Born in Pinar del Río in Cuba, Silva began to participate in pole vault competitions from the age of twelve.

As a result, Silva quickly established herself nationally at the age of sixteen, coming second at the Cuban Athletics Championships and winning the Barrientos Memorial in 2003.

She competed internationally for the first time, taking silver at the Central American and Caribbean Games,[5] but failing to clear a height at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics after her poles did not arrive at the competition.

The latter was her country's first medal in the event at the Games and she broke the Central American and Caribbean record with her clearance of 4.30 m. She improved to 4.50 m in early 2008, but a lack of high level competitions meant she managed on 4.15 m in qualifying on her Olympic debut in Beijing.

[3] Silva competed solely in Havana in 2009 and 2010, but still managed to equal her personal best, win the Barrientos meet, and take the gold medal at the 2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics with a championship record of 4.40 m.[6] The 2011 season marked the first time she gained the chance to compete on the international circuit against world class opposition.

[7] Silva, coached by Alexander Navas, and her fellow Cuban vaulter Lazaro Borges both emerged as top level athletes in the men's and women's pole vault that year.

Outdoors she competed five times on the 2012 IAAF Diamond League circuit and was always in the top three,[3] including a victory at the DN Galan.