INSPIRING LA SEP 9

Christian Martinez

Growing up in Los Angeles, I was raised by my late grandmother, a woman whose strength and dedication to hard work shaped my life in countless ways. Our home was modest, nestled in a neighborhood (SELA) that taught me the value of community and resilience. My grandmother worked tirelessly to ensure I had the essentials in life. She instilled in me the belief that no task was too small and that every job should be done with pride and precision. Read More>>

Kira Johnson

The prospect of starting over from scratch at 30 years old was so daunting, but I took that big leap and it has turned out to be, professionally, the best choice I have ever made. I have done ESPN spots for professional athletes, Hulu up fronts for acclaimed producers, and my personal favorite, backstage at fashion week. I still get scared working on new clients, but now it’s a scared/excited instead of an existential spiral of dread. Read More>>

Armiel Chandler

I think when you’re the first of something it’s not easy but I know all the hardships in my career will make it a smoother road for others that look like me. Being a plus-size fashion creator trying to fit in a space you face challenges more than some of your other counterparts but that doesn’t stop me from showing up. Me showing up is allowing others that look like me to feel seen. I continue to create because I know I am creating an inclusive space for plus-size guys in fashion. Read More>>

Ayumi Nakao

Sometime I lost how to express myself, but in the end, I felt the most accomplished by believing in myself and painting what I want to is best to expressing myself, and people empathize with my artwork. No matter where I am, I want to create what I think is good and would like to find people who empathize with my artworks. Read More>>

Alisha Duran

I love what I do Anything I do has my signature in it , the goal is when you see my hair styles in public you’ll already without a doubt know who the hairstylist is . Read More>>

Edgar Barradas

I’ve long loved arts, crafts, music, and photography, and somehow destiny, luck, and some skills have brought me to where I am today. I worked hard, very hard in Texas for many years, with lots of manual labor, building, fixing, and repairing all sorts of things around, becoming a handyman, honing my problem-solving skills, while still practicing my love for music and cameras. Love is what brought me to Los Angeles more than a decade ago, and while that didn’t flourish in the long run, I knew one thing, I had to prove to myself I could be on my own, and be self-sufficient. The city embraced me, and I embraced her back, LA had everything I wanted, and I was in love once again. Read More>>

Wenzdai Tosca

For the past decade, I’ve been deeply immersed in the entertainment and sports industries. Growing up, I dreamed of owning a magazine, inspired by the 2000s advertising exec model. But as the industry transitioned to the digital landscape, I found new ways to channel my skills in writing, marketing, negotiation, and understanding personal dynamics. This led me naturally into the entertainment world, where I found the perfect entry point to begin my career. Read More>>

Elviz Sandoval

My name is Elviz Sandoval and I was born in Mexico, when I was 5 years old my family and I moved to Hawaii. I remember my mom buying the quick snap Fuji cameras and she would let me take photos of family and friends and since I’ve always been into photography. I never actually owned a professional so I would always barrow friends camera, would use what I had available such as my phone. That changed in 2020 when I purchased my first professional camera. From there I started to really master my craft and started taking photos of models! Read More>>

Denis Wisse

It wasn’t the small road simply because the market we are in is highly dominated by I wear retailers And it was hard and still hard to compete with them and their budgets, but we found our unique approach in getting customers and we come up with unique customer service that makes clients to return to us Read More>>

Delano Dj Socal Edwards

DJ SoCaL’s journey as a DJ began in earnest during his freshman year of high school when he was given the opportunity to mix music during lunch for his peers and school staff. This experience sparked his ambition, leading him to host his own parties and club events, collaborating with well-known and emerging Hip-Hop artists. Read More>>

Rosalyn Kawahira

We also offer beginner classes of all kinds of crafts for folks to try new things, like embroidery, crochet, or watercolor, and host events where artisans can sell their handmade products. Another unique aspect is that we have a small makerspace where emerging crafters can rent equipment by the hour. We hope to be a community space where everyone can be inspired to make art. We want to awaken your latent creativity and offer opportunities for folks to practice what’s in their hearts. Read More>>

Kevin Estrada

I was really broke. Pandemic really kicked me off because rates were so low. Now I’ve build a great book of business thanks to connections with realtors, past clients, contractors, and other industry professions that refer me clients. I bought a home in Hollywood Hills in January 2024 at the age of 29. This is my 4th property. I sold 2 of them, and right now I have 2. Hollywood Hills & Rancho Cucamonga. Read More>>

Olachi Agba

Whether it’s finding a new restaurant or supporting chefs who bring these flavors to life, Chop Hub exists to build a stronger community around this vital and often overlooked cuisine. Chop Hub is more than a review page—it’s a platform dedicated to promoting and elevating the cuisine of the African Diaspora. We connect travelers and food lovers with the best restaurants, chefs, and creators while helping businesses grow their visibility and community. Read More>>

Gerard Feliciano

I known by most of my colleagues as a Content Creator in the VR/AR Field, I create Video Edits showcasing Virtual Reality experiences in Meta’s Metaverse; Horizon Worlds. But I’ve recently transitioned into the world of Media, covering the newest technologies in the VR/AR industry at these technology conferences. Read More>>

Cesar Predes

Learning how to be more in the office then in on the mats or on the weights room, it’s been challenging, emails, project, marketing campaigns, management outside the mats it’s as hard as inside the mats. Read More>>

Cesar Funes

My story starts back in my country El Salvador. I came to the US specifically Los Angeles CA. I was 15 years old then, I went to high school graduated and then after I was planning on going to colleg to continue with my studies but unfortunately when you are an immigrant the opportunities are less. I couldn’t afford college so I decided to start working. Thanks to a really good friend of mine I came across a opportunity to start working in DTLA in the fashion district.  Read More>>

Shivani Garg

One of the biggest struggles has been educating influencers on the importance of legal representation and protecting their rights. Many didn’t realize the complexities involved in digital media and intellectual property, so we’ve had to focus a lot on raising awareness and helping them understand the value of having legal support. Despite these obstacles, we’ve remained committed to our mission of supporting creatives Read More>>

Tyrell Martin

At 14, my world expanded when I discovered fashion and modeling through Tumblr, inspired by artists and young models like Luka Sabbat. This newfound passion led me to explore modeling more seriously. A crucial turning point came when my track coach, Coach Andre, encouraged me to move to California. He saw potential beyond being a student-athlete and suggested I move to LA to pursue modeling. Read More>>

Angel “Ace” Correa

I began discovering more music through the video game series’ Guitar Hero and Rockband, before eventually discovering the power of the internet and pirating music. All throughout middle school to high school, I did a deep dive on all the classics of rock, metal, punk, hip hop and r&b. By the time I was 16, I started producing beats, and a year later picked up the electric guitar. Read More>>

Zeping Sun

I’m a director, producer, animator and visual artist based in LA. As a Gen-Z, I have been surrounded by mixed media since I was born. So I have explored and thought a lot about the medium. Since middle school, I spent my free time learning design and hand-drawing. During my undergraduate studies, I attended Beijing Union University, majoring in Digital Media Art, where I focused more on live-action filming and the study and creation of various other media. For example, My works in the past have covered animated films, 3D and live-action synthesized short films, VR games, CG design, 3D printing, AR, and many other forms.  Read More>>

Zillenigalz

We’re a group of four close friends who first connected in our early 20s. From the moment we met, our friendship has been filled with endless laughter and unforgettable memories. Over the years, we’ve shared experiences that range from hilarious to downright unbelievable. As time passed (and as our frontal lobes started to fully develop), we noticed that every time we got together it felt like we were living out the plot of a movie. Read More>>

Sebastine Paragas

The public street is always smooth, but the personal driveway is a bit bumpy at times! I entered a whole new world that I knew nothing about and till this day, I still feel weird about calling myself a real photographer. At most, I’ll tell people that I take photo. People will respond back like, “So you’re a photographer?” in which my response usually is hesitation. I’m still lacking confidence in this field. However, I believe that confidence is like a muscle, the more you do it, the more confident you get. Read More>>

Miguel Ramirez

I started surrounding myself with like-minded individuals, soaking up info like a sponge from people who were in places I wanted to be at, and eventually started helping others grow too which has created a strong community. Fast forward to today and I have many accolades that I’m proud of, my most notable being featured in Vogue! Read More>>

Jose Heriberto Benavidez

It was hard to choose between pursuing my bachelor’s in accounting at Fullerton State College or start El Charro. I definitely made the right choice in my opinion. Of course it’s difficult because of the uncertainty. Read More>>

Edith Aguirre

Now I still model and began new business partnerships with different high end skin beauty products and other self care brands on my social media platform. I continue to work in making my own facial cream & hair products, I’m blessed with my children and my 3 beautiful grandchildren. Life is beautiful and and I’m truly blessed, everyday I keep embracing my silver natural hair! To remind other women of any color to embrace there own beauty everyday. Read More>>

Solomon Ngo

I studied hard and did what I thought was right for me, though I have always felt like something was missing or wasn’t exactly right deep down inside. The passion I thought I had for a medical career wasn’t there, but instead, I was always drawn to fashion, style, and was always sketching in my free time and downtime. This passion that I didn’t realize I had actually stemmed from way back, ever since I could remember being back in Southeast Asia. Read More>>

Trini Hernandez

In 2008, I found myself at a crossroads. As a newly minted paralegal, I was eager to make a difference, working tirelessly alongside an attorney to help clients navigate the complexities of their legal battles. Every day was a new challenge, a puzzle waiting to be solved, and I relished the opportunity to assist those in need. It wasn’t just a job; it was a calling. I discovered that helping people brought me a deep sense of fulfillment. Read More>>

Harmony Tate

She has worked with many reputable brands since. Her first paid work was with Carter’s where she was featured on the website, on flyers, in stores and also in commercial ads. Harmony has also worked with brands such as Walmart, Apple, Infantino and many more. Harmony has also worked alongside creative director CHILD in a chase commercial where Harmony acted as a stunt double. Read More>>

Alexander Schwartz

It hasn’t been easy I am really figuring out everything on my own no mentors just kind of bouncing ideas off friends and family and learning with the mistakes. How i would have handled projects differently etc. and independently financing from my paycheck from job trying to scale as the business grows. Taking a lot of risk in order to further push myself and the quality of my products. Read More>>

Samira Faraj

So at the festivals that I didn’t get a single read, I passed out my cards, made friends with the other vendors, networked with various artists/performers. At the parties, well…..I would pick the people that were the rudest and read them first….it never not once failed, I had them so enthralled by the end of their read that I most of the time got hugs, tears, or laughter. I still to this day keep my gratitude journal and I still work with affirmations on a daily  basis.  Read More>>

 

 

Susan Barbour

When I was modeling. I would pick a spot on the floor or the wall where I could fix my gaze and so steady my pose. Soon I was afflicted by pareidolia, or the tendency to see patterns where there are none. I began seeing faces and body parts in wood grain and dimples in the plaster. One day, years later, I was taking a shower and fallen strands of hair came loose in my hand. I smeared them across the wall so they wouldn’t go down the drain. I looked and saw the clear image of a woman’s elongated back, a chignon at the nape of her neck.  Read More>>

Cat Meyer

Around that time, I was working with a Jungian-oriented psychotherapist and astrologer, who suggested I reflect on my adolescence to identify any passions I might have let go of. Looking back to those years in high school led me to remember the interest I had in sex education and the frustration I’d experienced around it. I thought about returning to school to become a sex therapist or educator, but it didn’t feel like the right fit, since I didn’t want to shift entirely into the academic world. Read More>>

Vanessa Vargas

They immigrated to the United States at a young age. Growing up, both of my parents worked, so my maternal grandmother took care of me and my siblings. She had a special nickname for me, “La Vani.” Whenever she asked my mom about me, she would say, “Y la Vani?” I loved that nickname, and it inspired my social media handle, @allthingsvani. Read More>>

Nagi C

With each passing event, I still found myself longing for the ultimate goal- establishing a permanent location for our beloved maid cafe. Knowing the difficulties in starting a brick-and-mortar business, the team knew that we had to be patient and look towards the right opportunities. Read More>>

Richard Sandoval

God had a different plan for me. I found the resilience of spirit to get the desire to change. I stopped drinking and using drugs in prison. I committed to going back to finishing my education which included a GED and beginning my college education. Also going to see a psychologist and all the self-help groups that I could find. While all this was happening proposition 57 was passed and I became eligible for parole consideration at the same time that I was most ready to communicate my change. Read More>>

Anisa Benitez

I decided to become a full-time artist after overcoming the fear of being a ‘starving artist.’ As a child I was always finding ways to perform (dance, act, sing), make things (sew clothing, cooking projects), and make art (paint, draw). Creating daily made me feel most alive. Then, through societal fear-based conditioning, self-doubt, and comparison, I shut out the possibility that I could make a livelihood as an artist. Achieving financial stability was always important to me because I came from a low-income family and adopted a scarcity mentality. Read More>>

Chance Falkner

I spent the next three years in high school living and breathing (seldomly sleeping) film. Trying to constantly iterate the process, throwing proverbial dung at the wall to see what stuck. And meanwhile; things at home became precarious. My mother has to go away- I move in with some neighbors. I work often- careful not to allow much time to consider my living arrangements. I tell myself I can out work the circumstance; I sort of do. Word of my situation spreads and folks take notice of what I’m trying to do. A school counselor takes an elevated interest and somehow finds a way to get me into film school. Read More>>

Mi Centro La Lgbt Center

The policies and administrations that seek to diminish and limit our work is what our Los Angeles LGBT Center leaders focus on and fight for so that our Mi Centro team can build trust in our communities, do the outreach, create a Community Advisory Board that informs our programming, and collaborate with other LGBTQIA+ agencies and allies. We are well aware what is working against us in this country but in the communities we serve we only see opportunity and possibilities. Read More>>

Olivia Mackell

Being Black Girl with willpower and morals it is a very rocky road. I stand firm in my beliefs and stay close to my roots. When faced with difficulties it’s important to lean into the bible because This industry can test you in ways you’ve never thought possible. From being scammed to being assaulted you never know what can happen when following your dreams thats why it’s important to have a strong support system to back you up. Read More>>

Stella Wu

My journey at SVA was far from smooth. In my first year, I struggled to find my own way of drawing, as I was still bound by the constraints of the Asian education model. For a long time, I had been conditioned to draw in a realistic style, which made me forget how to draw spontaneously and loosely. I could only create when I had photos as references, and without them, I lacked the confidence to show my work. Drawing had become a source of pressure for me because I believed that only highly realistic art would be considered great or a display of superb skill. Read More>>

Irving Arrevillaga

I grew up in the street of Lincoln Heights, as a Latino male. From parents that didn’t come from anything. growing up in a Latino household was very interesting to say the least. I come from a long line of hard-working, family members. One thing I could say is my dad is my aspiration he is someone that works so hard in his life to where he is now. from working 4 jobs all to give the life we deserve growing up. And my amazing mother for work 2 jobs just so her kids could have the best in life. Read More>>

Renae Johnson

The more marginalized your background, the more likely you were to be filtered out by these nearly impossible hoops. I began to see how the professionalization path in therapy was designed in a way that could easily burn out and exclude aspiring therapists from marginalized backgrounds, especially in non-profits and traditional private practices. Read More>>

 

Danny P.

I got started making beats back in 2017. Feeling no support from that after creating and releasing 3 albums, I decided to start rapping on my beats myself. I guess you can say that was the start of my villain era. After Beating The Drip 1-3. I relocated from Fayetteville NC to LA and released Nothing But Slaps 4/20/2024. And it’s been up ever since. Read More>>

Shoreh Ershadi

At the start of 2024, I shifted my focus to promoting apoptosis, a critical biological process. According to recent research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, those born after 1965 may be aging faster and are at a higher risk of developing cancer compared to previous generations. This accelerated aging is linked to the disruption of apoptosis, the body’s natural mechanism for eliminating damaged cells. Read More>>

Ryu Isobe

It became my weekend hobby. After I graduated from USC, I found the investor and I opened a tiny ramen restaurant called Tatsu Ramen. Tatsu Ramen became extremely successful, but then my Investor and I started to have different visions. My investor wanted to pursue pure profit over the quality of food. However, I wanted to provide the best quality of food although the profit becomes slightly less. Long story short, we decided to go different ways, and I let go Tatsu Ramen. Read More>>

Jane Goto

Even if you’re not comparing yourself, it’s hard to wonder why you haven’t achieved everything you’ve wanted yet . It’s also hard to remember that everybody’s paths and timelines are completely different. I’m in my 20s which is typically a weird time in life. I have a lot of time…but I don’t always feel that way. The amount of times I questioned if I was capable enough to pursue what I’m pursing or if I’m even good enough have been more than I can count. Honestly, I still have moments like that in this human experience. Read More>>

Young Shin

This newfound passion led me to transition into contracting, and in 2019, I founded NLA. At NLA, I expertly blend my deep design background with construction knowledge, working on both residential and commercial projects. I am deeply passionate about my work and providing my clients with their vision, and I look forward to continuing to elevate NLA and its projects in the years to come. Read More>>

 

Kendal Villa

In my second year of college, I co-founded the Jazz Co-Lab club at UC Irvine in order to set up a community for musicians, movers, and observers to enjoy playing in jam sessions. The best way I feel I can offer my knowledge is by navigating life consistently curious and engaging in new experiences. My purpose as an artist is to cultivate a collaborative environment and learn from other creatives in order to grow as an individual. Read More>>

Shyra Lowe

As a Corporate Executive, Ministry Leader, and Trained Lay Counselor for more than 25 years combined, over the years I found myself serving as an ad hoc business consultant, financial advisor, career coach, spiritual advisor, marital counselor, and overall coach and mentor to numerous professionals, individuals, married couples, business owners, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and families who found themselves in various economic, emotional, social, financial, educational, and environmental crisis to say the least. Read More>>

Rana Mays

I want to raise my children to learn that hard work and determination and staying true to their core values and standards is key to success. I serve on numerous advisory board and pharmaceutical panels as well as volunteer faculty and investigator in many clinical trials. Throughout it all I have learned staying humble and working hard , while connecting with people is key to any success both professionally and personally. Read More>>

Breann Shook

It all started with our English Cocker Spaniel, Lucy. At 11 years old, she became incredibly picky about her food, and we struggled to find treats that were safe, healthy, and worked with her allergies. After trying countless products on the market with no success, we started investigating what ingredients are used in pet food. We were shocked by the inferior quality of ingredients commonly used in pet products at the time. Read More>>

Robert Brown

I’ve had the incredible opportunity to open for many artist while working in nightlife such as OT Genasis, French Montana, Chris Brown, Too Short, & Eric Bellinger. In 2019 & 2020 I was able to open for comedic Legend Mike Epps On his comedy tour, Platinum Comedy Tour. Currently I am continuously working on expanded Vybe Agency, while also carrying a full DJ calendar throughout Souther California, Phoenix, and now Las Vegas. Read More>>

Patrick Laverty

Like with any journey, his certainly had its ups and downs. As he grew through his early 20’s, his dreams of becoming a rockstar were set aside in the interest of building a career. But that dream was never forgotten. As he grew, he would always be sure to practice his skills and play from the heart, especially on weekends. Read More>>

Taylor Saavedra

I was told I would never be able to move again. February I had my second surgery and lost most of my hearing. I’m still in the process of healing but today August 2024 I am walking with a walker. I did not accept the fact that I would never be able to walk again I never gave up and I’m still not gonna give up. Read More>>

Skye Lopez

During COVID, I was stuck in my room, 17 years old, and not allowed to do anything with friends, travel, etc. I would constantly create little videos of myself dressed up, and put my favorite song over them. After this, listening to new music made me create these visions and ideas in my head that I so badly wanted to bring to life. I started by using my close friends, and family as my muses, like my sister, my best friend Mia, etc. Mia was the one who I captured the most throughout my practice. She was able to model what I wanted to execute in my ideas, whether it was to scream into my camera or flip her hair so aggressively. Read More>>

Celina Jeon

Embracing this newfound awareness, I began dedicating my time to photography, capturing images of my peers and exploring various locations and studios to bring my vision to life. Over the years, working in diverse environments has given me the chance to collaborate with a wide range of models and photographers, significantly enhancing my knowledge and technique to this profession. These experiences have allowed me to experiment with different styles and niches, ultimately leading me to discover and refine my own unique approach. Read More>>

Morgan Cutlip

I have been interested in relationships for as long as I can remember. My entry into this work and my career is deeply impacted by my father. My dad went back to school for his PhD in psychology when I was in grade school and I used to attend classes with him. He’d give me fake cases and ask how I’d help that particular client’s marriage or family. I fell in love with the work.  Read More>>

Taleen Metcalf

I’ve always been passionate about interior design. Since I was about 10 years old, I really enjoyed visiting my dad’s office, who is also an interior designer himself. I would help him with his projects, from picking finishes to assembling material boards for his next big meeting. I realized then that I wanted to pursue this as my dream job one day. Read More>>

 

Haruka Hayashi

So back in 2019, I decided to take the plunge and get my brows microbladed. It was a game-changer for me – no more struggling to draw eyebrows every morning! The results were amazing, and I knew I wanted to dive deeper into permanent makeup. Fast forward to early 2020, I went for ombre powder brows and asked the salon owner if she could teach me. Turns out, she said yes! I was a bit unsure about jumping into the beauty industry without any prior experience, but then the pandemic hit. That unexpected twist pushed me to finally pursue my passion for permanent makeup. Read More>>

Sarah Bradham

I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, soaking in the charm of historic architecture and the vibrant beauty of the barrier islands. This sparked my love for photography, which led me to New York, where I earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and had the opportunity to work with some of my favorite photographers like Cass Bird and Ryan McGinley. Read More>>

Xiaoran Chen

Like many concept artists, my journey began with doodles in textbooks and sketchbooks, where I created countless imaginary friends and their stories. Driven by this passion, I pursued Illustration at Pratt Institute and am currently studying concept art at the Academy of Art University. I’ve been fortunate to intern at Activision in 2022 and work on various animation projects over the past two years. These experiences have been invaluable, allowing me to grow significantly and broaden my perspective by collaborating with industry professionals in both game and animation fields. Read More>>

Yuxin Peng

My journey has been full of twists and turns: I grew up in a traditional rural family in China, but I never felt I fit in with my surroundings. I had a passion for movies, animation, and games, spending more time on these interests than with my family. I believe most of my self-education came from the movies I watched. Although I studied chemical engineering during my undergraduate years in China, my enthusiasm for the film industry never waned. I eagerly watched excellent films and learned the principles of film storytelling through YouTube. Read More>>

Katherine Swick

When I moved back to the United States in 2021 after over 5 years abroad in SE Asia, I moved to Los Angeles and started taking acting classes and workshops. I studied abroad for a summer at LAMDA in London and then was accepted into the Stella Adler Professional Conservatory at the Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles. From there I’ve been apart of short films, theater productions, voice over projects, and standup comedy. Read More>>

Joyce Chai

The struggles have largely been self-inflicted, ha! It’s nuts how much I can get in my own way. It’s definitely been and continues to be a journey to embody the kind of person I’d like to show up as everyday. I’m encouraged that confidence and self-trust gets a bit easier with time. Read More>>

Anastasia Gerasimova

Currently, I continue to run my Instagram blog, where I share vegetarian recipes featuring herbs, interesting facts, and offer personal consultations with two months of follow-up support. I also participate in events and collaborate with spa salons and yoga studios. Additionally, I have an online shop on my website and Etsy. Read More>>

Andrew Calvillo

Anything that had to do with creativity was really what made my soul feel happy. Art has always been a way for me to express myself as a person. As a child, that is who I felt I was created to be. Throughout my childhood, I studied and practiced various types of arts, always trying my best to learn and grow as much as I possibly could in different fields. Read More>>

Bella Chen

Now, my biggest challenge is balancing my role as a psychotherapist, which I deeply love, with my pursuit of becoming a professional artist. I believe that how we serve is how we are most fully realized as our true self. My ultimate goal is to serve — pointing others toward beauty both inside and out. Both paths allow me to do this while staying true to myself, and for that, I am deeply grateful. Read More>>

Lxgit

I originally had a passion and love for music at a very young age. One of the first jobs I could remember my dad having he managed a warehouse music store locally in LA, I would get all the fresh demos and singles for free so I felt the connection early on. Hip-hop was a huge part of my foundation, including my father and many other individuals in my family have always expressed themselves through music and spoken-word. Read More>>

Sid Reddy

After graduating college from Unlv I played overseas basketball, came back had a daughter so I started bartending to make money immediately. But after many years doing that I decided I wanted opportunities to make money during the daytime, so I googled careers for heavily tatted people and stumbled across barbering. So I humbled myself and went back to school at the age of 30, finished top of my class and have been barbering ever since. Started my mobile barber business during Covid. Also still the head bartender at a nightclub, so I do both (with pride) currently. Read More>>

Ji Hoon Yang

Hi, my name is Ji Hoon Yang, and I’m an Industrial Designer. I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, and recently graduated from ArtCenter College of Design with a Bachelor of Science in Product Design. From a young age, I’ve always been a logical thinker, intrigued by the reasoning behind designs, the “whys” of people’s interactions with products, and the influence of social trends and movements. This curiosity naturally led me to industrial design, a field that values improvement and refinement through research and thoughtful reasoning. Read More>>

Bridget Dickey

I didn’t have access to a sewing machine growing up so I started hand sewing when I was in middle school, thrifting clothing and just taking them apart and sewing them back together or embellishing them. I loved creating new pieces off of items I already had and making them my own. Read More>>

Ashley Barrios

My journey, has been difficult it almost didn’t get to begin I failed my written exam twice. My sister in law had to help me study almost everyday. After I overcame my struggle I had to learn how to be more self confident and assertive because my Industy is extremely competitive even if it’s just competing against your self to do better. I’ve also struggled financially because when your first starting having steady clients doesn’t usually happen at the jump you have to learn how to expose your self. Read More>>

Nataly Alvarez

I felt like I was still searching for “my thing” until I got hired at Miss Lola as a Photo Editor. Everything so far was fashion related so I knew that’s what I wanted to be around. This Photo Editor position just fit since I knew Photoshop well and I was still in a fashion company surrounded by clothes, shoes, and accessories (my favorite part). Read More>>

Esther Olivares

It all started by my dad pushing me to do hair when I really wanted to be a lawyer. Who would think their dad would choose doing hair as a career then a lawyer for their child. I started beauty school when I was 16 with the ROP program they offered at school. Didn’t finish the program because I wanted to finish playing sports. I was still cutting my friends hair in the garage for $10. That’s how I was making money in HS. Read More>>

 

Austin Ollis

After Jordan lost the weight, he visited our hometown and met up with a couple who had just had a baby. They wanted to know what Jordan did to lose all the weight, because they both gained a few pounds during the pregnancy and found it much harder to lose the weight after the birth. Read More>>

Natalie Amador

I did not hesitate and that night I got home researched the program and enrolled for Fall of 2018 . I worked a lot the summer prior to the program since I did need to pay for the course out of pocket and with the support of my parents I started my program and finished May of 2019 ! Read More>>

Paloma Rodriguez

Even in the days I felt like I was drowning I was happy to still be running afloat, I was always thankful for where I was and grateful for where I have been. On days I felt like throwing in the towel I thought of all the sacrifices I made and never wanted them to be in vain. I think falling in love with the process and the struggles that it comes with is what keeps me going and looking forward to the future and what’s to come. My resilience is impressive I surprise myself everyday, it’s different when the only person you can let down is yourself. Read More>>

Morgan Peters

I grew up in a blue collar, creative household on California’s central coast, and was was lucky to have the dual importance of both pursuing your passions and prioritizing the practical impressed on me from an early age. My father is a musician and my mother is a painter, and even when times were tough, art was always a part of my upbringing. At the age of 5, I fell head over heels in love with music, performance and storytelling, and found an unparalleled home and camaraderie in the theatre. Read More>>

Dylan Horton

What I can say is that my journey wasn’t the easiest but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because not too many athletes make it out of Inglewood and go D1 so this allowed me to really put on for my city but also it’s shaped me into the person I am today. Every school, every obstacle, every award, every challenge, every tear, every smile it was all worth it. I got the opportunity to go overseas to play but I chose to become a Graduate Assistant to pursue my masters and it’s given me a chance to see the game from a different stand point which is on the coaches side. Read More>>

Cordelia Giovanna

Then – 216 years later I was born in Los Angeles! I grew up to a single mother, along with multiple hamsters, 2 birds, multiple benign house ghosts, 5 beta fish, at least 3 tarot decks, and one small fluffy white do named Ned. We lived in an apartment with a balcony jutting over the parking lot, where we would roast marshmallows on Friday nights, and on weekdays after school my friends and I would dangle stuffed animals over the railing to wack with bats like piñatas. Read More>>

Isaiah Jones

I started writing my own songs in high school. And soon after I graduated and went to college, I joined Fellowship Mission Baptist Church (Now known as Fellowship Chicago). There is where I truly started my background Vocalist journey being on the Praise team. The minister of music at that time was Anita Wilson (Who is mentored by Donald Lawrence, As well as being a part of Donald Lawrence and Company). Read More>>

Diana Campos

During the times of 2020-2021 my business was growing. I would be selling at flea markets every weekend. My business was called TSUNAMI60. In 2023 I changed my business name to TSUNAMI DOLLZ. Tsunami is what people in the flea market community know me as. I was always really captivated by that word when I was teen. One of my favorite bands in middle school was called Tsunami Bomb. So I kinda just stuck with that word a lot. And I continue to use it for my business. I mention this because I get asked a lot why Tsunami? Read More>>

Kennedy Benson

I have gained over 30,000 followers on both Instagram and TikTok and am almost at 2,000 subscribers on YouTube. I love what I do. I love singing and reading all of the incredibly supportive comments. My fans are what keep me going. I think my story just proves how strong I am and although it can be difficult at times, I’m so grateful to still be on this Earth, sharing my gift with whoever will listen. Read More>>