Portraits of the Valley

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around the Valley.

Noosha Kohandarvish

I was raised in Tarzana by incredible immigrant parents who fled the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley was something I truly loved—I attended Wilbur, Portola, and Taft, and I’m still close with my childhood friends from those days. From an early age, I was drawn to both animals and medicine. Read more>>

Jaelen Edmonds

My journey has truly been the unfolding of a lotus flower, growing through layers, guided by purpose, and rooted in transformation. From a young age, I always carried big dreams. I was inspired by multi-hyphenate creatives like Raven-Symoné and Hannah Montana, and I knew early on that I wanted to live a life that blended creativity, expression, and impact. Music was my first love. Read more>>

Pedro De La Cuadra

My name is Pedro De La Cuadra, but in the music world, I go by “El Mata.” My love for music started early—really early. At just five years old, you could already find me glued to the TV watching music videos or sitting by the radio, waiting for my favorite songs to come on. I wasn’t just listening—I was performing. Read more>>

Shontina Kuykendoll

I took a leap of faith on April 1st and walked away from my corporate career to fully bet on myself and that decision changed everything. While I had always been entrepreneurial at heart, that moment forced me to step fully into my purpose and build the vision I had been working toward for years. Read more>>

Io Chaney

I’ve always been someone who loves energy, storytelling, and bringing people together, and that’s really the thread connecting everything I do today as a DJ, commercial actor, and marketing professional. Music has always been part of my foundation. Growing up, my dad played everything in the house, from jazz, reggae, hip hop, house, and afro beats. Read more>>

Kwamise ‘LadyK’ Fletcher

I didn’t start poetry as a career, I started it as survival. For a long time, I was trying to make sense of things that didn’t have easy language: grief, identity, faith, self-worth, being a Black woman of a certain age going through Perimenopause & navigating spaces that didn’t always see me clearly. Poetry became the place where I could tell the truth without interruption. Read more>>

Gabriella Cuaderes

I was a sensitive child who grew up in a large family in central Nuevo Mexico. My love for people started in childhood at a very young age and I had a natural gift for understanding complexity. Read more>>

Drew Brown

My story started three months before I was born, when my mom and dad were preparing for me to come into the world. My dad decided to start documenting my life and titled it The Drew Story. Even before I was born, there was intention behind who I would become. He named me Drew because of his love for art, painting, and creating comics. Read more>>

Alyssa Necesito

My first food photo was taken when I was seven years old on a disposable Kodak camera—a perfectly plated sweet and sour pork dish from Won Kok in Chinatown. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I simply enjoyed capturing meals wherever I went, especially while traveling and exploring new places. I was very fortunate to grow up in a very diverse neighborhood. Read more>>

Nevada Gibson

I grew up in a small agricultural town called Santa Maria on the Central Coast of California known for their strawberries and Santa Maria style BBQ. Ever since I could remember I’ve been a storyteller. Read more>>

Kairo Davis

I’ve been surrounded by music of all flavors and genres since I was a child so I think it was inevitable that I would take to becoming a musician. Read more>>

Jocelyn Martinez

I started dancing when I was 4 years old! My mom put me into dance, starting with tap and ballet—the basics. I did sports too when I was younger, and I really loved basketball and softball, but there was a time when I transitioned from recreational dance to joining the competition dance team at my local dance studio, For Dancers Only. Read more>>

Jennifer Jacobs

Fitness, nutrition, and mental health together have transformed my life. I grew up quite athletic and even played soccer in high school but was always very petite. Once in undergrad at UC Santa Barbara, I struggled a bit with feeling good in my skin. I felt too skinny, too small. Read more>>

Angel Lizano

My journey started in 2007 when I began managing kitchens and learning hospitality from the inside out. I’ve always loved watching people enjoy what I create—those moments when someone takes a bite, their guard drops, and you can see their inner child come out. Read more>>

Sena Rich

I’m DC born and raised-and I mean actual DC, not the Maryland or Virginia suburbs. If you know the struggle of that distinction, you know. Academically, I was a disaster. I vividly remember telling my father after failing a math test that I wouldn’t need equations for where I was headed-a theory I’ve mostly proven correct. Read more>>

Kacie Rogers

I acted in my first play before my first memory. I was cast as the titular role in a play called Hannah Bell-Hanks that was written by my kindergarten teacher. Apparently, most 5 year olds can’t memorize large sections of text, but I could. I haven’t stopped since. Read more>>

Alissa Mathewson

in 2012 I went to India for a 30 day Yoga Teacher Training at an Ashram. It was the beginning of a huge transformation for me. After that, I went from corporate world managing a high earning coffee store to becoming an Office Manager at a small Chiropractic Office and teaching yoga with private clients, group classes, and with injured clients. Read more>>

Daniel De La Mora

My journey began at the age of 4 years old when my Dad taught me how to use a tape deck to make my own mixes to cassette tapes. I became obsessed with the songs ‘Dont Stop The Music’ by Yarbrough and Peoples and ‘More Than a Feeling’ by Boston. Read more>>

Millan (MLLN) Bhatt

I was born and raised in Maryland and moved to LA in 2024 to pursue music! My parents are Hindustani Indian Classical musicians so I grew up going to their gigs and sleeping on stage while they performed. Complex ragas and improvisation in Indian music excited me to study the parallels in Black American music. Read more>>

Ugø Jinanwa

I first started playing during my younger years in concert band and marching band, and that’s where my love for music really developed. Even after band, during my early college years, I always had the idea of picking the sax back up seriously one day, but financially I just wasn’t in a place where I could afford my own instrument. Read more>>

Alex ‘CoeLorenzo’ Dantzler

“Honestly, my story has been bigger than music from the beginning. I’m somebody who’s lived multiple lives in one journey. Before everything people see now, I was just a kid with raw freestyles, ambition, and a vision that refused to die. Over time, that hunger evolved into Coelorenzo — an artist focused on authenticity, elevation, and making music people can actually feel. Read more>>

Kim Myers

My parents immigrated from London (by way of Manchester, England, and Dublin, Ireland), to Los Angeles with my sister, in the mid 1960’s. I was born a few years later. For many years, it was funny for our family to note that while my parents and sister held legal resident status, I was the only actual U.S. citizen. Read more>>

Aram Yerk

It all started with my dad, Sam, when he moved here from Armenia during high school. He came with very little, saved up money, and got into an industry he knew nothing about—the restaurant business. He bought a small pizza shop, taught himself how to make pizza, and ran it for a few years. Read more>>

Leland Deming

I started my journey in film during my senior year of high school, where my schedule was made up of five film classes back-to-back every day. That environment gave me the opportunity to fully immerse myself in filmmaking — writing, directing, and shooting my own short films. Read more>>

Sherri Gonzalez

Sherri Gonzalez grew up in Houston, Texas and began her dance training at the age of 3. She has studied/trained in ballet, pointe, tap, musical theatre, jazz, hiphop, heels and contemporary. Sherri attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles where she received her BFA in Dance Theatre. Read more>>

CAPRISHA DANIELS

Traveling Sylist servicing the Valley and the Central Coast of Ca. Specializing in All extensions, Natural Hair Care, Sisterlocks, Braids, Twists and Trichology (Hair Loss) Ive been a licensed Cosmetologist now for 13 years. Hair has always been ny passion. I originally wanted to be a Traveling nurse. I became certified as a Phlebotomist. I always did Hair as a s side hustle. Read more>>

Anisa Genesis

I am Anisa Genesis, and I am an overall creative, but mainly work under the title of visual director. I create and work with others to produce films, visuals, photoshoots, and more. I’ve been a creative my whole life, but got involved in helping out on sets fresh out of high school. Read more>>

Dmitry Parkhomchuk

Storytelling and Hollywood have been close to my heart ever since I was a child, so building a career here in Los Angeles has been a dream come true. Early on, I realized that what interested me most was not just telling stories, but building projects from the ground up. Because of that, producing became a very natural direction for me. Read more>>

Liang yu Huang

Born in Taiwan(1998), Liang-Yu Huang is currently based in Chicago and LA. He received his MFA in sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago(2025) and Bachelor of Fine Art from Taipei National University of the Arts (2021), majoring in sculpture. Read more>>

Jordyn Boldin

My dream has always been to act in TV/Film, but I never lived in a place where that was possible, so I didn’t think it would ever happen. During college, the pandemic started and it allowed me time to consider what I really wanted to do. Read more>>

Sandy Vela

I get asked this question a lot now, especially as my videos have started reaching more people throughout the San Fernando Valley. I actually started on social media during COVID, like many people did. At the time, I had just given birth to my third child, and TikTok became a creative outlet while I adjusted to becoming a mom of three. Read more>>

Nessa Presto

For the past 7 years, I’ve been a content creator focused on motherhood, family life, and relatable everyday moments. Before content creation, I owned and operated a daycare business, but after becoming a mom, I wanted to be more present with my children and create a career that allowed me to spend more time with them. Read more>>

Marissa Clark

Almost 10 years ago, I was freshly out of college and a newlywed struggling with pack pain and anxiety that were a constant in my life. A friend of mine suggested I try some essential oils she had… Weird, right? I gave them a shot but honestly didn’t expect much. I wasn’t used to using anything ‘natural,’ so I was pretty skeptical. Read more>>

Gia Gauthreaux

Grow & Glow™ was born during one of the hardest and most transformative seasons of my life. I’m a sixth-grade teacher, a mom of three, and someone who spent many years surviving on autopilot — constantly pouring into everyone else while feeling disconnected from myself emotionally, physically, and mentally. Over time, I realized I wasn’t just exhausted; I was numb. Read more>>

Zariyah Ortega

I started dancing when I was six years old, and over the years I trained in multiple dance disciplines while also learning poi performance. Performing and creative expression were always a huge part of who I was. In my late teens through my mid-twenties, I went through a very difficult period in my life. Read more>>

Megan Visciglia

I didn’t start Waste Wranglers because I had to. I started it because life has a way of showing you exactly who you are when everything is on the line — and mine showed me that I was done waiting to build something of my own. My husband Mike and I were living in Durant, Oklahoma and working on a job site in Atoka. Read more>>

Erick Gonzalez

I got started in dryer vent cleaning after a personal family experience made me realize how serious dryer vent safety really is. A family member experienced a dryer fire scare, and when we tried finding a company that truly specialized in dryer vent systems, it was surprisingly difficult. Read more>>

Mickey Newell

I’ve been tattooing officially since February of 2024. Although technically since 2020 when I was 18. I got my first three tattoos within being a week of 18 and then Covid hit and I couldn’t get any more because everything was shut down. Soo I started tattooing myself and fell in love with it. Read more>>

Chloe Shelton

Ive always been drawn to the way people gather- the feeling of a room, the details that make someone feel seen, and the magic that happens when beauty, intention, and connection come together. Read more>>

Mike de la Rocha

I was born in Oxnard, California, and raised in East Ventura as the proud son of two educators. My father immigrated from Chihuahua, México and taught for more than 41 years at Ventura Community College, while my mother, a first-generation Chicana from San Jose, has spent over 50 years working in early childhood education through Head Start. Read more>>

Margi Shah

I have always dreamed of creating something bigger than a business – I wanted to create a place where people feel connected. A place where someone can come after a long day, sip tea, breathe deeply, and feel comfort. A place where friends gather, families laugh, stories are shared, and even a simple drink can brighten someone’s day. Read more>>

Edgar Puente

My journey began in 2012, a year defined by new beginnings. I was a newlywed and a first-time father to a beautiful baby girl. At the time, I was working full-time as a waiter, and while I took pride in my work, I knew I wanted to build a more secure and prosperous future for my growing family. Read more>>

David Acuff

I’ve basically lived my entire life in the wild space between creativity and chaos. Guys, I’m older than AOL and Google! I grew up as a military brat, constantly moving around, which probably explains why storytelling became the one consistent thing in my life. Read more>>

Shayla Monique

I came into the beauty industry in 2013 on the heels of my upbringing in the dance world. Years of performing and having to wear certain makeup looks for the stage really opened the door for me to fall in love with the artistry of it. Read more>>

Libby Supan

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor specializing in eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns. I got into this work because I knew firsthand how exhausting and isolating it feels to struggle with food and your body for years while trying to find the “right” help. Read more>>

April Diamond

My story starts in the Inland Empire. Of Southern California. When people think of Southern California it’s usually Los Angeles and the surrounding cities. it seems like the inland Empire, which includes Riverside Corona, San Bernardino, Redlands and other cities that are in between and on the way to Palm Springs, seem to get sort of glossed over. Im proud of where I came from. Read more>>

Tay Lee

Meet Tay Lee the owner & founder of NABI Lagree Studio opening soon in Woodland Hills, CA. “Nabi” means butterfly in Korean and is an honor to my grandmother from Korea, who is my guardian angel. Butterflies symbolize evolving, transforming and becoming something new. I hope that everyone who walks into Nabi Lagree studio transforms into their highest & best self. Read more>>

Robert Fureby

From very early on I was really into music, encouraged by my dad and grandma. I got my own boombox around 7 years old and started my music collection with a few CD’s. When I was 8 my grandma, who is a jazz drummer, got me my first pair of sticks and a practice pad. Read more>>

Tracy Tutson

My name is Tracy Tutson, I am the owner of the bespoke firm, Next Chapter Interior Design. Approximately 4 years ago, I left my career as a Corporate Leader and for the past 2 years I have been following my passion and love of all things home. Read more>>

Brett Willis

I came to Los Angeles nine years ago from Denver, Colorado, chasing something I’d felt since I was young. I always loved movies — especially the way a story could be told through light, framing, and all those quiet little details. Read more>>

Saba Melketsadik

Nomi Medical Studio was born from a desire to care for women in a more personal, thoughtful, and unhurried way. As a Certified Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, I spent years caring for women in both the hospital and clinic settings, supporting them through some of the most vulnerable and transformative moments of their lives. Read more>>

Mali Clare Gilbert

From a young age, I naturally gravitated toward the creative world. Growing up in a family surrounded by the film industry, I didn’t fully understand the privilege of that environment until I got older. I was lucky to spend my childhood immersed in creativity and encouraged to explore whatever sparked my interest. Read more>>

Stephanie Erb

As a child of a musician, I was always drawn to the arts (also medicine, but that’s another story.) After pursuing degrees in Biology and English, I found myself in the Professional Actor Training program at SMU. After graduating, I moved to NY to start my acting career and found myself all over the regional theatre circuit…. Read more>>

Chelsea Gray

I grew up performing, starting at 2 years old competitively dancing. I always knew I wanted to be an actor, but had no idea where to start. In high school, I got involved with the musical theater program and was lucky enough to be cast as Serena in Legally Blonde the Musical. Read more>>

Julie Gerard

Four community members saw a need for a local organic weekday farmers market . Our mission is to provide access to healthy food, cultivate community and promote education. We began following Covid. Our community was in need of connection. We have grown over five years to be a central place to gather, eat, celebrate and learn in community. Read more>>

Danielle Silver

As a nutritionist and mom I found a gap in the market place when it came to shelf-stable on-the-go pouches for little ones. I noticed they all were extremely watery and lacked true nutritional value. Read more>>

Eric Hallquist

I’ve been making art since I was a child, but I didn’t seriously pursue it until I discovered digital art around 2009. At the time, I had just finished high school and was struggling to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Read more>>

Gia Adaya

Entertainment has always been a prevailing presence in my everyday life. I think it’s crucial to every aspiring storyteller that you indulge in as many different stories and perspectives as possible, being especially adventurous when it comes to genres you might not find in your comfort zone. Read more>>

Nicole Maggi

I’ve been a published author for over a decade. My first several books were Young Adult, but around 2019, after my last YA novel came out, my career felt stalled. I had a couple of projects that wound up going nowhere, and my longtime agent retired, and I was really searching for what my next chapter would be. Read more>>

Allen Garbuzov

My story with this business, formerly Oleg Products Inc., now Oleg’s Music Inc. began when I was a child. In the early 1990s, the business involved our entire family. Read more>>

Amanda Williams

I started my nursing career in 2009 as a newly graduated NICU nurse in New Mexico. After about two years, I moved to California and continued working in the NICU, and over time I naturally became really passionate about education and supporting other nurses. Read more>>

Dewayne Oneal

I started at the business about a year after it opened. It was a rough start for me to find where i fit in but once we got our feet planted we were growing and growing. Working here has been the best teamwork experience ive ever had. Between creative direction and social media we figured it out and did it organically. Read more>>

Jaylan Officer

Meet Jaylan Officer Jaylan Officer’s journey into entertainment has been years in the making. Growing up, he was inspired by icons like Michael Jackson and Chris Brown, drawn to their creativity, stage presence, and ability to connect with people. That early admiration sparked something in him, a vision to one day create, perform, and build a name of his own. Read more>>

Paula Jane Newman

Rise Up Comedy emerged during the pandemic, born from the understanding within Aware Meditation Inc. that people needed more than stillness — they needed to laugh to survive the stress of an uncertain world. What began as a wellness modality rooted in breath, release, and community quickly evolved into a powerful creative outlet. Read more>>

Natalie Duque

I’ve always been a musician. When I was a kid, I begged my mom for music lessons. My happy place was the back seat of her car, belting Wilson Phillips like I was headlining Madison Square Garden. She did not ask for this, but she endured it anyway, and eventually put me in lessons. It’s the greatest gift she’s ever given me. Read more>>

Chelsey Goldsmith

I was proudly born and raised in Oklahoma. I attended Northwestern State Louisiana for 3 years graduating with a BS in Theatre, Concentration: Musical Theatre. Acting and performance has always been a part of my life. When moving to Los Angeles I very quickly found my place. With my sports and tumbling background I found a place called JAM(Joining All Movement). Read more>>

Chris Hutton

I’ve been a professional singer for almost a decade, and my career has been eclectic – I’ve toured with Disney Concerts in Asia, I’ve appeared in a Food Network promo for The Holiday Baking Championships, I’ve performed in several rock cabaret shows in LA, I’ve worked with some amazing composers on new musical developments, and I currently do a lot of session work. Read more>>

Linn Holmes

Linn Holmes is a Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter. Known for her work as an artist, session singer, performing and recording background vocals for a vast variety of bands and artists, Linn has become a household name in the Los Angeles rock scene. Read more>>

Haley Fritz

I started Breezys in the spring of 2023 after realizing how much better I felt when I could actually breathe properly. I had struggled with allergies and a deviated septum for most of my life and assumed chronic congestion was normal until I tried a nasal strip for the first time. Read more>>

Justin Usami

Thank you for having me! My name is Justin Usami, and I’m a Los Angeles-based Chief Lighting Technician and small business owner. I’m the founder and owner of Umami Lighting. We provide lighting services and equipment rentals for film, television, and live events. Read more>>

Sara Zelenika

Hi I’m SZÁRA !I’m a Bosnian refugee who was raised in New York, and creativity has been part of me for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I was constantly singing, making up dances, and creating little performances on my own. Read more>>

Jessy Lichter-Maret

Jessy began her career in Massachusetts, where she built a strong foundation working in early childhood education and child development. Her experience supporting young children and families shaped her deep understanding of the importance of early intervention and individualized care during the most formative years of development. Read more>>

Karen Atlas

My name is Karen Atlas, and healing dogs is my jam. I’ve been a licensed physical therapist for nearly 30 years, originally working in human outpatient orthopedics and neurology. But about 17–18 years ago, my career took an unexpected turn because of my own dog, Teddy. Read more>>

Allison Burns Cooper

Born in New York always having had alifelong passion for design as Fueled by my mother. I was inspired by the creative legacy of her family—a grandfather who crafted exquisite lace for high-end fashion houses and a mother who filled our home with the art of sewing. Read more>>

Gregg Stewart

I grew up in New Jersey and in my teens moved to Southern California to attend art college. I had always loved drawing and had high hopes of becoming an animator. I lasted one semester. After so much preparation and a total upheaval of my life, it turns out drawing for fun was radically different than drawing for a grade. Read more>>

Tanyell Quian

My story doesn’t start the way most actors’ stories do. I didn’t grow up with a dream of Hollywood. I wasn’t the kid in every school play with stars in my eyes. Acting found me later in life and that arrival turned out to be exactly on time. When the calling came, it came clear. Read more>>

CESAR & MARIA GARVIDA

From the Office to the Grill: The Story of BBQ BAON The day my company announced it was closing, the office lights felt a little dimmer. For most of my colleagues, it was a crisis. For me, it was the terrifying, exciting shove I had been waiting for. I had always dreamed of opening a food trailer, but I had played it safe for years. Read more>>

Mikhail Glotov

Mikhail Glotov — Founder of HEAVEN “I do not create furniture. I create a state of space.” HEAVEN My journey into furniture and design never began as a business plan or an attempt to “enter the industry.” For me, it started much earlier — with the feeling of space, light, scale, and form. Read more>>

Shannon Fernando

I’ve wanted to be in healthcare since I was a young child. I’ve always had a heart for vulnerable communities, and I believed that medicine was the most tangible, effective way to walk alongside those on the margins. But my path took a turn I didn’t expect. In 2007, I applied to 13 medical schools and was rejected from every single one. Read more>>

Oksana Barrios

Hi! I’m Oksana Barrios, a first-generation Mexican American actress and lifestyle content creator. I know most kids don’t really know what they want to be when they grow up, but I always knew, without a doubt, that acting and fashion would somehow be part of my future. Luckily for me, I get to do both. Read more>>

Eric Rodriguez

I always had a passion for movies. I used to make small home videos with my action figures and my dad’s old VHS camcorder. I would edit by stopping the camera to change angles and have it flow together on the tape when played back. I learned how to properly video edit in high school on iMovie around 2005. Read more>>

Jason Flynn

I had been around film photography since high school, but it never stuck. At 40, I was a father of two girls, working in sales … stable, but completely uninspired. That changed when a friend showed me what his Canon EOS 5D paired with a 200mm lens could do. He took a portrait of my daughter that nearly filled the frame … Read more>>

Niko Gerentes

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been entertaining my family and friends with funny noises, songs, and jokes. Read more>>

Swara Seshan

Swara’ means ‘musical notes’ in Sanskrit – so it’s not surprising that my parents made sure I spent a lot of time around the arts. I began learning Hindustani classical vocal music and Kathak dance at a very young age – and then later got an undergraduate degree in Fashion Design. Read more>>

Marine Ashnalikyan

I went to a science and technology high school. It was not the place you’d expect someone to fall in love with writing. But I did. In film class, I loved all of it — the camera work, the craft of putting a scene together with different angles, and even the editing. But what pulled me in most was the story underneath it all. Read more>>

BUCI BUCI

I was born and raised in China, where I began my career working as a DJ at well-known clubs and music festivals across the country. During that time, I realized that I wasn’t fully satisfied with only playing other people’s music — I wanted to create music that truly belonged to me. That realization led me to start teaching myself music production and composition. Read more>>

Ifeanyi C. Oshun

I’ve done a lot of things— it’s hard to figure out where you’d like me to focus or begin! Read more>>

Chris Schmitt

My love for photography began in high school, sparked by an inspiring teacher whose enthusiasm was contagious. He encouraged me to keep shooting, and for a time, I did. Shortly after graduating, I moved from LA to Hawaii, where life took a different turn—one that ultimately led me to sell my camera just to make rent. Photography was put on hold, but not forgotten. Read more>>

Adam Hasper

Parhelion Cellars didn’t start in a boardroom, it started by getting my hands dirty. I was helping my brother and his partner Steve over at Pulchella Winery, just learning, pouring, doing whatever needed to be done. Read more>>

Hannah Greene

I’m a tattoo artist and opened up the FIRST ever tattoo studio in Ojai, CA. A female owned and operated studio based in one of Ojai’s historic buildings, the original ice house (before refrigeration, this building was the cold storage facility that housed the cities ice and cold items). Read more>>

Maya Ru

I was born and raised in Los Angeles. LA in the 90s and early 2000s, felt like a haven for those with personal style. I was very aware of how people used their expression of fashion to inform the world of their identity: from luxury to beachy to alternative style. From an early age I had been obsessed with fashion. Read more>>

Michael John Wagner

I’m originally from Pittsburgh, PA, but I’ve now spent over half my life in Los Angeles. Back home, I graduated from the city’s performing arts high school and earned a near-full scholarship to a university theater conservatory. Not long after, I realized I was craving something bigger and more challenging. Read more>>

Sonovia Marie

I’ve always been inspired by fashion, art, music, and storytelling. What started as a creative outlet became a passion for helping people express themselves through style and visual direction. Over the years, I’ve grown into a career working in fashion styling and creative direction across editorials, campaigns, and celebrity styling. My journey hasn’t always been easy, but creativity has always guided me. Read more>>

Loria Nnam

Hi, I’m Loria Nnam a Nigerian-born, Los Angeles-based actor, producer, and voice actor with an MFA in Acting for Film from the New York Film Academy. I recently wrote, executive produced, and starred in my debut short film A Dash of Love : a character-driven story about Love, family and “sibling hood”, that is current geared towards the international film festival circuit. Read more>>

Jeremy Robinson

I am a licensed psychotherapist in New York and California, but I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. So, it feels meaningful to now have my in-person office in Studio City. My professional path has been less about abrupt reinvention and more about gradual evolution. I spent many years in business development and consulting before becoming a psychotherapist. Read more>>

Alexa Reyes

I finally launched my business last year. I say “finally” because this was something I had my heart set on for a long time, but I couldn’t quite muster up the courage to actually do it. For as long as I can remember I’ve always been both analytical and creative, and I struggled to find work that truly brought me joy. Read more>>

Jules Kain

Hey guys, my name is Jules Kain. I was born in Pasadena, California on Christmas Day, and I grew up in a deeply musical household rooted in Gospel music and ministry. On both sides of my family, ministry and music have been part of our heritage for generations. My father pastored, directed choirs, and played music in church for many years. Read more>>

Paola Brooker

My name is Paola Brooker, and I actually began my journey in hair while I was still in high school. I would attend school during the day and then head to beauty school afterward, graduating from both at the same time. Read more>>

Christopher Eaton

I’ve had a circuitous journey to say the least… I graduated St. Lawrence University with BAs in Music and Fine Arts with a minor in Economics. Seven days later, I sold my car and moved to Sydney, Australia, where I began writing. To make money, I gambled on the Olympics and picked strawberries. Read more>>

Peter Demopoulos

Asteri Collection began as a creative idea in Southern California — between Studio City in Los Angeles and Palm Springs — inspired by a love of bold design, travel, entertaining, fashion, and creating spaces and products that felt expressive rather than ordinary. Read more>>

Warren Purfoy

I was born and raised in Compton, Ca. I also grew up in Watts and South Central LA. My child hood was insanely rough and challenging, it was pure survival. My family was very poor and didn’t have much. As a child, I was in and out of foster care because my parents couldn’t take care of us well enough. Read more>>

Leslie Gomez

I started ThatmakescentsCo in 2021 with the idea of turning memories into scents. Growing up as a Mexican American in California, so many of my favorite memories were connected to smells like fresh pan dulce, agua frescas, Sunday morning cleaning days, family gatherings, and places around the city that shaped me. Read more>>

Katya Acosta

I started my journey in esthetics because of my own experiences with skincare and wanting to help others feel more confident in themselves. What began as a personal passion quickly turned into something I truly loved, so I pursued my esthetics license and continued educating myself beyond school through hands on experience, advanced techniques, and ongoing learning. Read more>>

Aver Hamilton

I moved to LA from Tokyo in 2021 because I knew there was a bigger playing field for me as an actor, voice actor and creator. I spent those first couple years in LA grinding—background roles, standin, UCG, shorts, making my own films-anything to build credits. Read more>>

Noemi Torres

It started when I was 7 years old. I have been deeply into anime and video games. Fully unapologetically nerdy. Along with love for the horror genre and the paranormal, that alone kept me endlessly entertained as a child. That opened something within me, the storytelling, the characters, the dark and beautiful art of all of it combined. Read more>>

Vivian Azrya

My name is Vivian Azrya, and I’m the founder and creative force behind The RYA Brand and RYA Models, a creative development and talent management company based in Atlanta with expanding connections and creative reach into Los Angeles and other major markets. Read more>>

Samantha Sosa

Samantha Sosa is a Venezuelan soprano based in Washington, DC with her Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music where she was granted the Ornest Award presented to students who show excellence in academic and musical study. Read more>>

Gioffrè Gioffrè

I opened my boutique a year and a half ago. It is called Gioffrè — a flower boutique where you discover far more than flowers and plants; you step into a world of art and beauty. Within its walls live refined cosmetics, exquisite Made in Italy vases, elegant garments, and carefully curated treasures, each chosen to inspire emotion and wonder. Read more>>

Khalisa Jiwa Mawji

I started Global Pilates because I wanted to create the kind of space I felt was missing. I’ve always loved movement, wellness, and bringing people together, but I noticed that even in a city like Vancouver, so many people felt disconnected or intimidated by traditional fitness spaces. While working my 9–5 and teaching Pilates, I realized I didn’t just want to instruct classes. Read more>>

Anabel Primiterio

Ines Studios Design is a multidisciplinary event design and creative direction studio founded by Ines Anabel Primiterio. With over two decades of artistic development across performing arts, stage design, and immersive environments, the studio approaches each project as a carefully curated experience where story, space, and intention converge. Read more>>

Elijah Aponte

My journey into modeling honestly started through photography. A close friend of mine from high school got into photography, and we’d go out and shoot different concepts just for fun. At first it wasn’t anything serious, but over time it made me more interested in modeling. Read more>>

Sara Cozolino

I have been performing since I was young. I was a dancer, singer, and in theater growing up. In my early twenties, I moved to Los Angeles with a couple friends to pursue acting in film and television, and quickly found my way on sets, which in turn earned my acceptance into SAG-AFTRA. Read more>>

Ivan Marques

Demo Tape is a band created in 2022, a few months after the worst events of COVID pandemic. We felt so small in the world when we realized that life, friendships, families and everything else could end because of a disease. So, we decided to do what we like to do with people who we love. I know guitarrist Henrique Ferreira since our childhood. Read more>>

RD Chin

How I got into Feng Shui After my dad passed away in February 1990, my very close friend, Mitch, was dying of AIDS. I was his primary caretaker, watching this lethal disease drain the Qi life force from his body. Read more>>

Michela Melone

I’m an Italian-Brazilian artist, meaning I was born in Italy but grew up going back and forth between the two countries. In Italy, I grew up in L’Aquila, and in Brazil, I spent a lot of time with family in Aracaju, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador. Read more>>

Inna Minina

ENGLISH VERSION I never planned to work in the beauty industry. My life originally followed a completely different path — economics, corporate work, stability, structure. I worked for one of the largest oil companies in Russia and lived a very “serious” adult life, believing creativity was simply a childhood passion I had left behind. Read more>>

Alek Keller

I grew up in the South of France, in my grandmother’s garden. Summers smelled like lavender and warm stone, and I spent them picking roses, laurel, lemon branches, and poppies for the people around me — not as a practice, just as a way of loving them. It was the most natural thing in the world. But I always wanted more than what was familiar. Read more>>

Erika Luren

(my telemedicine company see’s patients in Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona-but based in Nevada). At some point in all of our careers, we’re likely to hit that pivotal moment, where we question the value of what we have built. Not on a currency level per se, but rather, within the spectrum of catching the ethereal dream…living our soul’s purpose. Read more>>

Joe Fee

I started off playing drumset and guitar when I was younger. From there, I became interested in other types of percussion instruments and studied classical music at university, with a focus on contemporary and world music. I had the privilege of playing a wide variety of music from classical to pop to world music and also lots of theatre and music/dance. Read more>>

Jabulani Mdingi

I root my journey down to curiosity. Seeing how far my mindset would take me if I thought a certain way. My thinking has been to try the perceived impossible. In simple terms, I was at school and a prefect told me to get in line and prepare for the school assembly. Read more>>

Seyitan Adeyemi John

I had always loved acting. Funnily, my Dad planted that seed in me as a kid. I was a Couch potato, and he’d say, “you waste your time watching TV everyday, if it’s filmmaking you want to do let’s us know in time” he repeated it long enough to do something within me. Read more>>

Diana Delgado

I’m a Mexican model agent and scouter, and I’ve been calling New York home for the past seven years. I work with New Icon, an amazing agency originally from Mexico that’s grown to have seven locations across Latin America. Based in our NYC office, I spend my time scouting fresh faces and helping them navigate the fashion world. Read more>>

Stelios Goulas

Hard to tell when I first started taking an interest in music as I was always into music and other arts for as long as I can remember but I remember as a distinctive moment when, out of curiosity, I first got to use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) at the age of 15 and that was basically it. Read more>>

Mounir Graini

I started my journey by developing a strong interest in video production and storytelling. Over time, I taught myself filming, editing, and content creation through practice, online learning, and real client experiences. Today, I mainly work in event and wedding videography, where I focus on creating emotional and professional films that capture important moments in people’s lives. Read more>>

Keith Parris

I debut online in 2014 on Wattpad.com with my Self- titled book ‘ Amputee Story ‘ and it became an overnight sensation debuting at Number 1 on Wattpad ‘ Amputee ‘ Book Charts & Anti-bullying . Read more>>

Brian Poniatowski

I started dancing at the age of 14 in Poland, where I was born. Although it was considered a relatively late start, dance immediately became my greatest passion, and I spent every free moment after school training in the studio. After just one year of training, I won the European Championship in Hungary. Two years later, I became World Champion in Boston, USA. Read more>>

Darina David

Taste of Metals began quite by chance just over two years ago. It started with a simple curiosity toward soldering technique, playing with heat and metal to create a single necklace for personal use. That first piece was a revelation, the process of transforming raw material into wearable art became an immediate addiction. Read more>>

Beyondsonny

I’ve been making music since high school and started recording in professional studios around the age of 14. Growing up in Brooklyn with Caribbean influences around me, music became a way to express vulnerability, ambition, and self-awareness from an early age. I was heavily inspired by artists like Kanye West, Kid Cudi, J. Read more>>

Angélique Renarde

I’m originally from Houston, Texas, where I went to college as a double major in theater and fashion design. I always knew that I wanted to exist in a world centered around self expression, creativity, and storytelling. My transition truly began after moving to New York City, where I was able to fully step into myself both personally and professionally. Read more>>

Jahnavi Gusani

I’ve always been a deeply creative person, but for a long time I felt disconnected from that side of myself while trying to follow more traditional paths and expectations. Over time, I realized that creativity wasn’t just a hobby for me- it was a huge part of who I am and how I connect with people. Read more>>

Justin Gaspaire

My journey into photography has been started later in life. Inspired by my wife giving me boudoir pictures for our first anniversary. I took senior pics with my kid and then started chasing around our grandson with my camera. After that I took a runway photography workshop through FDNW (fashion district northwest). After that i began building experience through trade work and fashion shows. Read more>>

Jared Goulette

I was born and raised in the Green Mountains of Williston, Vermont. I went to Champlain Valley Union High School with an amazing group of people and proudly took every art class my highschool offered. I then moved to Portland, Maine upon receiving a scholarship to attend The Maine College of Art located in the heart of the city in 2007. Read more>>

Daria Valiguras

Hi, my name is Daria Valiguras, and I’m a fashion, portrait, and commercial photographer currently based in Miami, focusing on editorials, brand campaigns, product photography, fashion shows, and street style photography. My creative journey originally started in classical music — I spent 17 years studying piano, which strongly influenced the way I see emotion, rhythm, movement, and atmosphere in visual art today. Read more>>

Nina Podlesnyak

I think my path into animation was a little unusual. I actually studied math in university and worked as a software engineer for a while. But creatively, it started much earlier, I loved drawing as a child. I had a few animated movies on VHS tapes, and I would pause them frame by frame and copy the characters into sketchbooks. Read more>>

Andrés Gallego

I started working with photography around 2017, in a mostly self-taught way. At the beginning, photography was a way of exploring something that I felt inside but did not really know how to express with words. I have always been quite introspective, and the camera slowly became a tool that allowed me to externalize emotions, questions, and certain inner states. Read more>>

Majd (Magda) Asad

My journey into the fertility field started from both a scientific and deeply human perspective. I hold a degree in Medical Genetics, and from early on I was fascinated by reproductive medicine, embryology, and the complex science behind fertility treatment. Read more>>

Isabel Galey

I started Bubba’s Big Adventure when I was 13, after adopting my dog Bubba, a Great Pyrenees rescue who quickly became a huge part of my life. What began as just sharing funny moments and memories with him slowly grew into something much bigger than I ever expected. Read more>>

Christine Kevichusa

I think most people found me through a TikTok I posted of a Canva presentation I made planning a trip to Greece with the caption ‘Me planning a girl’s trip bc I am insane.’ to a viral Hannah Montana sound. Read more>>

Shenequa Calander

Hello, my name is Shenequa Calander… I was born in Washington DC… My birthday is January 23, 1989… aka SheInspires…. Read more>>

Nuri Durr

I got my start working as a caricature artist at Six Flags around 2012-2013. I did this for a season while attending Georgia State University. I’ve been sharing my art on forums and websites like DeviantArt since middle school so by the time Instagram rolled out I was able to gradually build a following there. Read more>>

Aarani Montanari

My passion for helping moms began when I experienced my own difficult transition to motherhood in 2021. I struggled with breastfeeding my son and subsequently struggled with postpartum anxiety and depression. Finding an amazing IBCLC to help me reach my breastfeeding goals as well as finding a support system of new moms saved me and helped me discover the joy in motherhood. Read more>>

Elexi Boladian

Just like every person with a dream the difference between me and everyone else is I acted on my dream. What is my dream? I started my hustling journey at a young age selling sneakers. Waiting on release day begging my mom to drive me to finish line. The hustle has always been in me. Read more>>

Martin Englert

I started out performing at kids’ birthday parties, weddings, and charity events, dressing up as superheroes and entertaining people. I always loved making people smile because bringing happiness to others brought joy to me too. Sometimes all someone needs is a little light in their life, and I enjoyed being able to give that to them. Read more>>

Jacob Arechiga

Here you go: — **Finding the Frame: Jake Arechiga’s Path to Purposeful Storytelling** I’ve been telling stories my whole life. Through music, through a camera lens, through every late-night edit and last-minute gig. I built something, piece by piece, and I knew exactly where it was all heading. About ten years ago, I started turning that drive into a craft. Read more>>

DeAnte (Ante) Payne

I started out curious and passionate just like anybody else, trying things I was interested in until I found what stuck. Music was that for me; I had no idea in the beginning that it would be when I started. I started my earliest exposure to music right before junior high school and continued through junior high school, high school and even undergad. Read more>>

Roger Hill II

My name is Roger Bryant Hill II, aka Roger Dodger. I’m an adult diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (form of Autism). At the age of 3, my mom was told that I was ‘mentally retarded’ back when the terms weren’t that great. Afterwards, I started occupational therapy and speech & language therapy at a place called LA Speech and Language Therapy Center. Read more>>

Sophia Graniela

My journey began in 2022 after a devastating heartbreak that completely cracked my life open. At the time, I thought I was only grieving the relationship, but what surfaced was so much deeper. It brought up years of abandoning myself, quieting my voice, and losing who I was in the process of trying to be loved, accepted, and chosen. Read more>>

Mariam Ansari

I started Gulab House because I’ve always loved hosting and making drinks. For the longest time I was basically the barista for my family and friends, making chai, coffee, matcha, whatever they were craving whenever they came over. I just loved being able to make something special for people. Growing up, drinks were a big part of my life. Read more>>

Cassandra Cervantes

Growing up, I never had the opportunity to receive formal training in the arts because my family simply could not afford it. I was born and raised in Long Beach for most of my childhood and my first love was singing. Read more>>

Wett Brain

I’m a professional recording artist that goes by the stage name “Wett Brain” I’ve done upwards of 100 million streams across a catalog of only around 30–40 songs, which stats wise puts me somewhere in the top 0.5% to 1% of artists or something like that. Read more>>

Katja Müller

I’ve always been someone who loves storytelling. Creativity was how I processed my experiences, film, music, paintings, visuals. It never felt like a choice, it was just the way I made sense of things. Read more>>

Kenedi Smith

At the age of 5, my mom became a surrogate for the first time. By her second journey, when I was 8 years old, I fully understood the process. I adored the couple she was helping, and being surrounded by that much love and hope sparked something in me very early on. Later, I became a single mom at just 20 years old. Read more>>

Talia Toms

As an actor, it all started because my modeling agent at the time suggested I begin to do commercials to make more money. I resisted the idea of acting at first, but got in a class and was totally bit by the bug. Read more>>

Jack Lanhardt

My grandpa initially got me introduced to music, specifically jazz, at a very young age. Ever since then I’ve been completely enamored by the world of music and how I can use it express myself to the fullest extent. Read more>>

LYRICALMAR

My name is LYRICALMAR. I am an innovative and genre-bending artist whose voice and point of view musically is untapped. Since 15yo, my attention to production and lyrics was distinctive, and my records range from Rap, to Pop, and even Dance. The topics I have covered range from fierce self confidence, overcoming bullying, to black economic wealth. Read more>>

Shavaughn Lee

I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but I spent decades in the corporate world, feeling a constant dissatisfaction that no job title or salary could fix. My heart was elsewhere, and I knew I had to make a change. I spent years brainstorming and finally had a breakthrough. Read more>>

NIL ERBIL

My journey through life has always been full of challenges, but every challenge shaped the career and creative path I built for myself. I once dreamed of becoming an actress and being part of the movie industry, but life led me toward a different kind of creativity . Creating spaces, experiences, and lifestyles that bring people joy, beauty, and quality into their lives. Read more>>

Dylan Yanez

DF Tram is a visionary music producer, DJ, and visual artist renowned for his cinematic and psychedelic fusion of ambient, electronic, and chillout music. Hailing from Los Angeles, his deeply immersive audio-visual performances have captivated audiences and earned the recognition of industry pioneers such as Alex Paterson (The Orb) and “Youth” Martin Glover (Killing Joke, producer for Paul McCartney & The Verve). Read more>>

Shanni Sabag

From a young age, I had a deep desire to help others. That calling remained strong even after I became a mother, therefore i knew it was time to pursue my dream. I was determined to become a registered nurse and be part of something greater than myself, making a meaningful difference in people’s lives every single day. Read more>>

Erica Munson

I opened FORM + CONTENT with no retail experience. I had a vision for a space that felt considered and intentional, where everything I carried had a reason to be there. It was something I wanted to exist in this community, so I decided to be the one to do it. Read more>>