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.

Stephanie Gelabert

I started my journey in real estate through property management back in 2013, where I quickly fell in love with the industry and everything that comes with helping people through major life transitions. In 2014, I obtained my real estate license and began working at a real estate company, which gave me valuable hands-on experience in the market and client relations. Read more>>

Hanna Riaboshapka

My journey in the beauty industry started over 20 years ago, driven by a deep passion for aesthetics, transformation, and personal expression. I built my foundation through international experience, working across different countries and cultures, which shaped my understanding of beauty as something both universal and deeply personal. Read more>>

Raquel Trinidad

I remember the first time I sang in front of my mother when I was 6 years old. The song was none other than Genie in a Bottle by the iconic Christina Aguilera. When my mom heard me singing, she immediately told my dad that she believed I had a strong musical talent. Read more>>

Jacques Kiwii

I am a 1st-generation Haitian American artist; my father, in his youth, was a Konpa musician (A Style of Haitian music). My father passed down his love of music to me at an early age; ever since I was a kid, I loved music for what it was: pure and utter expression. I fell in love with hip-hop, Punk Rock, indie music and jazz. Read more>>

Juan Barriga

I got started in the film industry thanks to a mentor of mine, a Director of Photography in the Miami area who took me under his wing for a few years early in my career. That experience gave me a real foundation and helped me understand both the technical and creative sides of cinematography. Read more>>

labonnecrepedefrance@gmail.com labonnecrepedefrance@gmail.com

My name is Romain Courcier, CEO of La Bonne Crêpe de France LLC, located in Miami, Florida. We are a small business specializing in catering services, and we primarily operate at the Farmer’s Market. As a former restaurateur trained in prestigious gourmet restaurants in France, I wanted to bring these unique flavors, found only in certain regions of France to the United States. Read more>>

Elizabet Shapovalova

From a very young age, sports were a huge part of my life. I was a calm but very curious child, and I started training when I was only three years old. Later, I became a professional acrobat and dedicated 18 years of my life to the sport. Read more>>

Aidan Kramer

I’ve had a passion for cameras, videos, and storytelling for as long as I can remember, but my professional journey didn’t start in some perfect creative studio. It started after years of working manual labor jobs, from paper mill maintenance and landscaping to working as a ski lift mechanic in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Living in Colorado was one of the best experiences of my life. Read more>>

Barbaros Ekici

My background started with hands-on experience in cabinetry, remodeling, and design coordination. Working closely with homeowners and seeing the challenges people faced during remodeling projects gave me a deeper understanding of both the construction side and the customer experience side of the industry. Over time, I realized many clients struggled to truly visualize their future kitchen and often felt overwhelmed by the remodeling process. Read more>>

Christen Petraitis Brittney Xu

On a sunny afternoon in Miami, Christen Petraitis and Brittney Xu crossed paths on a neighborhood stroll with their Shih-tzus. What started out as small talk over tangled leashes quickly developed into something more lasting: a genuine friendship (both for them and their dogs) rooted in humor, hustle, and a mutual appreciation for the finer things in life for both humans and their pups. Read more>>

Dave Rollins

We started Eagle Swim Camps in the Summer of 2017 with a contact list of three people and a dream. Our goal was to provide the best camp experience for swimmers in the country. With personal attention, fun, education, Olympian experiences and fostering a continued love for the sport. Read more>>

Dominic DeLaney

I’ve been a traveling musician for the last 8 years, playing over 530+ shows in 33/50 US States, frequently touring by Amtrak train, retracing the steps of greats like Woody Guthrie. Read more>>

Brian Cely

Born in Colombia, came to the states for an opportunity, learned how to play a year ago and now we are creating good things, I personally have fun sharing my music to the others. I started watching Tomorrowland festival when I was a kid, ever since it’s been a dream for me, being a DJ wasn’t on the list but it’s great so far! Read more>>

Glenda Quiroz

This article will be about Glenda Quiroz & Gaby Paz Our story really started at Solvo Global, but what’s made it special is how naturally everything came together. Gaby and I come from very different backgrounds, which is exactly what makes our partnership work so well. Read more>>

Zoe Madera

I moved to Miami in 2018 while working in education, and during that time I found myself craving community, connection, and a deeper understanding of people. While teaching full time and working part time at lululemon, I became increasingly drawn to spaces centered around movement, self awareness, and human connection. Read more>>

Christian Piombo

I started on the content creation side, just trying to understand what makes people stop, pay attention, and engage. I spent a lot of time experimenting, putting content out consistently, and learning in real time what resonates and what doesn’t. A lot of that drive comes from how I grew up. Read more>>

Sean Mullen

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara and spent my early years moving up and down the California coast, as far north as Eureka where my grandparents lived, before settling back in Santa Barbara through high school and college. Read more>>

Ted Spear

I didn’t know a single person living in Miami before I moved here. As a yoga teacher from Washington, D.C., I came to this city with a dream. I was searching for like-minded friends who enjoyed exercising together, but also understood the power of living authentically. So to find my people, I started going to every wellness event I could find. Read more>>

Madeline Montgomery

I’m the owner and lead photographer behind Madeline Paige Photography, a luxury wedding photography brand based in Southwest Florida and traveling wherever love takes me. Looking back, photography has honestly been a huge part of my story for as long as I can remember. Read more>>

Hannah Tishman

I grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and from a young age, I was always drawn to people, stories, and understanding what makes others tick. For a long time, I thought that passion would lead me into journalism. I loved writing, communication, and learning about people’s experiences, but as I got older, I realized something was missing. Read more>>

Keysha MissKay King

With over 21 years in the entertainment industry, I’ve established myself as a dynamic force in fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle media. I began my career in Atlanta, Georgia as a blogger for MyCollegeTalk.net, where I quickly built a reputation for delivering relevant, engaging, and culturally impactful content. Read more>>

Elena Lee

I was born and raised between Barcelona and Ibiza, where my journey in dance and performance first began. After moving to Miami, I continued developing my career as a dancer before relocating to New York to focus more deeply on performance art, where I also discovered and began my burlesque career. Read more>>

Jay Campbell

I was born in Jamaica and moved to Florida at the age six, and I’ve been here ever since. My nail journey started in 2020, and I became licensed in 2021—but my real beginning was much humbler than people expect. I was literally doing nails in my mom’s backyard. Read more>>

Carolyn Jones

Makeup Artist & Beauty Educator I am a makeup artist and licensed esthetician with over three decades of experience in the beauty industry. I was born in the United States and raised in Venezuela, studied Mass Communication and refined my makeup artistry through years of collaboration with renowned makeup artists, models, and designers across international markets. Read more>>

Mara Bernstein

The tagline of my practice is Divorce Different. After three decades as a divorce lawyer in both NYC and South Florida, my mission has been to change the way couples divorce.. Read more>>

Stephanie Riel

I started my career over 17 years ago in the marketing and business world, building brands, scaling businesses, and eventually running a multiple six-figure marketing agency. From the outside, my life looked incredibly successful with awards, recognition, a thriving business, and travel, but internally, I was deeply disconnected from myself and my body. Read more>>

Leslie Gabaldon

My story began long before I realized photography would become such an important language in my life. I was first introduced to photography as a teenager, when my older sister, who was studying architecture at the time, decided to build a black-and-white darkroom in our bathroom!. MAGIC!!! Read more>>

Soraya Pastor

We Bossa is a Miami-based interior design studio led by Soraya Pastor and Regina Vargas. We focus on high-end residential interiors, creating spaces that feel personal, layered, and built to last. Our work is very much about balance—there’s always a strong architectural clarity, but also a tactile side to it. Read more>>

Rosa Cordes

My story begins when I came to the United States from Peru in December of 1997, determined to build a future through education and service. I had already earned my Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and served as a volunteer firefighter back home, but I dreamed of completing my bachelor’s degree. Read more>>

Stephanie Rae Bendoym

I started in sales when I was just 15 years old, learning early how to connect with people, listen closely, and earn trust. Those first experiences taught me that sales isn’t about pushing a product—it’s about understanding needs and creating real value. Over the years, I continued building on those skills, working in different environments that sharpened my communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities. Read more>>

Rebecca Pasko

I started my journey in dog training over 20 years ago, originally just wanting to learn as much as I could about dogs. I spent years volunteering, working for free, and putting myself in any environment where I could get hands-on experience with dog behavior and training. Read more>>

RYDELL Danzie

Wild Game Chef, Host, Writer, and Contributor to several Outdoor Publications. I am from the most rural part of Alabama, I grew up hunting and fishing like most did in the area. We did not do it for sport, but for nourishment and family quality time. Read more>>

Adarsh Alphons

I grew up as an artist—art was actually a pretty formative force in my life. I struggled in traditional academic settings early on, but I had a teacher who recognized something in me and really pushed me toward creative expression. That experience stayed with me. Read more>>

Shawana McCullough

My journey with You’ve Been Baked began from a very personal place. In 2021, I started baking simply as an act of love for my husband. It was something intimate, him wanting me to learn how to bake for our home. Me just me in the kitchen creating moments through desserts for someone I cared deeply about. Read more>>

Stephanie Zenon

Picture Me Cookie started from a place of passion and creativity, but it quickly evolved into something much more unique. I’ve always loved baking and design, and I began by creating custom cookies for friends and family, experimenting with different styles and flavors. Read more>>

Jose Lopez

I have been in Veterinary Medicine since 1995; I started as a kennel assistant and have worked my way up to where I’m today. A licensed Veterinary Technician with 30 yrs of experience. My wife Erika Lopez is also a Licensed Veterinary Technician and has been in this field herself for over 20 years. Read more>>

Julia Carey

I was definitely the stereotypical overachiever as a kid, so when it came time to sign up for band or orchestra, joining felt like an obvious choice. While my family wasn’t filled with musicians, music was always playing in my house, and there was always a strong love for music. Read more>>

CENGIZ BAYIRLI

My story really begins in Istanbul, where I was born and raised. Growing up in a city that connects Europe and Asia gave me a very global perspective from an early age. I later moved to the United States to attend Boston University, where I studied Business Administration. Read more>>

Antonio Amin

Antonio Amin, was born the 3rd of January of 1977 at the city of Caracas Venezuela. After 2 years he moved to the city of Maracay where he began school studies. Read more>>

Gabriella Garcia

I’m a pediatric speech-language pathologist, and my journey started with a love for working with children and education. I actually began in the classroom, teaching kindergarten, where I quickly realized how deeply connected language and literacy are connected. That realization led me to pursue my master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Florida State University. I’ve been practicing as an SLP since 2013. Read more>>

Zinthia Garcia

I didn’t find my purpose in skincare it found me through crisis. In January 2024, my grandmother went in for what was meant to be a routine procedure. During surgery, her large intestine was perforated, which led to the discovery of pancreatic cancer with little chance of survival. Read more>>

Fernanda Muhlbradt

My journey in marketing began about six years ago, initially focused on copywriting, but its foundation goes much further back. I have a background in Literature, where I developed my relationship with writing early on, not just as a form of expression, but as a strategic tool. Over time, I expanded into social media and brand strategy, working across different markets, including Germany. Read more>>

Victoria Chierico

It all started many years ago with my amazing grandmother, Barbara Miller! She is the one who taught me everything I know and inspired me to be the leader I am today. Starting at the age of 18, she grew 4 rental units to a total of 84 units between 1949 and 2019. Read more>>

Anya Jordan

My journey into aesthetics started with curiosity, hustle, and a strong desire to build something of my own. Mary Kay first introduced me to skincare and entrepreneurship, and from there I went all in—working in spas, renting a single room, and even doing mobile facial services just to keep growing. Read more>>