After some decoration and nursing studies, in 1964 Puelma entered the journalism field at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, from which she graduated in 1969.
She was also an announcer, notably for the political program Las mujeres también improvisan – a reference to Canal 13's A esta hora se improvisa [es],[1] whose panel was composed only of men – which featured Patricia Guzmán [es], Silvia Pinto, and Raquel Correa, among others.
[1] After the 11 September 1973 coup d'état, Puelma was appointed cultural and press attaché in Washington D. C. (1973–1974) and Paris (1974–1976).
In the written press she worked for the newspapers La Tercera – where she was a columnist and economic reporter – and El Cronista.
[3] She also worked for Radio Agricultura, where she was part of the press committee, and for the Chilean Safety Association (Asociación Chilena de Seguridad; ACHS) as a communications consultant.