reflects not only her culinary roots, but her values and desire for connection.
After more than nine months of planning, building, and pushing through delays, Luna’s Deli opened in Coolangatta, Queensland.
“It’s been really tough — and it still is. After nine months working on this project, I felt like I was about to give birth to triplets! But now we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Luna’s Deli is not just another café. It’s a heartfelt space where quality comes first, where creativity, customer experience, and team connection matter deeply, and where every detail is intentional.
Named after Argentina’s iconic medialuna pastry, Luna’s Deli honours Yazmin’s Argentinian, Italian, and French heritage through handmade pastries, focaccias, and gelato — all crafted from scratch.
“It’s the kind of place I always dreamed of finding in Australia — where emotions are part of the experience.”
Luna’s Deli is fully operational, welcoming locals and visitors to taste something truly special — a pastry shop with heart, heritage, and a mission.
📍 Shop 7/120 Marine Parade, Coolangatta 🌐 www.lunasdeli.com.au
Her Message to You
Yazmin has a powerful message for other migrant women who are dreaming about launching something of their own:
“What can you really lose? Money? Time? Maybe. But if you don’t do it, you’ll never know. And you could gain so much more.”
Entrepreneurship, for Yazmin, is more than a business — it’s a personal transformation.
“It’s an inner change that shows up in your business. You are the seed of your project. If you’re not well, it’s going to be much harder for it to grow.”
“So my advice is: get to know yourself, work on your fears, take care of yourself so you can give your best to your business. And enjoy the process — something I’ve often forgotten to do. And please, don’t be so hard on yourself.”
Ready to Take Your First Step?
At LatinOz QLD, we’re proud to support incredible women like Yazmin through programs like QWINBIZ. If you’re a migrant woman in Australia with a business idea (or even just a dream), we’re here to help you grow it.
Learn more about QWINBIZ
Get involved in this or other programs we run to empower migrant women and strengthen our Latin American community in Queensland.
Because just like Yazmin said: “If you never try, you’ll never know.”