Before Olga E. Custodio became the first Latina Air Force pilot, she faced a slew of rejections in life for being a Puerto Rican woman. Even though she was an enrolled college student at just 16 years old, her application to join ROTC was rejected because she was a woman. She always knew she wanted to become a pilot, and worked in aviation in any capacity she could–even in accounting for Puerto Rico’s International Airline. She applied to the U.S. Air force three times before she was accepted.

When she finally was accepted into the training program, Custodio’s father, a military vet, called the governor of Puerto Rico himself to tell him the news.

Olga E. Custodio’s family moved so often, she went to schools in Taiwan, Iran, and Paraguay.

Her father was a sergeant in the United States Army, which meant that Custodio grew up as a ‘military brat.’ The whole family would relocate as her father was assigned to different military stations around the world. “I started kindergarten and 1st grade in Taiwan,” Custodio told Fox News Latino. “From there we moved to New Jersey, followed by a move to Iran then Paraguay before my father retired. I saw the world before I was 15 years old. I liked the feeling of being in the air.”

Custodio was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and their family returned to the island when she was 15 years old. She graduated high school a year later.

She was immediately accepted into the University of Puerto Rico, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree at a young age. She applied to join the ROTC program at the University but was rejected for being a woman. Only men were admitted into the program at the time. 

“Why aren’t the women leading?” Custodio asked herself at every job before entering the military.

She worked a lot of different jobs, and at every one of them, she told the Daily Mail, “I always saw men in the leadership roles. I asked myself: “Why aren’t the women leading? I could lead that!” She met her now-husband, Edward Custodio, and had two children. 

Custodio applied to become an Air Force officer three times before she was accepted.

“When my daughter was three years old, I had all the DoD regulations available to me,” Custodio told Fox. “I knew the rules and applied to be an officer for the third time.” Custodio brought her husband and marched into the Headquarters for the Air Force Military Personnel Center to apply to the U.S. Air Force Officer Training School. She was accepted. There, she talked to a sergeant who asked her to name three career choices she would like to have for herself. “I told him I would be a pilot, a pilot and a pilot,” she told Fox.

It took her two years of training to become the first Latina to complete the U.S. Air Force military pilot training program.

She first had to complete the Flight Screening Pilot Officer Training program before she could enter the Officer Training School. There, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Finally, that qualified her for Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas. A year later, she graduated, making her the first Latina to complete the U.S. Air Force military pilot training.

Her first assignment was also historic–she was the first female flight instructor at her base.

At that base, she trained others to fly the Northrop T-38 Talon, which is a two-seat supersonic jet trainer. Custodio was actually awarded an Aviation Safety Award during her time as an instructor after she safely landed a plane that had been compromised after a bird flew into the jet’s engine during bad weather. 

Custodio served our country for 23 years and 10 months before retiring.

She retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in October 2003, after spending the bulk of her career teaching others how to be effective Air Force pilots. Today, she says she flies for free and for fun. When her friends who own planes ask her to take them for a ride, she happily accepts.

“My mantra is ‘Querer es poder,'” she said.

“I believe everyone has the potential to do it. They just have to believe in themselves enough to actually do it,” she tells Fox. She also said that she “was not out to prove anything.” She didn’t even know she was “the first anything.” She worked hard for herself and her family, and the accolades followed.

Today, she runs a documentary production company in San Antonio, Texas.

She is also the Vice President of the Hispanic Association of Aviation and Aerospace Professionals (HAAAP). The organization takes young Latinos in the San Antonio area into the cockpit and into control towers to offer more opportunities for growth in the field. Oh, and she also directs a Puerto Rican folk dance group, just for fun.

READ: The First Latina In Space Wants To Use Her Experience To Produce More STEM Graduates

At some point or another, men will try to grow out their beards. It’s a fact of life. Many will be successful in their mission for a full beard, others will not make it very far on this quest. Either way, everyone knows that a beard really helps to change your look. With Beard Day rapidly approaching, it is time to take a look at the celebrity beards that make us swoon, envious, or both!

Gael García Bernal 

A beard can change someone’s entire look. In Gael García Bernal’s case, it changed his face for the better (slightly, he still looks good without a beard.)

Mark Sanchez

When the NFL quarterback debuted his new look, we were put at a standstill. “Is that you, Mark?” We thought. But alas, it seemed Sanchez was opting for a brand new look this season. We just hope he doesn’t grow that mustache as long as Yosemite Sam’s!

Danny Trejo

The actor’s lopsided mustache ranks along with Mark Sanchez’s. We wonder what a differently style ‘stache would look like on Trejo.

Kid Cudi

African-American and Mexican rapper has been pretty consistent through the years with his mustache beard combo.

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa is known for his instantly recognizable beard. A lot of his characters, such as Aquaman and Khal Drogo, have been played with his signature beard. It is hands down, one of the best celebrity beards. It was devastating for fans and beard lovers to watch him shave his thick beard via a video on YouTube. But, it wasn’t all bad. Momoa publicly shaved his beard for a good cause, to raise awareness on using aluminium instead of plastic. 

Chris Hemsworth

Almighty Thor, God of Thunder, Chris Hemsworth, knows that his facial hair is one of his greatest assets. After all, it is what makes Thor so great and recognizable. His laid-back look outside of the world of Marvel is complete with his beard.

Idris Elba

Salt-and-pepper? Don’t mind if I do. It’s not hard to see why Idris Elba was named the sexiest man alive by People Magazine in 2018. It’s totally because of the beard, right? His beard makes him look cool, sophisticated, and mature. 

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac is an expert in growing out his facial hair. From stubble to thick, his beard has changed throughout his career. I’ve come to the conclusion that he can and will look good with any beard, no matter the thickness. 

Liam Hemsworth

Yes, there are TWO Hemsworth’s on this list. They both look good with beards, okay? There must be something in the Hemsworth genes that give them both the ability to pull off a beard. 

Keanu Reeves 

Keanu Reeves is one of those timeless actors that never seems to age and he has become extremely popular amongst the internet community because of it. I’m pretty sure it’s because of his beard. 

Donald Glover 

It is true, a beard can add years to someone’s face. Donald Glover aged when he grew out his beard, but in a good way! Earlier this year, Glover stepped out of an event with a bleached beard. Although he received a lot of media attention, he proved that he can look good while having a bleached beard.

Justin Baldoni

Look, I’m pretty sure that Jane the Virgin, was such a success because of Justin Baldoni’s beard. It’s perfect and he has proven to be able to look good, regardless of the thickness of the beard. 

Many people claim that beards are equivalent to makeup and contouring. In some sense, it’s true. If you’ve ever attempted to grow a beard or stood by as someone tried to, then you know how a face can change with facial hair that. If you’ve never tried to grow out your beard, I encourage you to do so, especially when fall is right around the corner.

No Shave November is the perfect excuse to put the razor down and see what your facial hairs can do for you. Your beard will keep your face warm during the colder months and every one will be jealous. Enjoy Beard Day by deciding to grow out your beard! You might like the new look it brings out of you.