Miami’s Most Inspiring Stories

Every neighborhood in South Florida has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates the various neighborhoods but rather what they all have in common.  From South Beach to Boca (and everywhere in between) we’ve been blown away by how many creative and talented people call South Florida home.  Check out some of the inspiring stories we’ve discovered throughout Miami and the surrounding areas.

Jaci Pena

My professional transition came in my mid-twenties when I started shooting vacation rentals and small hotels in Miami Beach. Assisting in studio shoots and gradually specializing in real estate photography ultimately guided me towards my current focus: design and architectural photography. The pivotal moment arrived in 2015 when I was unexpectedly laid off from my w2 job—ironically being told to “focus on my photography.”  Read More>>

Adela Martinez

Everything started with a prayer. I graduated with a dual bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing and Design. Right after college, I finished designing a dress for the beauty pageant ‘Miss Mundo Latina’ for Miss Venezuela, along with a few other prom dresses. After the stressful experience of working on a dress for a beauty pageant, I realized it wasn’t something I wanted to pursue.  Read More>>

Raushan Feliz

On top of that, I’ve had to learn how to navigate a system where, as a woman and a foreigner, I’m often seen as an easy target. Small companies sometimes try to hustle you or overcharge you, assuming you don’t know the ropes or that you won’t push back. That’s been really frustrating too. I had to quickly learn how to stand my ground and become a ‘player’ in this system, just like everyone else. I’ve had to advocate for myself more than I ever imagined, and sometimes it feels like you’re fighting against a system that doesn’t always see you as equal. But I’ve learned to be more assertive and smarter about the way I approach situations. Read More>>

Audrey Keliehor

It hasn’t been a smooth road, but that’s the reality of small business ownership—it’s a constant game of catch-up and learning as you go. When I started Audswimmers, I had to adapt quickly to the challenges that came with running a swim school. Weather inconsistency in Florida is a big one. Planning outdoor lessons around unpredictable rain and storms taught me to stay flexible while still maintaining the consistency my students need for progress. Read More>>

Ellen Marchman

Public Relations has evolved immensely over the past decade. At Get Ink, we implement “360-degree marketing,” intertwining media relations, creative writing, social media, and digital strategies. Our clients are leaders in the hospitality world, including restaurants, hotels, and wellness brands. We are know for our deep understanding of the industry and tapping our vast network to launch a new brands in national market. Favorite clients over the years include Soho Beach House, Kimpton Hotels, Chotto Matte, Exhale Spa, The Palms Hotel & Spa and Modo Yoga. Read More>>

Oscar Morejon

Today, John Bell Construction is known for its innovative approach and dedication to exceeding client expectations. We’ve completed hundreds of projects, focusing on commercial, government, and healthcare sectors, and we’re proud to be a trusted name in South Florida. My journey has been one of resilience, hard work, and a belief in not just building structures, but also building relationships with clients and the community. Read More>>

Amanda Paez

Over time, word spread, and my little tutoring business began to grow. Families saw the progress their children were making, not just academically but also in their confidence and love for learning. The support from the community fueled my determination to expand my reach and refine my methods. Read More>>

Angela & Allison Manrique

Our journey begins with Angela & Allison, a sibling pair dancing in church on Sundays. What we didn’t realize was that those moments were preparing us for a greater vision and mission which we see happening today. We knew we loved to dance and most importantly, to worship God with the gift he gave us. Combining what we learned as liturgical dancers and studio trained dancers we realized there was a need in our community for a space like Dance Box Miami. A studio were kids can learn to grow in their gift as movers while also staying true to their relationship with God. Keeping our values at the forefront of everything we do. I shared this vision with my parents, they believed in me and the calling on my life, and the building for DBM was prepared. From 2020 – Now, we’ve seen God on our side and growth. Read More>>

Samantha Ebanks

I prayed for days about whether it was something I should do and after months of researching all things photography while also studying the Word of God, I had multiple confirmations that photography was the route to go. So I bought my first camera on December 27th, exactly 8 months after graduating college. Over the next 3 years, I practiced taking photos of friends, took on small photography gigs, and served at my local church on the media team. I’ve grown a lot as an artist and as a believer in Christ over the years, and am proud to say that almost four years later, I officially launched my business, Tselem Images, in September of 2024. Read More>>

Annastasiya Riley

In the beginning, my idea for the brand was always evolving, and I struggled to streamline its identity. I often found myself unsure of how to align my personal vision with what the brand should represent and it wasn’t till some time passing where I realized that my brand doesn’t need to fully embody my entire existence. Instead, it’s a reflection of the piece of me that created “Aagenda de l’atelier” —a version of myself that continues to grow and shift. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just authentic to who I am at this moment. Read More>>

Stacey E. Haught

It wasn’t until I was in the middle of the pandemic alongside the entire world holding my breath did I actually knocked down those walls and boundaries, picked up a computer, and launched into the next stage of my creative experience and wrote my first novel. Since then writing and publishing six romance, mystery, and fantasy novels with one more on the way. Read More>>

Leyla Saghir

Today I am dedicated to managing 504 units in a luxury building complex in Miami and at the same time I am dedicated to being a personal/motivational development guide to others! I LOVE MY JOB! I love anything related to helping others become the best version of themselves!! Read More>>

Shantae Mcdonald

Getting The Beautaé Bar off the ground was a journey that started during my time in grad school in Jacksonville. I began taking on professional clients to earn some extra income and soon realized how fulfilling it was to help others feel beautiful and confident. After moving to Texas, I decided to take it a step further and apprenticed at a salon while attending cosmetology school to become a licensed professional. Read More>>

Bethany Sharp

I grew up in jupiter Florida and stayed local for school and went to PBAU in palm beach I majored in graphic design and PR. I’ve always had a love for all things design , I chose graphic design because of my past experience of being editor of yearbook in HS and then again college. Fast forward to 2017 I created a fashion company called lady jetset allowing women to rent high end fashion delivered to their destination. . COVID unfortunately took the best of my new start up company which was very devastating as a small business owner. Read More>>

Jameka Lubin

It hasn’t been a smooth road but its been a road worth traveling. I remember the days trying to work a job that consumed me, leaving little room for anything else including my family and a business. I missed precious, irreplaceable moments during the most important years of my oldest son’s life. That pain was my wake-up call, my turning point. Once I realized the power I hold to shape my own life, I promised myself I’d never let anyone or anything take that from me again. Read More>>

Chaz D’avino

The main struggles at first was getting the money to invest in camera equipment, computer equipment, editing softwares, etc. But once I got my first 4K camera set up, the ball started rolling pretty quickly! Another small struggle was finding the right customers. It was easy for me to build clientele, but I wanted the type of clients that don’t mind paying more for a batter product. I learned to try to stay away from clients that always want deals and always want to rush the finished product. Having clients that know a good project takes time and is worth the wait is who I love working with! I’m so thankful that I built my business up enough to be able to work with the type of people I want to today! Read More>>

Roy Ju

Business strategy is a passion of mine, and I find tremendous fulfillment in helping entrepreneurs to scale and reach their dreams. I’ve featured a few examples in the pictures, below. In a past life, when I had more time on the side, I did engage in a few entrepreneurial endeavors; since then, I’ve spent my spare time serving in a board capacity to support company founders who have brilliant ideas and need guidance on navigating foundational start-up company challenges (e.g. reaching proof of concept, achieving market adoption, scaling, profit/loss management, capital raising, etc.). Read More>>

Nury Trujillo

My journey with photography started at a young age growing up, I loved taking photos of everything. I’ve always been drawn to the way a photograph can capture a fleeting moment and tell a story that words sometimes cannot. After becoming a mother of two, my love for photography deepened—I realized how precious every milestone and candid moment is (I love candid photos), especially when it comes to children. My kids have been my greatest muses, inspiring me to hone my skills and expand my vision. Read More>>

Lay

Creativity has always been at my core. Throughout my life, I’ve loved infusing creativity into school projects and various endeavors. From drawing and dancing to other forms of artistic expression, I’ve always sought ways to showcase my artistic side. What I didn’t anticipate was how much content creation would open new avenues for self-expression. Read More>>