Roxane Dupont

It all started with a little girl in France who had big dreams. I always wanted to work in film and I always knew I would live in LA one day. And here I am, writing my web series and living in the city of Angels for two years already. Read more>>

Michael And Cynthia Jamin

Michael Jamin (MJ): I’ve been a television writer for 28 years. Recently, I decided to step out from behind the camera, writing and performing stories for the stage. A Paper Orchestra is my one-man show based on my bestselling book of the same name. My wife, Cynthia, produces and directs the show. We’ve performed in theaters across the country in Boston, New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles, Up next is the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Even though I’m a TV writer by trade, these are the stories I can’t tell on television. They’re intimate and vulnerable, and in my opinion, my best work to date. Read more>>

Damaris Flores

I’ve always known I would end up doing something in fashion. Ever since I was a little girl, as young as I could remember I always loved clothes, shoes, purses.. etc. I would go into my mom’s closet and try on her heels and walk out to the living room as if I was walking on a runway. Going through middle school and high school was hard for me because I was bullied a lot and during that time my family was going through a big financial crisis. I coped with my depression through fashion. I would cutup clothes, read magazines and make vision boards (I didn’t know that’s what they were called back then) I wore interesting clothing and always felt as if I didn’t belong with the rest of my colleagues. I was an outcast. I had a very hard time fitting in, soon enough I knew I wasn’t born to fit in.. that’s when IG came about, I started posting my outfits which people really liked then started to creative direct and style my own photoshoots.. I was about 16 years old when I thought about my brand name “Styleisinyou” my brand is about standing out, not fitting in. Being your authentic self.. style is in you, not on you.. when you let your true self shine.. the rest will follow. Years later, I moved to LA during the pandemic, worked my ass off.. lots of free shoots but it was the time of my life, creating and seeing my creations come to fruition.. now I run my own business as a successful wardrobe stylist and I also have my own showroom “PPRINT PR” where other stylist and creatives can rent out clothing. Very grateful for all I’ve accomplished and all that’s yet to come

I’ve always known I would end up doing something in fashion. Ever since I was a little girl, as young as I could remember I always loved clothes, shoes, purses.. etc. I would go into my mom’s closet and try on her heels and walk out to the living room as if I was walking on a runway. Going through middle school and high school was hard for me because I was bullied a lot and during that time my family was going through a big financial crisis. I coped with my depression through fashion. I would cutup clothes, read magazines and make vision boards (I didn’t know that’s what they were called back then) I wore interesting clothing and always felt as if I didn’t belong with the rest of my colleagues. I was an outcast. I had a very hard time fitting in, soon enough I knew I wasn’t born to fit in.. that’s when IG came about, I started posting my outfits which people really liked then started to creative direct and style my own photoshoots.. I was about 16 years old when I thought about my brand name “Styleisinyou” my brand is about standing out, not fitting in. Being your authentic self.. style is in you, not on you.. when you let your true self shine.. the rest will follow. Years later, I moved to LA during the pandemic, worked my ass off.. lots of free shoots but it was the time of my life, creating and seeing my creations come to fruition.. now I run my own business as a successful wardrobe stylist and I also have my own showroom “PPRINT PR” where other stylist and creatives can rent out clothing. Very grateful for all I’ve accomplished and all that’s yet to come Read more>>

Filipp Romanychev

Started my career in 2019 when me and my wife were shooting music videos on a budget. From 2019-2020 I attended a Film Director course at the School of Free Cinema. My thesis film “Message” was screened in Los Angeles, Toronto, London and received award of distinction on Canadian and International Film Festival and the best director of photography award on Zilant international film festival in Kazan, Russia. In 2020 I worked as a video editor for a company which produced trailers for major movies in Russia. In 2021 I got a job as an assistant to casting director and less than a month I became the Head of the Video Production Department, where I created promo videos, filmed casting for our war feature film and wrote episodes of TV shows which were sold to Russian TV channels. In 2021 I made a one-hour pilot The Faces and at the end of the year I moved to Los Angeles, where I received a grant from New York FIlm Academy. As for today I made 12 short films, one-hour pilot episode and a mockumentary feature film. Right now, I am looking for finances for a feature horror/action film The Human Face which is about a cynical physician who wants to flee Hawaii with his family during the virus outbreak, but the military cease the island and make him create an antidote. Read more>>

Sunyou Kim

I didn’t start music because I had a talent for it or was deeply interested in it. Honestly, I just didn’t want to study! When I was a kid, I would secretly watched K-pop music shows, Disney movies, or Korean dramas endlessly when I supposed to study. Even though I didn’t have much stress as a kid, the music in these shows and movies comforted me and made me feel so emotional. I started wondering, “Who makes this kind of music? How do they do it?” I found it fascinating. Read more>>

Oceana Andries

When I was a child, I was amazed by animation. I was absolutely enamored with old-school Disney and studio Ghilibi. As I got older, I first wanted to pursue 2d animation. I moved to NY to begin studying at a traditional art atelier to understand human anatomy better and strengthen my portfolio. Once in NYC, I began to learn about its art scene, and my love for art extended to the contemporary art scene. I also gained insight into various art trends and their main players, which was good to know. In the school, many talented artists didn’t have a platform to showcase their work to wider audiences. They’ve sharpened their technical skills and were fantastic artists with creative minds, but they remained unknown. Read more>>

Sam Tautua

I have always been an intuitive leader, navigating the realms of Commercial, Industrial, and Residential Real Estate, Government and Corporate Australia, Entertainment, and Luxury Property Management. Read more>>

Pauline Frechette

My real name is Pauline Frechette and I took the name Raven Kane for my rock career in the mid’80s and 90s. I have always been a composer/performer starting out singing on my father’s radio show at age 5 and studying piano at age 6, and violin at age 7. I played in youth symphonies on the violin, and won awards in both violin and piano competitions. My Great-grandfather, Josef Vezina, founded the Quebec Symphony. I inherited his violin as a child. As a teen I toured Europe singing and dancing with a Catholic group called the “Showteens..” At 17 I applied for admission to the London School of Dramatic Art and then auditioned for them in England the following year and was accepted into their program for a year. During that time I also auditioned for and was accepted to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and the Bristol Old Vic Drama School. But situations at home brought me back to the States where I won a scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music. Read more>>

Quincy Elliott

Quincy “Midtrovert” Elliott, is a 26-year-old Fashion Designer who graduated from UC Riverside with a Bachelor’s in Theater, Film, and Digital Production (Honors Cum Laude). After realizing how many hands would be in the pot of independent film creation, he pivoted to his next greatest passion, Fashion Design. While film direction remained part of his background, fashion became his primary focus with the overarching goal to become Creative Director at Louis Vuitton and eventually build his own Central Saint Martins-curriculum-based university somewhere in Southern California. Read more>>

Andrea-rachel Parker

hey there, thanks for some time again, sure.. been singing acting & dancing since the age of 6. I began auditioning at an early age, stopped, pursued medicine and came back to it. went to school for pre-med & eventually, changed majors to communications and journalism & then communications with an emphasis on media at an entirely different school. Read more>>

Goddess Medusa

I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the artistic neighborhood of Santa Teresa, beneath the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. My journey into the arts began at 16 when I discovered my passion for music. I quickly became part of the vibrant rock scene in Rio, performing live while pursuing my education. After high school, I enrolled in film school, balancing my studies with my band’s growing presence in the local music circuit. Read more>>

Sofia D’pols

Well, I was born and raised in Chile, ando moved to Los Angeles about two years ago with hopes of solely becoming an actress. Along the way I discovered different worlds that caught my attention, some of which I previously had started mingling with before moving. Growing up, art could be found everywhere around me, both my parents, my family and most of the people around me had artistic hobbies or had a deep appreciation for the arts. Art has always evoked such a strong feeling and has represented a way of speaking up in my country, with so many creative people with so much talent that have given up their dreams for a more stable life, but it made me want it even more, not only for myself but for all the people around me who couldn’t. So as i grew up, when the struggle of choosing between stability or a creative career came, after a lot of internal fights about it, I eventually decided i had to try and give it my all, so i did the paperwork, packed my bags and started this journey. I had my first job being a part of crew in a movie called “The Italians” in September 2023, where I discovered more in depth the different aspects and roles different crew members play on a set and started exploring the other side of the camera, which made me realise i wanted to create on a broader spectrum than just bringing a character to life. So i started studying and testing it out as more than one thing caught my attention. As for music, i had been toying with the idea of establishing a project and had been making very low quality demos since around 2022, but was terrified of putting anything out because of fear, but then i met my friends, who were a big inspiration to start being okay with not making a perfect product, but to keep practicing and getting better as you move along. They grounded me to a reality i was okay with, that I was capable of doing instead of an idealization of what i thought the music industry was. My current project is very much striving to be a mix between music and film, at the end of the day they go hand in hand for me, my heart is in art as a whole, not specific representation of it. Read more>>

Shiah Luna

“I’m an actor, singer-songwriter from Central California with a background in both television and film. Recently in shows like ‘Found’ and ‘Into The Wild Frontier,’ and I’ve also had the privilege of working on films such as ‘The Chimera Effect.’ Right now, I’m actively preparing for an upcoming action/thriller film, which is an incredibly exciting project for me.” I am also writing music and creating new songs. Read more>>

Yuliia Borodai

My journey has been long, but every event and every challenge I faced brought me closer to who I am today. The desire to create has always lived within me. Read more>>

Toni Bullock

I’m a Brooklyn native who has always had a deep love for the arts. Growing up, my grandmother kept me immersed in creative experiences, whether it was visiting the Brooklyn Museum to see exhibits or attending Broadway shows. In school, I participated in plays, played the piano, and was part of the school band, where I played the flute. The arts were a constant in my life and ignited my passion for storytelling. Read more>>

Regina Panina

From a very young age, my life has been deeply intertwined with music. Born into a family of musicians, I literally grew up surrounded by the sounds of melodies, sheet music, and rehearsals. My mother always had a song ready for any occasion—whether it was a lullaby or a song about my first lost tooth. When I was in kindergarten, my father would constantly play his favorite tunes, and we’d do morning exercises together. I always knew that music played an important role for all of us. Read more>>

Eli Berchan

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but my roots and upbringing are deeply tied to Lebanon—the country, not Tennessee. Growing up in Lebanon instilled in me a love for tradition and the beauty of close-knit connections. Later, I went to school in Switzerland, where I refined my understanding of hospitality and event management, blending European sophistication with my Middle Eastern heritage. Read more>>

Kristin Engineer

I’ve arrived at this moment in my music career through a winding and unique path. As a classically trained oboist, I earned my BA in Music Performance from the University of Wyoming, with dreams of joining the New York Philharmonic. Alongside that aspiration, I was deeply interested in ethnomusicology and the music of diverse cultures. However, due to performance-related injuries, my journey took a different turn. Throughout it all, I was consistently writing songs and recording music, which became a steady thread in my life. Read more>>

Patrick “embryo” Tapu

I was interested in Directing after helping Co-Produce a Music Video for a band I wrote and produced a song for around early 2009. My curiosity was sparked and intrigued after being unimpressed with a friend I hired to Direct the Music Video. He was very experienced in Photography, and a protege of a big name Celebrity Photographer. I watched him do great on his photoshoots, but I felt he fell short on the Music Video and I really believed I could have done better myself. That year my Dad died in a car accident which really shocked my world. It was a reminder that life is short and not guaranteed, which lit a fire underneath me to pursue my creative interests full time. At the time I was working in the financial world and really hated it because my heart and mind was in creativity. It always has been since I was young in one form or another. So later that same year, an opportunity presented itself and I convinced the managers of a Chicago rap artist named Paypa (currently known as Marcus Black) to let me Direct a Music Video for a song off his upcoming mixtape they were releasing. One of Benny Boom’s protege’s was set to initially Direct. Having no previous experience Directing, they were apprehensive (rightfully so) to let me do it, but I convinced the managers by offering two Music Videos for the budget they were going to spend on one Music Video. The art of negotiating. To be totally transparent, I didn’t have nearly enough experience or knowledge to know what I was getting myself into, but I had faith in myself and I’m the type of person who dives off the deep end head first. One of my strengths has always been a bold deep inner self confidence. I knew I would figure it out, and I did. So I Directed and helped produce two Music Videos which turned out to not really be that bad considering how green I was. Both videos ended up being in the top 5 and top 10 placements for MySpace Music Videos (which was a thing at one point) sandwiched between big artists like Lady Gaga and Rihanna. After that I went full time into Directing, also picked up Cinematography along the way and basically self taught myself the craft video by video. 15 years later, I am still learning and still growing. Read more>>

John Pope

Maryland.

born. quiet child. taught myself to read. somehow. a memory seldom revisited. left at 3.

Utah.

no history. no memory. my uncle disappeared. left at 4. Read more>>

Nina Bergman

I was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and left at 14 to chase my dreams. This journey took me to London on a scholarship for a year, then Moscow, and eventually New York City. While supporting myself and studying at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, I gained valuable experience that ultimately led me to Los Angeles. Read more>>

Maritza Garcia

“Five more minutes, Mom,” I’d reply, desperately searching the internet for any resource I could find on “how to become an actor.”

I spent hours online, but every time I logged off, I was consumed by sadness. Read more>>

Mengeh Windlander

I think I’ve always known that I wanted to pursue a career in the arts. As kids, we’re always asked what we wish to be when we grow up. Even though I wanted to be many different things throughout the years – bunny whisperer, president or equestrian being some of them, I always held on to – artist, performer and creative. Growing up with a lot of support and creative freedom as well as being exposed to different cultures, attending festivals and performances from a young age definitely helped nourish that side of me and see what I wanted in life. Read more>>

Joecy Zhang

Joecy Zhang’s journey began a decade ago as a digital content creator. Starting with a growing audience on Instagram, she soon transitioned into collaborating with brands for paid advertising. Today, Joecy has amassed over 100,000 followers on Instagram (@joecyzhang) and has leveraged her success to start her own marketing and distribution company, which she now runs full-time. Read more>>

Kevin Bourne

I grew in as a shy kid in Toronto, Canada. My parents immigrated to Canada from Barbados in the 1970’s. Growing up in Toronto was a great experience because it’s so multicultural and you get a chance to learn about different cultures. It’s also a big city (the fourth largest in North America after Mexico City, New York, and L.A.) so it has all the amenities, inspiration, and creative energy that you’d expect from a major city. Read more>>

 

The Valley – portraits

Mimi Parker

I wanted to share the story behind my non-profit, Philly Jenkins Rescue, and how its emblem is rooted in my journey. Although my mission primarily focuses on medically at-risk cats and cats facing euthanasia, the logo features my cherished 3 pound 6 year old Chihuahua(Dr Phil) that was tragically killed in December 2023 and my 8-year-old rescue cat (Mr. Jenkins), whom I saved off the streets a month with his two litters and mate, after my dog passing. Read more>>

Hector Mendoza

I picked up interest in photography during my time as an intern for How To Be Social (a creative agency) in Dallas back in 2019 during my Bachelor’s degree at the University of North Texas since the entire team encouraged everyone to expand their horizons and try new creative endeavors. My roommate and friend let me borrow his Canon Rebel and lenses and let me run free with it and I immediately fell in love with the craft and learned proper photo etiquette and basic editing as things progressed. Fast forward to 2021 and I moved back to California to get my MBA at Chapman University and I was in a completely different environment and had a hard reset on my life as I now had new goals and new opportunities to chase. However, I was strongly missing my time as a creative and as a photographer and soon enough my grandparents gifted me their old Olympus Stylus 35mm camera as they were about to throw it out, this introduction to film photography and overall reintroduction to photography lit up a powerful flame inside of me as I ran wild with it and took it everywhere. Come 2022 and I bought myself a Canon 6D with my own set of lenses and decided to take things more seriously especially since my MBA gave me the tools and skills I needed to learn how to set myself up as a business. While I started off as a concert photographer due to my love for music and live performances, I’ve since then got a grasp on fashion, portrait, event, and engagement photography and I’m still learning new types and am constantly evolving my style. While concerts remain my focus, my ability to broaden my horizons has led me to exploring new places and meeting so many amazing people all while trying to capture the moment. Read more>>

Sharon Youngblood

I started singing when I was 13, My middle school choir Teacher (Mrs Memede) Randomly decided to call me to the front of the class and she asked me to sing a solo, as perplexed as I was for her asking I reluctantly obliged lol, and she couldn’t believe there was this big voice in this very very introverted shy girl. I was clueless as well and so was my mom, Until my teacher told her and she heard me and was shocked as well, After that the rest is history, I became a singer lol… At first I hated it because I didn’t like the attention, But I learned to embrace it and then my comfortably grew slowly but surely. Read more>>

Jennifer Wilson

As a child, I felt an undeniable connection to music and movement, and I joyously found myself immersed in dance classes. However, at 16, during the intense training of my dance career, I developed a chronic hip injury that threatened my ability to continue. My doctor’s only advice was to quit dancing, but I discovered Pilates, which became the transformative force that healed me. It was the key to my recovery, and I’ve been practicing it ever since. Read more>>

Dj Flix

Professionally known as FLIX, he is a popular Los Angeles nightclub DJ born in North Hills, CA. He began his journey young and gained the ability to play multiple instruments such as the violin, guitar, and piano. Unlike many DJs, FLIX didn’t truly begin his professional music career until he was around 18 years old living in Carbondale, Illinois. Unfortunately, FLIX had an insufficient GPA to enter any 4-year schools in California, so he was forced to move out of state if he wanted to pursue higher education. Having limited options as a young adult looking for a bright future, he decided to attend Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in hopes of achieving something greater. Read more>>

Maya Abu-mansour

From Finance to Fitness to Real Estate: A Journey Built on Community, Dedication, and Passion

My career path has been anything but linear, but every step of the way has been a valuable piece of the puzzle that’s led me to where I am today – a real estate agent in Sherman Oaks, Studio City and the immediate surrounding areas. Read more>>

Alexandra Pellot

What a wild ride. Well my story starts when I was just about to turn 18. I just started college early since I got ahead of high school by having great grades and being in the advanced classes. When I started college I jumped one year and got straight to take classes on my concentration ‘Natural Science” I wanted to be a Doctor. Read more>>

Adriaan Philipse

My name is Adriaan Philipse, I’m originally from The Netherlands and I’m a composer for trailers. During college, I started working with singers songwriters on pop music for mostly local artisits in The Netherlands. With one of my pop music collaborators I went to LA a few times to do writing sessions. And on those trips I met people who are in trailer music that I eventually got to work with. And I still work with them 5 years later. Read more>>

Aria Seif

My journey has been one of resilience, growth, and unwavering determination. Born into a military family in Tehran, Iran, I learned the value of discipline and perseverance early on. At just 18, I took my first entrepreneurial leap, launching my own business. By 20, I was running an import/export company, which fueled my passion for creating opportunities. Read more>>

Jaleer Wiggins

My professional journey began at Clark Atlanta University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Television and Film in 2015. During my studies, I gained valuable hands-on experience through internships and freelance roles with CW69 and True Entertainment. There, I contributed to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, assisting with production tasks, talent management, coordinating extras, and handling releases. These early opportunities provided a solid foundation for my career in media production. Read more>>

Victoria Liera

My name is Victoria Liera and I recently founded Latingeniera, LLC. Latingeniera is a combination of the words “Latina” and “ingeniera”, and I created this brand in hopes of donating the funds raised in the form of a scholarship to support Latinas and minorities in Engineering. I came up with the name at a coffee shop while on the job search after graduating Read more>>

Jessica Walters

Starting from the dirt in Temecula, CA – “The Girls” Jessica & Valarie hit the ground running! With no lack of ambition, we continued to grow rapidly, despite constant challenges including gender discrimination, customers turned to stalkers, and the societal judgement placed on food workers. We continued to overcome the obstacles with a smile. But the more hardship we endured, the more support and love we received from the rest of the community! Read more>>

Willow

Artistic outlets have always been at the forefront of my life since childhood. Being born and raised in Austin, Texas, and being surrounded by so many different types of people kept my eyes open to the world around me. My grandmommy, Joy Fisher Hein, is a Texas illustrator and sculptor, so she guided my dad, then sequentially, my younger sibling and me into practical art at a very young age. Playing with paints, clay, and fiber arts in our free time was essential to keeping our hands busy and our brains creative. Read more>>

Ara Oshagan

It’s hard to say where my story actually begins. I was born in Beirut, Lebanon into the Armenian diasporic community there–built up after displacement and genocide in our indigenous land of Western Armenia three generations before. So perhaps my story begins with that original displacement that informs much of my work and identity. But I was myself displaced from Beirut due to war. Displacement upon displacement like so much embedded Russian dolls. I landed in the US at a young age, grew up here, went to university here, my work and family have been here, specifically in LA, for 40 years. So I am American, Armenian, with a French education from an Arab country. I have a diasporic, hybrid and multi-dimensional, multi-lingual identity with a deep and abiding connection to a homeland not seen or have the right of return to for four generations. I also am deeply connected to Los Angeles—its way of life, way of thinking, way of living. I have four children, all born here. But disconnected as well. This is perhaps the diasporic state of mind—here and not here, connection and disconnection, rooted but also adrift. I began my career as a scientist, then was a writer, and now a visual artist and employed as a curator. My art and curatorial work flow together addressing local and global social justice issues. Read more>>

Katy Corina

When I look back on my journey, I can confidently say I’m not the same person I was at eighteen. That version of me feels like a chapter from another life—a foundation that shaped who I am today but no longer defines me. My story is one of transformation, resilience, and learning to believe in my limitless potential. Read more>>

Nika Shneyder

Chill RV Rentals started with a different dream altogether. My dad and I initially wanted to dive into the Airbnb business and build our own little empire of vacation rentals. The problem? We didn’t own any real estate. As we explored ways to make it work, we hit roadblock after roadblock. But one thing stuck with us—we loved the idea of hosting guests and creating memorable experiences. Read more>>

Jordanna Younger

Two years ago, I moved to the Valley with my son, Jaden and quickly realized something was missing here a cozy, trendy space like the ones I loved in West Hollywood. Over the hill, there were spots where friends gathered, people worked, and communities connected over great coffee. I wanted to bring that vibe to Sherman Oaks, a place that wasn’t just about coffee but about connection and comfort. Read more>>

Revelry Theatre Group Jesse Baxter And Cassidy Cagney

(JESSE) I knew I wanted to pursue theatre since high school, although I was practically raised in the theatre growing up. My dad is the Artistic Director of a regional theatre company in my hometown, so I have had the opportunity of seeing a multitude of theatrical productions since the age of five. I also had a strong affinity for Shakespeare and classical literature throughout high school and my training at the PCPA Acting Conservatory, so acting in and directing Shakespeare plays had been a focus of mine from a young age. Read more>>

Michael Campion

I was eight years old when my aunt and uncle, who were professional clowns with Ringling Brothers Circus at the time, gave me my first magic kit for Christmas. It was a beautiful little box of cheap plastic tricks, but I practiced them relentlessly and performed them for everyone. Read more>>

Nicole Shorthouse

I’ve been an art educator for over 20 years, teaching in amazing places like Hawaii, London, New York, and now Los Angeles. Art has always been a huge part of my life, and I’ve loved exploring patterns and fabrics for as long as I can remember. While I’ve always found ways to be creative, I spent many years balancing my passion for art with teaching and raising two boys, who are now teenagers. Life was full—teaching by day, mom life by night—but I always made space for creativity, even if it was just small projects here and there. Read more>>

Danielle Kjenstad

When I was 21 I was engaged and quickly wanted to make my American dream happen but I didn’t know what to do. My cousin is a hair dresser and u always imagined how fun and freeing that would be. I quickly got into a cosmetology program and was so excited to start my dream. After putting in 12 hr days and assisting for Carlton’s while in school as well as working part time, I graduated within 9 1/2 months of what was supposed to be a 12 month program. Once I passed my boards and worked on clients I realized hair wasn’t my dream. I tried focusing on nails and realized that wasn’t it either. I struggled throughout the years finding what worked for me and what didn’t. I lost passion and realized I just need to work so I worked a couple of jobs but found myself in the beauty industry again. I worked as a salon coordinator that was filled with independent contractors with their own room. My personal life changed where I needed more flexibility with my schedule and quickly realized how much I wanted to get back into the industry. I suffered horribly from acne during my teen years and struggled with self esteem. I realized I really wanted to get into skin and help others with their skin since I was able to heal my own. I studied more into skincare and took tons of training to get more advanced into skin. I started subleasing a room with a fellow coworker of mine as well as working full time coordinating/managing. My life was chaotic but at the time my small business was my sanity. It kept me motivated and the smiles of my clients to continue through the storms of my life at the time. The more I realized I made a difference to people whether it was just their day, their skin, or whatever, it’s always kept me going and continued to make me feel this passion within me to always keep going. Read more>>

Jessica Pena

A little bit about me, my name is Jessica! I was born & raised in the San Fernando valley & grew up in the kitchen with my mom who also loves to cook. At a young age I knew I wanted to be in the culinary industry. I’d sign up for free classes at Michael’s to learn about crumb coating & piping techniques when I could & when it was time to go to college, I decided to go to a trade school. I graduated from Le Cordon Bleu, College of Culinary Arts in 2014. I went on to doing my internship at a bakery as a bakers assistant as I had fallen in love with baking. Unfortunately I was not in the culinary industry much longer after that due to the business shutting down in 2016. I was heartbroken, my dream job was taken away from me. Fast forward to a few years later, 2022-2023, to be exact when I started to rekindling my love for baking & creating. I began to bake for close family & friends & started posting my progress pictures on instagram. What was once a kind gesture, giving cakes to family & friends turn into consistently taking orders from referrals. That’s how She’s got cakes was born! Read more>>

Adam Laraway

I have been a Physical Therapist for almost 25 years. I began my career at UCLA Medical Center, which provided a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge as a new Physical Therapist. After about three years, I relocated to the Antelope Valley for my wife’s job and transitioned to a position in private practice. Shortly thereafter, I had the opportunity to become a co-owner and co-director of the practice, which I managed for approximately 16 years as part of a larger network of clinics. Read more>>

Linda Marian

I was a a 23 years old, rebel kind of type of person, a true explorer of our World and the human possibilities, without any limitations and fears. Read more>>

Janet Zappala

I was always a very curious kid, always asking questions, why is the moon round? Why is the sun so hot? Why are there 12 months in a year? So it’s no surprise that I became a reporter, asking questions is what we do for a living of course. I found being a journalist to be an extremely fulfilling career, and worked at it for over 40 years. I’ve told countless stories, and interviewed everyone, from everyday people, to presidents, dignitaries, and celebrities. It’s been quite a ride! My work has always been very dear to me, I’ve always tried to make a difference through my storytelling. The icing on the cake has been the many awards that I have received over the years for which I am also eternally grateful. Six Emmy awards, a Golden Mike award, for a piece that I did on the great Mel Blanc, the man of a thousand voices. A first place Associated Press award, and most recently, Best Children’s Author for 2025, awarded to me by the International Association of Top Professionals. Wow! I have to say that it’s been quite a ride, and it continues with my award-winning children’s books that I started writing three years ago. They are based on real animals, including our Goodwill Ambassador Guapo, who is one of the world‘s largest steers, at over 3000 pounds, 6 1/2 feet tall, and 11 feet wide! Read more>>