Hilda Torres left Mexico in 1992, settling in East Boston with her husband and two young children, and continuing a career as a beautician.

“I made good money,’’ she said. “But, most of it went to day care.’’

Then, the owner of the facility her children attended offered her a job as an assistant, which included a tuition discount.

“One of the teachers told me that it is beautiful when you are able to love somebody else’s kid the same way that you do your own,’’ said Torres, 46, who now lives in Saugus and is a mother of four and grandmother of two. “And I found that was true. I guess that’s how I started loving this career.’’

She took early childhood education classes and earned an associate’s degree at Bunker Hill Community College. In 2012, Torres and her cousin, Gerardo Loza, opened My Little Best Friends Early Learning Center in Malden.

They recently were named one of five 2016 Immigrant Entrepreneurs of the Year by the Immigrant Learning Center, the first winners from Mexico and the first business from Malden.

My Little Best Friends currently has 114 students, from 2 months to 5 years old, whose parents come from 29 countries.

Torres said she chose Malden as the location for the center because “To me, it’s a small town where everyone knows each other and a good place for kids to grow up. . . . There’s a lot of diversity.’’

The center’s curriculum accommodates multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, and sign language.

“The first five years of life, they are like sponges,’’ Torres said. “And kids who speak different languages will have better opportunities in life. We have to educate the new generation for the future.’’

Torres also is committed to helping working parents. The center opens weekdays at 7 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m., and is only closed on major holidays.

“My employees are the ones who deserve to be recognized for their hard work and dedication,’’ Torres said. “Thanks to them, our families are very happy with the care we provide to their precious treasures.’’

My Little Best Friends recently expanded, and Torres said she hopes to someday open an additional location.

“I am so happy to come into the school and see the kids feeling comfortable and the parents feeling comfortable leaving them in my care,’’ she said. “Being with kids is my passion and keeps me young. I don’t see myself anywhere else.’’

Wendy Killeen can be reached at wdkilleen@gmail.com.