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.

Glory Quiñonez

She became the first little person to walk for Daniels leather for Miami swim week in May 2024. New York fashion week SS 24 she walked again for Daniels leather and she walked for designer Qstyling for her Q2 clothing line. Glory has been featured in many magazines and appeared on tv for the past year alone did my first podcast interview with Cafe Con Lourdes along side with an artist name Trauma in 2024. Read more>>

Laura McDermott Matheric

When I went on to earn my MFA in poetry from Florida International University, I began to understand myself as a “poet of place,” someone who writes from the specific textures of South Florida—the sawgrass, the traffic, the hurricanes—and uses them to explore belonging, identity, and community.​​ Read more>>

Annette Lopez Teal

I am an attorney whose expertise is rooted in a genuine passion for real estate. I’ve always been drawn to real estate because it represents so much more than property. It’s stability, opportunity and sometimes the start of a new chapter in someone’s life. Early in my legal career, I realized that real estate clients needed more than documents and deadlines. Read more>>

Achunchigan Lattore

I started out presenting my content online as a BBQ enthusiast who was learning the craft in real time. I would present how processes and recipes worked or didn’t work for me. My real-time lessons helped others learn as well so upon seeing this, I leaned into being the reference that I needed for others. Read more>>

Audi Aragon

I turned my passion into purpose. What started in my kitchen with a vision and determination became Flavor House through hard work, faith, and an obsession with excellence. I built this business from the ground up- learning, evolving, and refusing to cut corners. Every event, every client, and every plate became an opportunity to raise the standard. Read more>>

Ashot Aroian

I began this journey in 2017—completely by accident. A friend casually mentioned that he was selling products on Amazon and suggested I give it a try. I had no grand plan, no strategy—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment. I decided to start with a product I believed could truly make a difference: fire escape ladders. Read more>>

Valérie Mélanie Engel

I moved to Miami about 10 years ago from Paris. After graduating I went to arts school followed by a well known fashion school in Paris. After that I worked for Chanel in the South of France and afterwards got promoted to the ”Image” department in Paris. Read more>>

Yarden Weiss

I’m Yarden Weiss, I’m 31 years old, and I’m the founder and creative force behind Frudeco Bakery. I was born in Israel, and in 2016 I arrived in Miami with a suitcase full of dreams and no clear plan—except for one thing: the desire to create something beautiful. Read more>>

Jacquelyn Elliott

I’ve always had a passion for writing so when I graduated from Florida Atlantic University I was on the lookout for a position that would help me turn my passion into a career. I was super excited when I came across the Marketing Associate position at Kai Branding. Read more>>

Jena Gizerskiy CFD PFCI AFCD

I didn’t come from a traditional floral background. My professional foundation began in my 20s in the luxury world of Christian Dior, where I was immersed in brand storytelling, elevated service, and the importance of creating emotional experiences. That environment shaped how I think about relationships, presentation, and long-term brand value — lessons that would later influence my path in the floral industry. Read more>>

Samuel Phanor

I didn’t start with a master plan, I started with responsibility. My path has never been linear. I’ve worn a lot of uniforms in my life: military, law enforcement, founder, operator, and each one taught me something different about pressure, leadership, and what it means to hold the line when things get uncomfortable. Read more>>

Sofi Santana

My journey has been shaped by creativity, resilience, and reinvention. I began in the fashion and modeling world, where I developed discipline and confidence, while art remained a constant my way of processing, creating, and grounding myself. After becoming a mother, my focus shifted toward wellness and healing. Read more>>

Kory Rankine

I founded Escape in 2013 without prior experience in the short term rental or vacation rental industry, but with a strong foundation in hospitality from my years working at a country club in Greenwich, Connecticut. At the time, the industry was at an inflection point. Read more>>

Anansia Leslie-Bailey

I Do Therapy began as an idea in March 2024. At the time, I was several months away from completing my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Nova Southeastern University, while simultaneously planning a larger-scale wedding. My husband and I had eloped in 2018 and were finally ready to celebrate with a full wedding. Read more>>

David Baez

My passion for hair started when I was a young boy I remember one time when I was 6 years old grabbing schools scissors and asking my younger sister if she wanted a haircut and of course she said yes not knowing what the outcome was going to be. Read more>>

Colin Ewing

Founded in 2022 by, LEED Accredited Professional and University of Florida Alumni, Colin Ewing. Colin brings over 16 years of Construction Management and General Contracting experience. His team’s devotion to the latest technologies and passion for timeless functionality routinely produce a magnificent build. Our goal is to deliver your dream home and for you to enjoy the process along the way. Read more>>

Chanan Averbuch

In 2011, Chanan started as a regional sales person at an Israeli visualization company Primeview where he grew from business development director, VP, SVP and ultimately EVP of the Americas. In that capacity, he developed relationship that led to large roll-outs for Estee Lauder, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Fox Studios, ESPN, NBC, ABC, CBC, Marriot, Hilton, and many more. Read more>>

Norman Levitan

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida, South Carolina and Arizona. I began my journey back in the 90s when I decided I wanted to help families, specifically children with having an outlet to discuss their experiences and journeys in order to navigate the crazy world we live in. Read more>>

Caleb Deng

Caleb Deng is the founder of Puffles, a South Florida–based dessert brand known for its Hong Kong-style egg waffles, creamy ice cream, and bubble teas. Born and raised in New York City’s Chinatown, Caleb grew up enjoying egg waffles from street vendors, a simple but special treat he looked forward to after Chinese school. Read more>>

Rafael Gracia

My story didn’t start on a stage—it started in survival mode. I grew up in East New York, Brooklyn, in an environment shaped by instability, violence, and fear. I experienced homelessness at a young age and was raised under the weight of an abusive stepfather. Home wasn’t a place of safety—it was something to endure. Outside wasn’t much easier. Read more>>

Amanda Fraga

I went to college with a strong desire to travel, I’m sure like most people, and I made it a priority to save and go to as many places as possible, near and far (by 19 I was spending 2 weeks in China, and by 21 I was in Senegal for a few weeks, for example). I loved learning about beverages every where I went. Read more>>

Mona Nasser

I didn’t start out with a plan to build an organization — I started as a mother navigating a world I never expected to enter. Read more>>

Breanna Belizaire

Tax preparation has been a part of my life from an early age, and over time, it became clear that this was more than just a skill. It was a responsibility I took seriously. Helping people understand their finances and make informed decisions is what ultimately shaped the direction of my career. In 12th grade, I began working with a local tax preparation firm. Read more>>

Francisco Alvarez Berger

I did not begin my career with a clear plan to specialize in oncology or to open my own practice. My path developed gradually, shaped by hands on clinical experience and a growing awareness of how complex and personal cancer care can be. After earning my veterinary degree, I began working in general practice. Those early years were foundational. Read more>>

Carolina Kokenge Fernandez

My name is Carolina Kokenge-Fernandez, and I am a Speech-Language Pathologist. Since high school, I’ve always felt a strong pull toward working with children, especially children with special needs. I initially began my studies in Exceptional Student Education at the University of Central Florida. Read more>>

Svenja Iglesias

I moved from Germany to the United States in the year 2000 after completing my Master’s degree in Education at the University of Essen. My firstborn daughter was just 18 months old, and we began this new and exciting life in Florida. Shortly after our arrival in our new home, I found a German-speaking mommy-and-me group in western Broward County. Read more>>

Anahi Munoz

Some people choose a career. Others are called into one. For me, healing was never just a profession. It was a destiny that began long before titles, credentials, or any form of success. Read more>>

Raul Alsina

My parents have held this Pediatrics practice in Hialeah since 2003. For the longest time it has been just my father as the physician and my mother (who did complete medical school but did not purse that career further) as the office manager. They managed to serve our community well all these years with just each other. Read more>>

Junior Garcia

I started with a camera and a vision before I had a clear plan. What began as curiosity wanting to capture moments and tell stories slowly turned into a purpose. Early on, I said yes to everything, learned through trial and error, and poured myself into getting better in every single project. Read more>>

Lorraine Costello

Bio: The Story Behind The Tree House: My husband Thiago and I met, married, and had twins while working overseas in Sydney, Australia. During our time abroad, we noticed that play cafés—spaces where parents could meet, connect, and let their kids explore—were lifelines especially as new parents ourselves. Read more>>

Jose Vargas

My name is José Vargas. I was born and raised in Venezuela, where I lived until early 2016. I started studying Business Administration and Law, but eventually left my studies to work alongside my father in the family business. Read more>>

Carlos Barquin

I spent over a decade working in television news, most notably as Chief Photographer and Producer for Telemundo Network’s morning show. That role placed me at the center of some of the most significant moments of our time. I field-produced and filmed presidential interviews, covered major hurricanes, and documented world-changing events such as the September 11 attacks, often under intense pressure and tight deadlines. Read more>>

Dr Samantha Eve Morris

1. My path to where I am today has been shaped by a blend of clinical rigor, entrepreneurship, and a deep commitment to ethical, compassionate care. I began my career in psychology and behavioral health, drawn early on to understanding not just symptoms, but the systems, relationships, and environments that shape human experience. Read more>>

Patricia Isis

I took Saturday morning art lessons at the Unitarian Church in South Miami from the age of 4 to 11, when my amazing art teacher, Rudolph Valentino Adams, was killed in a car accident on the way to art class. (See my pastel portrait of him when I was 11). We were all devastated! Read more>>

Vinod Chainani

Having graduated interventional cardiology training in July of 2022, Dr Chainani spent two years finding his footing in the medical community of Miami until finally coming upon the opportunity to establish his own practice: MVM HEART, VEIN AND VASCULAR CENTERS. While it is uncommon for a physician to establish his own practice so soon after graduation, Dr. Read more>>

Yuliia Parkhomenko

I am an interior designer and the founder of Rocket Design, a Miami-based design studio. I launched my studio in the U.S. two years ago, building on a professional foundation shaped over more than a decade. Behind me are 10 years of experience in interior design and hundreds of completed projects across the CIS countries and Turkey. Read more>>

Malik Arif

Lil Pak (born Malik Arif) is a Pakistani-American rapper and songwriter whose music blends elements of hip-hop and R&B. Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, after spending his early years in Abbottabad, Pakistan, Lil Pak discovered his passion for music at a young age. Inspired by iconic artists like Lil Wayne, Tupac Shakur, and Drake, he dedicated himself to crafting his unique sound. Read more>>

Erik Schults

I was born and raised in a small town in southwest Michigan. Entrepreneurship and hard work were part of my environment from the beginning. My father built and ran a successful engineering and real estate development firm for over 20 years, growing it to more than 100 employees, while my mother was a podiatrist who had moved to the area after medical school. Read more>>

Jose Cepero-Chang

A former professional chess player trained in Cuba’s High Performance Athlete School, Cepero developed the strategic mindset that would later define his career. After settling in the United States, he reinvented himself academically, graduating with honors from Florida International University (FIU). His excellence earned him recognition from the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA) as one of the brightest minds of the academic year. Read more>>

Olga Garcia-Mayoral

I founded OGCURATED INC, a virtual and creative consultancy focused on contemporary art and installations. We curate exhibitions, produce educational publications, and emphasize public art and experiences. We’re devoted to Art, Community & Discovery—and one of the ways we live that out is by partnering with local nonprofits to coordinate art auctions and fundraising that elevate our artists while driving awareness and impact. As a leading online gallery rooted in Miami, we’re growing opportunities for artists with innovative commissions and tailored creative consultation. Read more>>