Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of South Bay’s gems below.
Heather Kornman
How The golden triangle started is a lot like asking where I started as The golden triangle was born from within me. I grew up in The South Bay playing at the beach most days, getting hosed off and riding home in my mom’s VW bus, playing and exploring the deepest depths of the mud my brothers and I could dig to in our front yard, tunneling, and exploring all the Earth had to offer in between the concrete jungle which we lived. I loved making flower chain bracelets during recess and counting the blades of grass while I played right field during softball. As I grew, I continued to explore: the mountains, oceans, deserts, rivers, and beaches. What became clear was I was in love with The Earth and all its elements. Read more>>
Tara Olesky
During the pandemic, I founded Tablewine, a lifestyle amenity for Class A residences across the US. I was laid off at the beginning of COVID and began brainstorming on how I could combine my skill sets to create an experience for luxury renters that would also allow me to give back to our community. After about 20 years in the wine and hospitality industry, and also as a renter myself, I wanted to elevate the resident experience to the next level and bring something to the multi-family real estate game that hasn’t been previously done. I put my sommelier experience together with my CA real estate license, and, voila, Tablewine was born! Read more>>
Shelly Lang
Well in a way, I am just getting started now, at least with the full expression of my art. But let me back up a little bit when I first moved to LA. It was in March 2012 I moved to LA from Paris, France. I had been in Paris studying and working in fashion. I had recently been divorced and knew I still wanted to build a career and at this point, I was afraid to trust my desire to be an artist. At the time, I didn’t believe I could paint what was true for me and be able to make a living with it, so I turned to fashion which I also love. Read more>>
Charmaine Tong-Kaufman
I always loved animals – had dogs and competitively competed in horse show jumping growing up. Went to the University of Toronto and was interested in bioengineering – combining technology with biology – like designing pacemakers. In university though, learned that physics was not for me. Started to work at a veterinary clinic while in university and found my love for veterinary medicine. Read more>>
Tyler Jordan
Hi, I’m Tyler Jordan, the founder of C.A.N.V.A.S (Creating A New View Around Society). I started my brand in 2013 to add value to creative culture through my clothing designs and photography. Read more>>
Abram Boise
Art and design has always been my path. This comes in many forms and often would fall in the immersive experience art realm. Whether it was the Yellowstone Film Ranch that I built with my company, Soundcolor Studios, to building a major architectural sculpture permanent install for the Pheonix Airport with fabrication company Pink Sparrow or currently installing and operating the pyrotechnics and flamethrowers for the Eras Taylor Swift Tour; I’ve been lucky to build some of the most creative projects on the planet and looking forward to doing many more. In between these projects, I still pursue my own personal projects of more classical art forms and bronze sculptures which have found a big audience not just domestically, but I’ve done shows all across mainland China for over seven years with art curator Yan Zhuping founder of 188 Art in Shanghai. Read more>>
Jessica Marquez
Before entering the beauty industry, I worked in the textile industry with a typical Monday to Friday, 9-5 schedule just like many others. I stayed in this job for 13 years due to the preconceived notion that it was secure and had benefits. However, I eventually became physically and emotionally drained from work and personal issues. That’s when I decided to take a risk and pursue something more fulfilling in life. With the encouragement of my spouse, I was able to make the leap and discover new opportunities beyond the monotony of my previous job. Read more>>
Elena Zamora
I’m a Certified Professional Makeup Artist in the South Bay (Carson). I started doing makeup in high school. I went to school on the Day of the Dead my senior year with half of it painted like a sugar skull and was sent to the principal’s office. I told them there was nothing wrong with me celebrating a special day for my culture. Other students appreciated it and that’s how I got my very first client. I was 17 and got hired to paint a couple like a sugar skull. I remember I was so excited that someone actually wanted to pay me to paint them. I remember feeling so happy doing their makeup and the look on their faces when they saw the finished look. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue a career as a makeup artist. I got hired at Party City for seasonal a year after to specifically do my sfx makeup while on the job. I got Certified in 2018 and started taking clients. I’ve worked on pregnancy photoshoots, brides, quinceñeras, prom, graduation photoshoots, baby shower glam, natural glam & special effects makeup. In 2020 I started my own cosmetics line, Crystal Moon Cosmetics. However, I had to put a pause on that project & close for a moment. I wanted to expand the beauty services I could offer to my clients. That brings me to my most recent beauty service, Gel-X Nails. Read more>>
Trystanne Cunningham
I moved from Haiti to California as a teenager and couldn’t speak much English which made it tough at first. Thankfully, I was able to enroll in English as a Second Language class before school started and did so well I managed to skip eighth grade and went straight to high school. Read more>>
Dairian Roberts
When I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science, I had no idea what I wanted to do! I ultimately decided to pursue a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (OT) and had dreams of a career in hand therapy. I spent the first five years of my career in hand therapy before I decided to do something different. Read more>>
Debbie G. Ramirez
My name is Debbie Gisela Ramirez. I am a daughter of Salvadoran immigrants who came to the U.S. in the early 1980s in search of safety from the civil war and to find opportunities for employment and overall better life conditions. My parents came from humble and poor beginnings in El Salvador and knew they wanted to be able to provide a different foundation for their future children. My father was sick with various medical conditions that were diagnosed at the early age of 18, therefore my mother was the sole economic provider throughout my childhood. My father passed away at the age of 33, just a month shy of my 10th birthday, and my brother was four. This event shook our world radically and changed the trajectory of our childhood/lives. In traumatic events as these, often we see families breaking apart or coming closer together. Read more>>
Jennies Molina
My name is Jennies Muzett Molina and I grow-up in East Los Angeles to a single mother and three siblings. I never felt comfortable in my own body nor did I feel good in my skin. In my late 20s, I decided to get my first Brazilian wax. However, I came to see that I could find what I was looking for in a wax specialist. So I decided to learn on myself as I learned and continue to get better. I looked into cosmetology school as I fell in love with waxing and skincare. I couldn’t be more proud to call my place my own! As a first in my family to graduate from college and open my small business, I’m so proud to be here giving my best to my beautiful clients. Read more>>
Emily Nader
I was unhappy; searching for an excuse to call out of work every day, lacking satisfaction in my life. I felt tired, disconnected, and confused. I wanted to create more meaning in my life. Eventually, my true passion started calling me home to Southern California, away from my life in New York City, so I quit my job and ventured to Los Angeles. I was on a journey to get back to the roots of who I am as a being. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, all I knew was that my passion for fitness and health, along with this deep desire to help others would lead me in the right direction. Read more>>
John Wang
My business partner and I met on the swim team during high school and decided to make games. Throughout the past 11 years, we’ve made and launched four games in total and are currently working on our largest game, which has received several publisher offers. We have decided to partner with Gamera Games from Japan to help launch Brave Eduardo. I gave up on law school to work on game and VR development, which was particularly difficult for my conservative Asian parents. They followed the stereotypical understanding of how creatives will have a hard time in life. Read more>>
Aimee Yamada
Hello, my name is Aimee Midori Yamada and I am the founder of Yamato Taiko Group which is preserving the art of Taiko (Japanese drum) and passing it to future generations. I have been playing Taiko for over 44 years and began teaching in the 1980s. I, along with two of my daughters, also founded our local Buddhist Temple’s Taiko group, Isami Taiko. I have been volunteering and performing in cities all around Southern California for nearly four decades. I donate my time to teach the art of Taiko while introducing and sharing Japanese culture with the communities. I have taught anywhere from preschool-aged children up to University students and beyond. Read more>>
Bea Cornejo
Bea Cornejo is a Los Angeles-based landscape photographer whose passion lies in capturing nature’s BEA-uty. Through her work, she wishes to inspire, as well as motivate, others to explore mother earth’s infinite wonder. Her photography, mainly focused on nature, conveys a sense of JOY. When I first stood behind the lens back in high school, my world was turned upside down. I was captivated by nature’s infinite BEA-uty. At that time, I did not know becoming a landscape photographer was a goal which remained hidden until now. Read more>>
Kate Danaj
Hello! I’m Kate Danaj, founder of Clarity Zero-Proof Lounge. When I decided more than seven years ago that alcohol was not serving me any longer, I decided to give up drinking for Lent and was surprised that I made it through successfully. Realizing how much better I felt without “wine-o’clock” cravings, boozy brunches, or dreaded hangovers — I wanted to keep myself accountable to a mindful-drinking path. That’s when I came across two books (This Naked Mind by Annie Grace and Kick the Drink Easily by Jason Vale) that dramatically changed my life. Read more>>
Chef Jeffray D. Gardner
I began my journey after meeting my future wife while rollerblading on the strand in Newport Beach. Intros were made and when I shared with her my previous careers (hockey & chocolate), it was chocolate that seemed to win her over. I had no intentions of returning to my past career in chocolate but her enthusiasm made me think. Shortly after Marsatta Chocolate was created while on a bus ride from Wilson Park to the Hollywood Bowl. So I brought along some wine, some chocolate and a pen and paper. My idea was to create a name for my newly formed chocolate company. Read more>>
Elizabeth Alligood
I’m originally from Oregon and at the time was in advertising and marketing and worked for a company that would send us down to Southern California for continued training. I fell in love with the warm weather, the change of pace and kept telling myself that I would someday live here. Well…after a year I realized…a dream is only a dream if you don’t implement action. So….I did my first road trip by myself, went on interviews, got a job in sales at Mercedes Benz in Newport Beach, which I knew nothing about and had no prior experience in the car industry and then packed my bags and moved all within a week and a half. I didn’t know anyone in SoCal and didn’t know the areas very well… but I knew that I was determined to make it. Read more>>
