Inspiring Stories from the OC

The heart of our mission at VoyageLA is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our city. In the recent weeks we’ve had the privilege to connect with some of Orange County’s finest artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with our city’s incredibly deep talent pool.  Check out the Orange County’s rising stars below.

Halim Lee

Through that process, I learned that if someone truly loves something and refuses to give up, they’ll eventually find a way forward, even if they start from zero. As an educator, I carry that philosophy into the classroom. I encourage my students to pursue what excites them, challenge them with tasks that stretch their abilities, and support them through moments of doubt or frustration. Read more>>

Mark Harris

I knew it was my body shutting down from the grief. I was in a Michigan hospital, alone, with my mortality in question. I was laying in the hospital bed one evening, staring out the window wondering what I was going to do my life. I needed to take control. And the one thing that I could control was creating art. I needed to transform my grief into something positive. At the very least, I needed to let my feelings out on the canvas. Not to sound too dramatic, but it was either art or death. It was that clear. From that point on, I started to create a series of paintings called “Gone 2 Soon,” featuring deceased artists, icons, musicians that died before their time. It was a dedication to my sister, Rachel. And it helped save my life. Read more>>

Julia Cervantes

I leaned into my health and fitness journey not just to change my body, but to transform my mindset. I fell in love with the discipline and, the consistency of showing up for myself at the gym, and the power of wellness in every area of life. That became the foundation of my content — sharing not just what I do, but why I do it. Read more>>

Casey Walters

The concept of Birdies developed as we saw the need in our community for a place that shoppers could trust. Birdie’s is a back to basics approach to your local convenient corner market. We partnered with the owner of Sections, a local butcher known for his high quality meat, and began filling his existing storefront with a seasonal, curated selection of clean food including dairy, produce, fresh baked bread and pantry staples. We launched the bodega in September 2023 and have slowly been adding more and more to the shelves. We have a wide selection of grab-and-go items in our fridge as well as a made-to-order menu available daily 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Read more>>

Shaheen Sadeghi

After years in New York, I made a bold move to California. My focus shifted significantly towards the sports industry. My first role was with Catalina Swimwear, then the world’s leading swimwear company. Intriguingly, they tasked me with developing their designs and products in Asia back in 1979. My first trip to Tokyo on a Pan Am flight was transformative; the culture, the culinary delights, and the innovative approach to product presentation left an indelible mark on me. I quickly fell in love with Japan and Asia. Read more>>

Shane Roberts

It was through that experience that led me to getting into bodybuilding competitions as a teen. After participating in many shows, even winning a number of them over a short few years, I then went on to working for Corporate America in the tech sector after high school. While doing so, I still liked helping people with their results, so I continued training clients on the side off and on for many years. Read more>>

Riley Clayton

I started to get more into the fashion & clothing space in 2015-2017 and thats where I started to gain momentum across different social platforms. Supreme and Bathing Ape clothing hauls where kryptonite during those years lol. As I grew in my creative skills, I started to study and learn social media in all aspects. The early years of social media were ver changing and I knew I had to “play the game” or get left behind. I grew my own personal brand and platform as well as multiple different social platforms such as “@VansFiles” in collaboration with Oldmanalan to over 100K followers. Read more>>

F00″s Frame

I specialize in portrait, documentary, and fine art photography. A lot of my work involves exploring the lives and stories of working class, queer, and people of color. Many of the subjects I photography have a personal connection to me whether I am actively involved or if personally know them for me a little bit, I am documenting my life and my experiences so its my work is my own visual diary. Read more>>

Sienna George

It has been quite a smooth road, but definitely a winding one. Over the past 7 years I have lived between NYC, California, Mexico, and Italy, but I only have my woodshop in California. I would bring unfinished pieces with me all over the world to carve, sand, and finish my sculptures by hand. Luckily, most of them are small, so they fit easily in my purse. Wherever I go, I usually have a chunk of wood and a whittling knife somewhere nearby. As an upright bassist, I play an instrument that is too large to travel with, so during my period living in Italy, I went on many a wild goose chase to find upright basses in remote Italian villages. Read more>>

Hailey Canterbury

I think the art world can be tricky to navigate. Sometimes galleries or exhibits have application fees to just be displayed, and it can be daunting to put yourself out there. Since art is subjective, it can be discouraging to have one’s work rejected. I learned to not seek validation in creating art, even from myself. To let go of perfectionism and to just create. Some of my most popular pieces were ones I did not put so much effort or thought into. Read more>>

Galleria

It started in elementary school. I was forced to do the play “The Nutcracker” and played Uncle Meyer at 5 years old. After that one performance, I knew I loved the arts. I tried almost everything from painting to music, but my heart always stayed with acting. I now have a BFA in Acting and couldn’t be happier with my choice. Read more>>

Godswill Ugwa

In college, I prepared to become a doctor with a double bachelor’s in biology and business administration and a master’s in healthcare administration. But I made a successful anime club, A3, and got the attention of two significant anime streaming companies, Funimation & Crunchyroll. Funimation was local in Dallas so I was able to talk with them more to the point where they called me in to interview for a job. Now it has been 10 years in the industry as of 4/20/25. Read more>>

Mila Shmurak

On the other hand, WOMENEEDZ is a space dedicated to empowering women to heal and connect mind, body, spirit on a much deeper level. After experiencing my own struggles with emotional tension and a stressed nervous system, I discovered the healing power of Reiki and energy work. WOMENEEDZ provides energy healing sessions, workshops, and self-regulation tools, helping women reconnect with their bodies and minds, release blockages, and find inner peace in today’s chaotic world. Read more>>

Andrew McCormick

Shortly after landing in Tustin, Orange County, I started waiting tables and teaching guitar on the side—just for fun, to a few new friends and classmates. But pretty quickly, people started saying, “You should charge for this.” I hadn’t even considered that. I didn’t realize you could make money doing something you love. My mindset around money was… let’s just say, a little off back then. Read more>>

Pratham Parmar

Despite not having my CPA yet, I took a leap and started my own firm in Charleston, SC. I faced the challenge of proving myself, especially since many people in the industry place a lot of value on the CPA title. But I was committed to showing clients that expertise and care go beyond just a title. Through hard work, constant learning, and truly focusing on what my clients needed, I was able to build strong, trusting relationships. Read more>>

Hailey Payne

We are a spa that offers airbrush tanning, facials, waxing, and lash services! I have been an Esthetician for about 8 years and love perfecting my craft! I love having a safe space for my clients to relax, vent or just take time for themselves within their busy lives, all of my clients are amazing and i have a unique relationship with each and every one of them Read more>>

Manny Dominguez

The sleepless nights would keep my mind awake and not let me sleep. I started thinking about the Tribute Bands and how much I liked them. I started to go to more and more of the shows that were primarily free like Summer Concert series at parks and recreation centers. I started to take a camera that wasn’t the best but got ok shots. Read more>>

Bryant Orozco

hah! not at all. I’ve lived out of my car, slept on benches and bus stations in Mexico trying to find my way, have been unemployed for extended periods of time because I held true to my ideals, have had my life threatened during service, etc etc, but everything has become a story and has molded me. I’ve felt lost, pathetic, and felt like I made no difference in the world. But every struggle was just another step towards success. I had a safety net with my family and friends whom I am forever grateful for, even if just given a chance to sleep in a couch or closet. The struggles continue but the experiences lessen the toll. Read more>>

Tatyana Love

And definitely was not a smooth road because I open during Covid and it was really hard. It’s hard to keep people working. I tried to do a hybrid salon doing like 1099. Both rent a lot like I tried like everything and it was just it was really hard to Clients to keep Clients all in peace and the way we can all work together and Help the community to stay strong and support each other, but it was really tough Read more>>

Kieran Roberts

I started out as a Billboard-charting R&B recording artist, performing across the country and internationally. Music gave me my first real platform to connect with people emotionally. After stepping away from the industry for a bit, I shifted gears and opened a juice bar—a venture that allowed me to explore wellness, entrepreneurship, and community building in a new way. Read more>>

Judy

There was also the weight of starting over in a new country, adapting to a new culture, passing the NCLEX, and proving myself all over again. Even now, as a mom, a nurse, and a content creator, I still have days where I feel stretched thin. But I always remind myself of where I started and why I started. Read more>>

Abby Middleton

I’ve been teaching at Megaformer Studios Brentwood – the largest Lagree studio in the world – for over two and a half years now, and it has been the most rewarding and fulfilling experience of my life. I also pride myself in having some fire playlists to get us all through the temporary discomfort… It’s electric in that room. Teaching to a class full of people who want to get stronger and trust me to help them get there, will never get old! I moved to Orange County in summer 2024, essentially for love (lol). And I still make the drive 3 days a week to teach in Brentwood. I just love this studio with all my heart, the bond I have with my clients here is special! There’s nothing like it. Read more>>

Shayla Chapman, Psy.D., LMFT

One day, on my way back to my dorm, I decided to stop by the student health center to see if therapy was available. Fortunately, it was. I began weekly sessions with a compassionate therapist who became an invaluable source of support throughout my time at UCI. This was my first experience with therapy, and I’m deeply grateful I didn’t let my fear of asking for help hold me back. Looking back, I can see how being on that side of the couch shaped the way I show up for my clients today—offering insights no textbook, professor, or course could ever fully teach. Read more>>

Elizabeth Wahler

My mom, Valaree, has been collecting important stones since the ’80s. When I was a young child, her private jeweler would come to the house with this magical little bag filled with sparkling treasures. I remember sitting wide-eyed as she opened it — tiny, perfect pieces, one more dazzling than the next. I can still see those vibrant stones catching the light like candy. I’d sit quietly and watch, completely enchanted, falling in love with the stories, the cuts, the colors, and learning about the far-off places they came from. It was in those early years that the passion really took root — and never left. Read more>>

Katerina Curry

I’m the designer, maker, and everything in between, wearing every hat you can imagine. It hasn’t been smooth sailing. The workload and responsibilities can wear you down, and there were times I wanted to quit. But every time I hit that wall at that very moment, I’d get a sign—a random message from a customer literally saying, “Keep doing what you do”, a heartfelt letter praising my work, or a glowing review from someone thrilled with their jewelry and my service. Those moments are my fuel. Knowing my creations make customers smile drives me to keep going, one day at a time. Their joy makes my day! Read more>>

Kasinee Meyer

Eventually, I returned to Thailand and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Thammasat University. That’s where I met the love of my life—an American exchange student who would later become my husband. Our journey together brought me to the United States, where I began to discover what the “American Dream” truly meant to me. Read more>>

Diannette

I never really saw myself as a “designer” or an entrepreneur. But everything shifted on New Year’s Eve 2017, when my dad gave me a book about interior design. That simple gift sparked something in me. It gave me the confidence to turn my passion into something more and that’s when I decided to start my own staging and interior design business. Read more>>

Tiffany Glass

Eventually, I got my real estate license. I never really pursued real estate full time, though, because I naturally fell into home design and flipping properties—starting with my own homes. People began to notice my design style at open houses and started asking me to design their spaces too. That turned into something I truly loved and still do to this day. Even after 20 years, I continue to work in both real estate and home design. It’s a job that allows me to use my creativity and passion—but deep down, I still felt like something was missing. Read more>>

Amber Wickham

Around that time, I leaned into practices like therapy and meditation, exploring the complex emotions I was experiencing and seeking out support from other women who could relate. Insert Dose of Goodness — an online space I felt was missing, dedicated to young women navigating the transition into adulthood: a society filled with stigma and expectation, all while balancing the realities of mental health. Sharing my story — and the stories of others — through the blog became a profound part of my healing journey. I also decided to switch my major from communication to psychology, wanting a deeper understanding of the relationship between the mind and behavior. Read more>>

Joelle Joyner-Wong

I realized I wasn’t into acting as much anymore. After a year of classes, failed auditions, and participating in a peers senior project, my dreams of being on Broadway came to an end. I didn’t like being the center of attention. I didn’t enjoy the pressure. I wanted to switch majors. Despite my novel feeling, I still wanted to work in entertainment somehow. I just didn’t want to be the center of attention anymore. I did my research and I saw that Sonoma State offered a concentration called theatre studies. It focused on playwriting, directing, theatre management, and teaching. The word that stood out to me was ”playwriting’. Read more>>

Gene Jimenez

I don’t think my path has been any more or less challenging than any other artist’s out there. It’s vulnerable to create something from nothing, put it up on a gallery wall, and then have people walk by and judge it, dismiss it, ignore it—or worse, critique it in ways that feel personal. I think I’ve been through every reaction or non-reaction you can imagine. And just when I think I’ve seen it all, someone surprises me with something new. You really do have to grow thick skin. Read more>>

Matt Brown

I found photography at a young age. Watching my Dad take photos of the family as a young boy inspired me. I worked at my school newspaper and year book in Jr. High and High School. I went to school for photography and never looked back. I was lucky enough to work at the OC Register with a fantastic photo staff. I freelanced with Sports Illustrated and ESPN Magazine as well as working at Newsweek. I was the team photographer for the LA Angels for four years. I’ve worked at Cal California State University, Dominguez Hills for the last 3 years. Read more>>

Meiling Choy

As cheesy as it may sound, YOLO really did become my new motto. With sports out of the picture, I began to explore other passions. Which is how my modeling career came to be. At this time, social media was on the rise, and I used it as my artistic outlet through my tedious engineering years. I used social media to promote myself and as I grew my creativity, so did my modeling career. Now, mind you, while all the photoshoots and runways were going on, I was still in college for engineering, and still trying to find a way to heal my brain. Read more>>

RONNIE ALVARADO

As I got more involved in the small business community, I started tagging brands in my photos to help showcase their work. I’ve always been drawn to alternative styles—especially Disney horror or Disney metal mashups—so supporting these brands felt natural. Eventually, they started noticing my posts, and I was lucky enough to start doing collabs. I even connected with a brand called Spooky Mama Co, whose designs really stood out to me. I had the opportunity to bring one of my own shirt ideas to life through a collab with them, and it turned out amazing. Read more>>

Michael & Leia Barreiro

In that moment of uncertainty, we honestly didn’t know how we would recover. But what happened next still gives us chills to this day. Our community—fellow photographers, past couples, friends, family, even members of the city of Indio—rallied around us in the most unexpected and beautiful way. Through donations, shared posts, words of encouragement, and so much love, we were able to raise close to $15,000 to help us replace our gear and continue doing what we love. Read more>>

Roula Aj

It is an awesome journey! I built my business on a solid foundation of experience and a strong focus on my clients’ success. Starting from scratch and growing to work with major companies to small businesses. The key to my success in standing out in such a competitive industry is treating my client’s needs in all printing and promotional needs as if it is mine and putting the best into it. From a 90 ft. banner to shaped business cards, to t-shirts and all promotional items, Printpro4less is here to help! Read more>>

Jan Edwards

My path has been mostly without support (human), but with a continually increasing connection with my Higher Self and inner knowing that began in childhood. I have an immediate and deeply penetrating perception that sees through the masks, distractions, and illusions of the veils that cover the eyes, minds, and cognition bandwidths of most. It is an innate ability, a sense that comes so easily, I didn’t believe it or value it for most of my life. Read more>>

Lara Romero

I wish I could say everything was easy from there, but the reality was much more complicated. I struggled with depression throughout my teens and twenties, and even after I had my first child. There were moments when I seriously contemplated suicide, feeling incredibly alone. I often felt misunderstood, unable to connect with others. My perspective on life felt so different from everyone else’s—I could see through the illusion of the political, educational, and pharmaceutical systems. Read more>>

Alexis Jaimes

In terms of how I became connected to poetry, I would be exposed to it in my college courses. Throughout school, I was always complimented for my writing and gravitated toward texts that my friends would find boring or unconventional. I distinctly remember the moment I knew I wanted to write poetry seriously. It was while attending Santiago Canyon College and happened to see Rudy Francisco perform. After his spoken word performance, I was left spellbound, yearning for more. There was always a certain connection I had with text, but hearing the words said aloud with a certain cadence, rhythm, and inflection combined into a powerful performance inspired me to try and recreate that for others with my own words. Read more>>

Alice Chien

Reaching the 25-year milestone hasn’t come without its challenges. From the economic downturn in 2008 to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic—where classes continued virtually for an entire year—Dancecapade has stood strong, adapting through each hurdle with determination and heart. Now, with ongoing economic uncertainty, we continue to evolve, committed to delivering quality dance education no matter the climate. Read more>>

Kameron Marie Olson

There were months of making almost nothing and thousands of dollars in gear I invested in… it was stressful to say the least. I thought surely I would have to get another job on the side in order to make this thing happen. I prayed on it everyday that it would work out. And one day I was working on a gallery and responding to inquiring couples and I had the pinch me moment where I realized “this is my full time job now. I actually started a business, this is what I do and I don’t have to get some side gig to pay the bills.” That is a feeling I I hope I’ll never forget, nor take for granted. Read more>>

Christina Teh

I worked very hard to develop a natural realistic hairstroke brow and able to satisfy both female and male market. The initial struggle was perfecting the technique and now is trying to run my own business. I have worked for the biggest PMU company whom have presence worldwide and now developing my own entity locally do present some challenges as the PMU industry is already at its peak. Read more>>

Lindsey Neville

Cappys Cafe has been a beloved staple in the community for over 43 years, serving as a home to locals, meting spot for celebrities, go-to for families and the morning pit stop for surfers. Renowned for its delicious, hearty breakfasts and inviting atmosphere, the cafe has become a go-to destination for all. Committed to giving back to the community, Cappys actively seeks opportunities to support local charities and fundraisers, making it not just a restaurant, but a cherished part of the neighborhood’s fabric. Read more>>

ANNE CHIPMAN

I kept painting and learning although as my mental state got worse my creativity tanked. About 2 years ago I started claiming my power back and thats how I ended up here. An artist, still growing still learning, but I’m painting and that was the goal from all those years ago. I’m still growing, my commissions are mainly pet portraits which I love—I have 3 fur babies myself. I am also working on my own stuff to hopefully show one day. I have a lot to tell and I feel like maybe someone out there would connect with my work. Read more>>