Mariel Betancourt is from Mexico, where lives at the moment. She works in a greenhouse that does farm-to-table, as well as producing fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, milk, eggs and has beekeeping. Mariel also helps protect jungle species in the city of Veracruz, and with the monitoring of fauna and flora. She studied Mandarin and literature in China, working there for two years as a translator. In addition, Mariel has also worked with low-income children with intellectual disabilities in Juarez, Mexico.