Salinas was born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
After being diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma at age seven, she and her family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee to receive treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
[2] Prior to her 2024 House campaign, Salinas had unsuccessfully run to become a member of the Tennessee General Assembly twice.
[3] She was defeated by Republican John Gillespie in the 2020 District 97 Tennessee House of Representatives election.
She won the Democratic primary in August, and was unopposed in the general election.