The editorial team has a special attachment to our new series, The Trailblazers: Rewriting the Narrative, because so many of us feel that media portrayals of women have been too one dimensional. Today, women are doing incredible things in all fields – from science and technology to finance, law, business, athletics and more. With the Trailblazersseries, we hope to highlight and celebrate female role models, encourage more equal and just representation in the media, and help foster a more tight-knit community locally helping women find mentors, business partners, friends and more.
Below, you’ll find some incredible trailblazers from in and around East LA that we hope you will check out, follow and support.
Mariah Romero
For my story, we have to start at my roots and that begins with my parents. Their own personal journeys in life greatly impacted mine and has, without a doubt, gotten me to where I am today. I owe everything to both my mom and dad, especially my mom. Read more>>
Kaycee Krieg Wysaski
If I’m starting at the beginning, I would have to talk about my former career first. It has truly led me to where I am now. I had a very successful near-20 year career in wardrobe. Starting as a stylist assistant, to stylist – then when I was tired of dealing with all the personalities that I was always trying to please – to tailor assistant, and finally costume builder. Read more>>
Sheila Sagbo
I am Sheila Sagbo. I am from Benin (West Africa). I had the idea of Ebena during the Holiday season of 2015. I just got back from Haiti, had a few days to spend in Dallas, TX before going on vacation in Canada with my husband (boyfriend at the time). It was very hard for me to find a hairstylist to do my hair because I did not know any that I could trust with my sensitive scalp. Read more>>
Nikki Nistal
I grew up in a tiny town in Connecticut called Avon. I danced after school and I loved it but I had dreams of becoming an OB-GYN. I loved science and anatomy and never thought I would change my mind. I knew the only place I wanted to live was California, so I worked hard to go to the University of California, Santa Barbara. I got accepted into their Biology program and when I arrived. Read more>>
Gabriela Ramos
My interest in the human mind, our varying personalities, and how we overcome challenges has always been at the forefront of my interests. So much so that I sought a professional career and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am currently continuing my education in seeking my Doctorates in Clinical Psychology, furthering my specialty. Read more>>
Carmen Baltazar
I am still healing, I still struggle with self-doubt, but who doesn’t? That is why I continue to feed my mind, body and soul everything that will help me and others get through life and hopefully grows through adversity every time. Today I am happy to claim that I am a better woman to myself, my husband, parents, brothers, family and friends. Read more>>
Jeneta St. Clair
I said in a women’s entrepreneurial group, “I want to find a way to combine my love of humanitarian work and comedy…and make money doing it.” While I continue to grow both personally and professionally, I got hired at an amazing company called Laughter On Call bringing laughter to those who need it most. Read more>>
Alia Mohamed
My father is a jazz musician from Lebanon, so I was exposed to a wide variety of musical styles from a young age. I played several instruments growing up but never stuck with one. When I got to college, I became really interested in belly dance. I always felt a deep connection to Arabic music and taking lessons allowed me to immerse myself in the rhythms that I missed hearing at home. Read more>>
Marcy Minton
In second grade, I brought an inchworm in from recess on my hand, and it peed on me. I stood up in class and started jumping around and yelling, “It peed on me! This inchworm peed on me!” Before I knew it, the whole class was laughing. Not at me. With me. I was a comedian. Until then, I had never considered the fact that I might be funny — it just never occurred to me as being a thing. Read more>>
