About Betty Gallegos
Betty (Beatriz) Gallegos was born on October 27, 1999, in Mexico City, Mexico. She first encountered yo-yo in 2009 when she and her mother came across a competition in a neighborhood park near their home. Her parents initially bought her an inexpensive, fixed-axle model; it wasn’t until 2010 that she received a bearing yo-yo and began seriously learning through YouTube videos — particularly those of Grant Johnson. She joined YoYoFactory and has represented Mexico at the World Yo-Yo Contest throughout the 2010s and 2020s. In 2015 she won her first Mexican National Yo-Yo Contest title, becoming the first woman to win the 1A division at Mexican Nationals.
Her most celebrated moment came at the 2019 WYYC in Cleveland, Ohio, where she won the Women’s Freestyle division with a score of 86.6, using her debut signature yo-yo, the YoYoFactory Meerkat — a throw she considers the most meaningful she owns. She has earned multiple additional WYYC podium finishes, including 2nd place in 2023 (Osaka) and 2nd place in 2025 (Prague, where she also competed in Open 1A). She won a third Mexican National title in March 2025. In 2020 she was featured in the Netflix documentary series We Are The Champions.
Beyond competition, Gallegos operates YoYoFactory MX (bettygallegos.com), an online yo-yo store based in Mexico City, and founded MX Throwers, a free community club that holds weekly sessions at Parque Hundido in the city. She has four signature yo-yos with YoYoFactory — the Meerkat (2019), BettyNova (2021), and the Axolotl PC and AL (both 2024) — spanning price points from beginner to competition level. With over 1.8 million YouTube subscribers and 3.6 million TikTok followers, she is a leading figure in Spanish-language yo-yo content creation.
In Their Own Words
From a 2025 YoYoFactory interview.
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
I saw a yo-yo contest in 2009 and asked my parents to buy me a yo-yo, but they got me the cheapest and not-so-great one. It wasn’t until 2010 that they bought me one with a bearing. Then I searched on YouTube and I found Grant Johnson yo-yo videos and I started to take yo-yo classes.
What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!
One of my goals this year was to win Mexican National Yo-Yo Contest for the third time — and I did it! Now, my next goal is to make it to the finals at the World Yo-Yo Contest. I’ve been close before, so I feel like I have to keep trying.
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
Either Supernova or Space Cowboy. I could never get tired of them.
What trick are you working on currently?
I’m focusing on the presentation of my tricks.
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
Hooks. I don’t like that trick or any of its variations.
What’s your favorite trick?
Horizontal tricks are fun for me and easy to do.
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
The entire Supernova family is my favorite throw.
What’s the most meaningful throw you have?
I think it’s the Meerkat — the one I used to win the Women’s Division in 2019. It was also my first signature yo-yo so it’s special for me.
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
I get lazy about changing the string even when it’s clearly too old.
What kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
I have eight cats, so between playing with them and running my yo-yo store, that’s how I spend most of my afternoons. I also like watching series and painting sometimes.
What does yo-yoing mean to you?
For me, yo-yoing is a form of expression and a way to connect with others. It has its artistic side, but also a sporty side, since it takes hours of practice, and definitely a lot of consistency and perseverance.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby?
I have many good memories with friends but if I should say a personal one I would say there was a moment during my 2015 routine in the Women’s Division when I realized I was on the other side of the world thanks to a yo-yo. I was completely aware of the moment, and I truly enjoyed those two minutes on stage.
What’s your best advice for people to get better at yo-yoing?
Practice is key to improving, and it’s important to keep learning all the time.
How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?
I’ve been playing yo-yo for 14 years, and I’ve seen how the play style has changed over time. It’s amazing how it keeps evolving and will continue to do so.
Now I see kids who’ve only been playing for a short time doing really difficult tricks like it’s nothing — it’s crazy in the best way. I think after the pandemic, and thanks to everyone creating content on social media, we managed to bring in a lot of new kids and even adults who probably would’ve never picked up a yo-yo otherwise.
If you never picked up a yo-yo — what would things look like now?
It’s hard to imagine life without it. I’d probably have a “normal” life — I would’ve finished college, gotten an office job, and never left Mexico.
Advice / words of wisdom to new players?
Don’t rush — enjoy the process. Everyone learns at their own pace, and consistency matters more than speed. Try to practice a little bit every day, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to ask others for help. The yo-yo community is full of people who were once beginners too. Most importantly, have fun and let your style grow naturally.
