Dr. Frances Estrada

Dr. Frances Estrada grew up surrounded by medicine, but she was just as fascinated by her mother’s lipstick as she was by the shelves of her family’s pharmacy in Caguas, Puerto Rico. Today, those two interests have become central to her career. A third-generation pharmacist with a doctorate in pharmacy, Estrada is also the founder of The Pecking Order, the fashion and beauty platform she launched in 2014. Her scientific background has given her a distinctive voice in skincare, helping women understand what they’re putting on their skin and why it matters.

In February 2026, Estrada joined Adamari López in San Juan for a beauty conversation hosted by No7 and Soap & Glory. During the event, covered by ¡HOLA!, she discussed the importance of understanding skincare ingredients and making informed decisions. “Trust is built through evidence,” she explained, emphasizing a simple philosophy: protect the skin during the day, support its natural repair processes at night, and be consistent.

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Her career could have taken a very different direction. After college, Estrada was accepted into fashion school in California and pharmacy school in New York. She ultimately chose to pursue her doctorate at Touro College, although her enthusiasm for fashion never faded. While putting together a styling portfolio, she began photographing herself because she didn't have models to work with. The images caught the attention of a brand’s public relations team, which reached out about a collaboration. That unexpected opportunity led to the creation of The Pecking Order.

As The Pecking Order grew, Estrada became a familiar name in Puerto Rico’s fashion and beauty scene, all while studying to become a pharmacist. She wanted to prove that women could be passionate about fashion and still be taken seriously in other fields. "You can like fashion and be smart," she said in a 2016 interview.

Estrada has always wanted her work to reflect the women of Puerto Rico. After returning to the island, she continued expanding her digital community, which had surpassed 150,000 followers by 2021. That same year, she was selected as one of six ambassadors for the Hecho en Puerto Rico Association, recognizing her connection to the island and its entrepreneurial community.

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With so much skincare advice circulating online, Estrada offers something valuable: the perspective of a pharmacist who genuinely loves beauty and knows how to separate effective ingredients from passing trends.

For Estrada, the opportunity goes beyond recommending a skincare routine. Through The Pecking Order, she is helping women become more confident about the choices they make, while showing a new generation of Puerto Rican girls that a passion for beauty can open doors to careers they might never have imagined.