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.

Khash Moghadam

Wildhouse started in 2019 as a one-woman show—my wife, Ghia, began calligraphy as a creative side pursuit, designing for friends before it evolved into hand-lettered signage for small weddings. At the time, I was a police officer and also working in home loans, so I was on a completely different path. Read more>>

Manoja Weerakoon

I began my teaching career teaching young adults as an assistant lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. After that— I embarked on a different path altogether— market research, the banking sector, and customer service in a managerial role. My calling, my passion— revealed itself when I learned about the Montessori philosophy of teaching young kids. Read more>>

Caitlyn Gong

I started performing in musicals when I was eight years old. My mom forced me to participate in my school’s production of Annie, as so many parents do. I had always been quiet and shy, and my mom wanted to find a way for me to come out of my shell. Read more>>

Danica Rico

My journey into the PMU/Skincare/Beauty industry began during one of the hardest seasons of my life. I experienced SA trauma at a young age that deeply impacted my self-esteem and the way I saw myself. Read more>>

Lee Ahn

I have been working in the field of interior design for nearly 30 years. I began my career in Korea after completing my studies in the field, initially focusing on hotel and luxury retail design. At that time, Korea was undergoing rapid development, and the construction boom was just beginning to shape public awareness of interior design. Read more>>

Julie Erazo

I’m originally from Ukraine, where I built my career as an architect, working in interior design and teaching at the university level in Kyiv. That was my world for many years. When I moved to the U.S. after getting married, I had to start over. It wasn’t easy, but at the same time, I saw it as a chance to build something of my own. Read more>>

Whitney Duden

I’ve always had a strong eye for fashion and beauty, and over time that naturally evolved into sharing my lifestyle, aesthetic, and mindset online. What started as posting in my free time grew into building a platform and connecting with people who genuinely resonate with how I show up. As things evolved, I realized I wanted more than just creating content for others. Read more>>

Ilya (Eli) Barkanov

Growing up in a family of 7 kids, we had no TV allowed in the house and I picked up a hobby that would surprise most people. I was 15 years old , a crazy teenager doing crazy things and I happened to have a friend who did something crazy. He kept bees! Read more>>

Cynthia Hernandez

How I started and got involved with business industry was due to my parents. They own a dry cleaning business and I pretty much grew up in the industry and knowing a great amount of knowledge since I was a young kid. Read more>>

Margaret Richardson

I grew up in the South and consider North Carolina home – I moved there when I was ten, and most of my family is still spread across North Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, and Georgia. Read more>>

Diana Maksymenko

Hi, my name is Diana, and I’m a children’s book illustrator originally from Ukraine. I’ve been living in the U.S. for the past four years, and it’s actually here that my journey as a children’s illustrator truly began. I’ve loved drawing for as long as I can remember. Read more>>

Rebekah Robinson

I grew up in Lynwood as the daughter of a pastor. My brother and I would make up stories with our toys and turn them into ‘movies.’ This is where my love of storytelling is rooted. I started watching the dvd extras of my favorite movies, and they talked about how the films were made and where their inspiration came from. Read more>>

Tino Relz

I started making music when I was 13. I had a homemade studio at the edge of my bed for years, from my bedroom to legit studios I worked my way up as much as possible. Now I’m one of the IE’s hottest artists, staying consistent & building connections with great like-minded individuals has kept my name buzzing in some memorable rooms & spaces. Read more>>

Austin Arenz

I’ve been in the beauty industry for over 10 years as a licensed cosmetologist and barber. I originally went through cosmetology school, but like many stylists, I didn’t feel fully prepared when it came to cutting short hair or using clippers confidently. Read more>>

Connie Rietdyk

I’ve been building websites and working in SEO for over 20 years, but my journey into entrepreneurship really took shape during COVID. At the time, I was working a traditional 9–5 while raising my son, who is on the autism spectrum. Read more>>

Sarah G

Think about it – we all know, or have at least heard of, a Dad stuck in a never-ending custody battle with an insane woman. In these cases, Mom genuinely believes she is doing what is best for the children – even when her actions show otherwise. Read more>>

Victor Payan

I am an award-winning writer, multidisciplinary artist, humorist, curator, arts administrator and arts advocate known best for my “By Any Memes Necessary” approach to art, performance and culture jamming. Read more>>