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.

Demi Sangchan

From a former server who would have thought that i would become a massage therapist today? Everyone has their own dreams, but for me, it was all about finding a way to earn enough to support my family and myself. Massage work can be quite demanding, requiring genuine passion dedication, and commitment to relieving clients pain and addressing their issues. Read more>>

Tanya Paniagua

My story doesn’t begin with titles or accomplishments — it begins with pain, resilience, and faith. I know what it’s like to feel trapped by the wounds of my past. I know what it’s like to struggle to embrace the present. And I know what it feels like to fear the future. Read more>>

Bill Waddington

I spent a long time, over 26 years, in the corporate world managing projects. The work was exciting and challenging and catered to my intrinsic need for detail and structure. I like it when everything is organized, and everything adds up as it should. As a side hobby, I created a small business with my brother making custom apparel. Read more>>

Ross Gasworth

I was born in Boston, MA, and grew up in upstate New York and Michigan. I went to school in Ohio and Texas, then moved to Southern California in 2013. Read more>>

Abigail Olmeda

As a teen, I dreamed of becoming a chef, but life didn’t make that easy. Constant hardship made staying in school difficult, so I moved into independent studies and started working at McDonald’s. Later, I became a CNA and stayed in that field until I was 21. I kept trying to find my “thing,” but nothing ever lit a fire in me. Read more>>

yahman berry

Well , it all started in the United States marine corps , and to make a sad story short , my great grandmother passed away after a week of seeing her back home I was stationed in California at the time , Her death inspired me to do something that I wanted to do since I was in high school, which was making clothes. Read more>>

Andrew Sanchez

I’ve been obsessed with movies since I was a kid. My dream was always to become a film director. Growing up, my friends and I would make goofy short films, we’d write them, shoot them, edit them, and then show them around school like they were big premieres. Read more>>

Fernanda Lorenti

They told me I would never walk again. I was only 14, full of energy, dreams, and movement, when polio suddenly confined me to a wheelchair. But I refused to accept that fate. Through faith, visualization, and relentless physical therapy, I not only walked again but, two years later, ran a 5K marathon and won first place. Read more>>

Mitch Dang

I grew up believing in hard work, resourcefulness, and the idea that you take care of what matters. That mindset shaped everything for me. Before I ever created skincare, I spent years teaching. Education taught me how to see people clearly, how to support them, and how to meet them where they are. Read more>>

Gosia Lorenz

I always have been a seeker, desiring more for my life, the Earth, and the world. I was born 52 years ago in communist Poland. Life was simple and relatively easy for me yet colorless and without many possibilities. Since I was a 7-year-old girl I have loved reading books. My Dad had a huge collection of metaphysical books piled up in my room. Read more>>

Stephanie Mack

Every story has a beginning—and so does every writer. From the time I could pick up a pencil, I felt it deep in my bones: I was made to write. To tell the stories swirling in my imagination. To search for deeper meaning. To find connection—with people, with the world—through words. The call never left me. Read more>>

Katelin Journigan

I’ve been a photographer for 20 years now (which feels surreal to say — I still can’t believe I’m 41!). For over 14 of those years, I worked in the wedding and portrait industry and truly loved it. But over time, my love for my dog, Captain, started pulling me in a new direction. Read more>>

Ellesse Piper

I started in the food and beverage industry years ago as a dishwasher while studying to become a teacher. What I discovered was that hospitality gave me the same opportunity to teach and develop others, just through a different lens. That realization set the foundation for the leader I would become. Read more>>

Leni Benbicaco

OniGuru – Our Story OniGuru was created with a simple vision: to bring authentic, clean, and modern Japanese comfort food to everyday life in Southern California. What began as a small idea inside Concept Restaurants LLC quickly evolved into a fast-casual brand defined by quality, consistency, and an elevated guest experience. Read more>>

Alison Johnson

Insightful Matters actually began as my solo practice back in 2011, when I started working as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. From the beginning, my focus was simply on supporting my clients as thoughtfully and compassionately as I could. Over time, word spread, and I built a reputation for providing effective, client-centered care. Read more>>

Raquel Reyes-Lopez

I started writing poetry at a very young age. Even though I grew up facing food insecurity, frequent moves, and the instability that comes with living in a low-income household, my parents always made sure I had a pencil and a composition book. Those became my constants. I began writing more seriously when my parents lost our first home during the 2008 housing collapse. Read more>>

Anıl Özgen

I’ve been connected to music for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I would spend hours listening to cassette tapes, trying to understand why certain melodies made me feel something. That early curiosity shaped my ear, and later I picked up the guitar and started teaching myself. Read more>>

Carter Dau

Thanks for having me again VoyageLa. Since we last spoke, I have been really busy. I have done a number of short films, and a couple of Proof of Concepts, which I am now attached to and are in the pre-production stages of becoming feature films. Read more>>

Mariam & Angela EL Haj

We’re Angela and Mariam, sisters, business partners, and the co-founders of Calaca Mamas. Our story really begins in Orange County, where we were born and raised — moving between Irvine, Santa Ana/Tustin area, and eventually settling with our own families in Orange. No matter where we lived, the heart of our childhood was always the restaurant industry. Read more>>

Caryssa Meints

Pürre was started in 2010 by Natasha Quinn, the OG Pürre Girl! I have been in retail for 12 years, at Pürre on and off for about 6, and I just fell in love with the energy of the shop, our customers, and the products we sell. We carry a lot of female owned, small businesses and support so many great, local makers. Read more>>

Oksana Gladka

My story began more than 24 years ago, when I was still a schoolgirl in Ukraine. Even at a young age, I knew I wanted to build something of my own and work in the beauty field. Read more>>

Fatmah Muhammad

**“Knafeh Queens began as a passion rooted in my Palestinian heritage and my love for bringing people together through food. I started by making knafeh for family and friends, never imagining it would turn into a business. But every event, every gathering, and every person who tasted it encouraged me to take the leap. Read more>>

Melody Pourmoradi

I started GiRLiFE from a very personal place. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the inner world of women and girls, and how our thoughts shape the way we move through life. When I became a mom to twin daughters, that pull became even stronger. Read more>>

Jessica Hernandez

We were just two kids with a dream, a whole lot of grit, and absolutely no fear. After more than 15 years working at Barbeques Galore, my husband found himself suddenly laid off—a moment that could have broken us, but instead became our turning point. Read more>>

Adam Morales

Worked in fine dining steakhouse. Loved to grill meats. Bought smokers and started smoking meats as a hobby. Enjoyed it so much and flavors were awesome that I wanted to try selling it. The steakhouse closed in 2021 and I had no choice but to sell BBQ as a financial means now to support my family. We have received great feedback and fed many celebrities. Read more>>