Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Lee
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey to where I am today has been quite a blend of personal evolution, serendipity, and a shared vision with my husband. We both started out with aspirations in different fields, but real estate has always been something that connected us. My husband, who majored in Business Finance at UC Riverside, and I, who initially pursued a Health Science degree at Cal State Dominguez Hills with the goal of becoming a nurse, both had a minor in real estate during our college years. It was always a dream of ours to start a business together one day.
After college, I worked for over 10 years in commercial real estate as a marketing specialist for a large firm. But as I became a mother, I realized that I didn’t want to be away from my kids for long hours, and I started reassessing my career priorities. That’s when my husband approached me during the pandemic, asking if I’d consider leaving my corporate job to focus on building our own company. At that point, we combined our skills and expertise — his entrepreneurial spirit and background, along with my real estate marketing experience — to officially launch Kash Elite Group in 2020.
In the four years since, Kash Elite has grown into a company that represents more than just real estate development; it’s a reflection of our shared vision and hard work. In 2022, we also branched out and created Living LavishLee, a travel content brand where we share our love for luxury travel and the experiences we have as a family. More recently, in 2024, I launched My Little Angels, a luxury kids’ dress line, something I’ve been developing for over a year and a half.
So, today, I’m proud to be juggling three businesses: Kash Elite Group, Living LavishLee, and My Little Angels. Each of these ventures speaks to a different passion of mine, but they all center around creativity, quality, and family. It’s been an exciting journey, and I’m grateful to be building this legacy alongside my husband, while also balancing family life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting and growing our businesses has definitely not been a smooth road, but every challenge has taught us something valuable and strengthened our resolve.
For Kash Elite Group, we’ve faced our fair share of obstacles, particularly in real estate development and investment. We own properties in Las Vegas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami, and each market has had its own set of unique challenges. For example, when we were building in Houston during the pandemic, the combination of a low supply of materials and skyrocketing costs created significant hurdles. Lumber prices were at an all-time high, which added unexpected costs to our projects.
In Las Vegas, we encountered a significant setback with our condo hotel at The Palms. Our escrow was contingent on the sale of a previous property, and just two days before closing, the buyers tragically passed away from COVID-19, causing us to fall out of escrow and delay the purchase of the condo. On top of that, after going through the lending process, we discovered that lending companies do not offer loans or mortgages for condo hotels, which wasn’t something we anticipated. As a result, we had to buy the condo hotel in all cash—something that was not part of our initial plan, but we adapted and made it work.
In Los Angeles, we tore down one of our homes to remodel it into a duplex, but during construction, we discovered significant mold issues. We had to treat and rebuild the entire structure, which, of course, added a lot of time and expense. And in Miami, we purchased a condo in the Brickell area with an expected completion date in 2024, but that project has now been delayed until 2026. Real estate investing and development are full of unknowns, and we’ve learned to adapt to these unpredictable challenges.
Despite the struggles, the overall success and satisfaction we get from the projects we’ve completed far outweighs these setbacks. It’s all part of the process, and we’re continually learning, growing, and adjusting to make sure our company thrives.
When it comes to Living LavishLee, one of the toughest challenges we’ve faced has been building an audience and gaining exposure. When you create a brand, especially in the crowded space of luxury travel content, marketing and visibility are crucial. We started from scratch, so getting noticed and building a loyal following took a lot of time, effort, and persistence. I run a blog, Livinglavishlee.blog, a YouTube channel, Living LavishLee, and our Instagram account @livinglavishlee_travel. We also hired an incredible content manager, Michelle, who helps keep us organized, produces content from our raw footage, and engages with our followers. It’s a huge investment of time and money to get the visibility we need, but I believe the return will come with consistency and patience.
With My Little Angels, my luxury kids’ dress line, the challenges were also significant, especially because I wanted to create the highest quality product. Finding the best fabrics, working with the right manufacturers, and getting every design just right was a process that took time and a lot of trial and error. One of the hardest parts of the journey was building the website. I faced so many technical issues, particularly with the checkout process, which was frustrating. In the end, I spent thousands of dollars and had to redo the website three times before I got it right. My biggest piece of advice to anyone starting their own brand would be to really vet multiple web designers before diving into the project—they will make or break the experience!
All in all, these struggles are part of building something meaningful. It’s a reminder that success doesn’t come easily, but with resilience, vision, and hard work, we’ve been able to overcome challenges and keep moving forward.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve had the unique opportunity to build and grow three very distinct businesses that are all rooted in my passion for creating quality, memorable experiences—whether in real estate, luxury travel, or children’s fashion.
At the core of it all is Kash Elite Group, my real estate development company, which I co-founded with my husband in 2020. We specialize in real estate investments and development in key markets like Las Vegas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami. We’re known for identifying high-potential properties and transforming them into luxurious, sought-after spaces. What sets us apart in the real estate world is our hands-on, family-driven approach. We view each project not just as an investment but as an opportunity to create something special and lasting. Through resilience and adaptability, we’ve learned to navigate the ever-changing real estate landscape, whether it’s overcoming skyrocketing construction costs, facing unexpected delays, or even dealing with complex financing issues. My background in commercial real estate marketing and my husband’s entrepreneurial mindset have been instrumental in how we approach every deal. What I’m most proud of here is how we’ve been able to build a successful company from the ground up, even during such unpredictable times like the pandemic. This year, we took on a new challenge by launching our first multi-project development—building three homes in Houston and two duplexes and an ADU in Los Angeles—all at the same time, something we’ve never done before. It’s a huge milestone for us and a testament to how far we’ve come.
In addition to Kash Elite Group, I’m also the co-founder of Living LavishLee, a luxury travel content brand that we launched in 2022. We specialize in sharing unique, high-end travel experiences with our audience, offering insights into the world’s most luxurious destinations and services. Through our blog, YouTube channel, and Instagram, we’ve cultivated a community that shares our love for travel and seeks to experience life’s finest moments. What sets Living LavishLee apart is our authenticity and attention to detail. We’re not just sharing luxury travel for the sake of it—we’re telling real stories, showing our genuine experiences, and bringing our audience along for the ride. One of the things I’m most proud of is how much we’ve grown from the ground up, especially in a crowded space, and how we’ve been able to connect with an engaged audience that values the experiences we showcase. I’m also incredibly proud to be working with one of the biggest travel Instagram pages, Beautiful Destinations, with over 26 million followers, through a free travel planning app called Just Ask Layla. It’s been an incredible opportunity to collaborate with such a well-established brand and to be part of something that helps people plan their dream getaways.
Lastly, I’ve launched My Little Angels, a luxury children’s dress line, which has been a passion project of mine. I specialize in creating high-quality, beautiful, and comfortable dresses for young girls. The brand is all about offering timeless elegance with a focus on soft, breathable fabrics that allow children to feel as comfortable as they look. What I’m most proud of with My Little Angels is the personal attention I give to each piece—from the design process to finding the perfect materials and ensuring each dress is crafted with care. What sets my brand apart is the commitment to quality and thoughtfulness in every detail. I’m a mother, so I deeply understand the desire to dress your child in something that is not only beautiful but also made to last. Another thing I’m extremely proud of is that within the first month of launching my brand, I was able to partner with Little Posh Kids, a boutique at the Century City Mall, where my dresses will be sold. It’s an amazing milestone and a sign that the brand is gaining recognition in the market. The time and effort I’ve spent building this brand, from sketching designs to creating the website and managing production, makes me incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished so far.
What sets me apart in all three businesses is a combination of entrepreneurial spirit, attention to detail, and a deep commitment to creating exceptional products and experiences. I’m proud of the fact that each of these businesses reflects my core values of family, quality, and creativity. Whether I’m developing a real estate project, curating a luxury travel experience, or designing children’s clothing, I approach everything with the mindset of building something meaningful that will leave a lasting impact. And at the end of the day, it’s not just about success—it’s about creating things that I’m truly passionate about and that resonate with others.
What does success mean to you?
For me, success is about creating something meaningful and making a positive impact—both in my personal life and in the businesses I’ve built. It’s not just about financial gains or recognition, though those things are certainly rewarding. Success is about staying true to my values, and being able to look back at the end of the day and feel proud of what I’ve accomplished.
In my businesses, success is defined by the relationships I build, the trust I’ve earned from clients, partners, and customers, and the fact that I’m able to create opportunities for others. For example, with Kash Elite Group, success is about transforming properties into beautiful, functional spaces that people will love and that can become part of someone’s family story. With Living LavishLee, it’s about sharing genuine experiences and inspiring others to live a life they love—whether that means traveling the world or simply enjoying the little luxuries in life. And with My Little Angels, success is about creating beautiful dresses that make little girls feel special and parents feel proud to invest in high-quality pieces that will last.
At the end of the day, success isn’t a destination—it’s a journey. It’s about the progress I make, the lessons I learn, and the growth I experience along the way. Success means being able to balance my career with family, to do work that I love, and to know that I’m contributing to something greater than myself. When I can look at what I’ve built and see that it aligns with who I am and what I stand for, that’s when I feel like I’ve truly succeeded.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://livinglavishlee.blog/ and https://mylittleangelsco.com/
- Instagram: @curl_lee, @livinglavishlee_travel, @mylittleangelsco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LivingLavishLee
Image Credits
Mike Colon and Vio Munteanu
