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.

Wiley Koepp

Today I regularly write music reviews of recordings and live performances, publish articles and interviews, and promote musical artists through consulting, press releases, and concert promotion. As of May 2026, Coyote Music has promoted more than 1,500 Events, nearly 1,000 Artists, 500+ Venues, and 20 Festivals through our more than 1,000 Reviews, Videos, Articles, Interviews, and Press Releases. Read more>>

El Lambert

I love the fact that I get to exist as an Entertainer and Creative Entrepreneur and now I’m in a place where I’m building a team around what I do and am looking to scale to the next level. Read more>>

Casterine (Katt) Castillo

Today, I’m focused on growing my company, expanding into contract bidding and government contracting, and continuing to build a reputation for quality work and strong leadership. Long-term, my goal is clear: I want to become one of the leading women in construction in South Florida and create opportunities for other women to grow within the industry as well. Read more>>

Katerina Kapustina

What started as a personal fascination evolved into a custom curtain atelier focused on craftsmanship, proportion, and timeless interiors. Today, we create pieces that are meant to quietly elevate a room elegant and deeply tailored to the people who live there Read more>>

Ashley Jordan Schild

I began studying preserved botanicals, experimenting with different moss varieties, and exploring how natural elements could be transformed into lasting works of art. What started as a personal creative outlet quickly evolved into Native DesignWorks. Soon after, I began landing projects in hospitality spaces like gyms and salons, along with private residences. Over time, the work evolved into larger-scale installations, custom moss art, and biophilic design pieces that blend nature, architecture, and art. Read more>>

Kevin KAZ Zapata

Right now I’m designing toys and doing contract work, building a practice where commercial work and community work inform each other, using illustration to capture Miami the way locals see it; void of any tourist lens. Read more>>

Darryl Forges

After a few years of covering groundbreaking and historic moments at CNN, I moved to New Orleans where I’m currently the morning anchor for WDSU. Read more>>

Tara Iacobucci

This past winter I created, choreographed, directed and produced my own full length evening of work, “Facets In And Around”. This was an audition based casting call, and quite possibly the most tiring yet fulfilling project I have ever submerged myself in. The sponsors who supported, the audience who opened themselves up to it, and the dancers who dedicated themselves alongside me are all memories I will forever be grateful for. Read more>>

Saeed Tabibi

All the while I made music. I played bass for a few bands and wrote and produced my own songs without ever putting them out. Around 2023 I started playing guitar and singing in a band called “Associates” which inspired me to start putting out my own music. Since then I’ve released a full album, streaming on all platforms and available on vinyl. I have also released several singles and collabs. All my music is independent and released through my own record label “East Hialeah Records.” I make it my goal to make all original tracks, with live instrumentation, recorded analog on tape, and containing positive, up lifting, and deep spiritual messages. Read more>>

Tara Hauck

I’ve been an artist ever since I can remember. Drawing, painting, pottery, crafting, jewelry making….I just never knew how I would be able to turn any of that into a career. Since I was a teenager I always had a camera on me…then after I graduated high school, the light turned on SO BRIGHT!! Photography was it. Read more>>

Vanessa Hernández Arias

I grew up in Cali, Colombia, in a family where everything revolved around connection. We’d gather around the table, laugh, tell stories and somewhere in those moments, I fell in love with performing. By the time I was five and stepped into my first theater class, I just knew. This was it. Read more>>

Aaron Fertel

I started with a camera and a love for sports. In the beginning, I was simply showing up to games, taking photos, and sharing my work online. I wasn’t focused on building a business at first. I just enjoyed capturing moments and telling stories through my lens. As I continued to improve and put my work out there, opportunities started to come naturally. Read more>>

Hailey D.

Board & Blossom began with a simple love for bringing people together through food. I’ve always enjoyed hosting, creating beautiful displays, and paying attention to the small details that make gatherings feel special. Over time, I realized that charcuterie was more than just food—it was an experience that encouraged people to connect, celebrate, and make memories. Read more>>

Cathy Moore

I was General Manager at major Pilates Brand in San Diego, CA and won the best Pilates Studio in San Diego. I moved to Florida, went through 500 hour Instructor Certification, and then taught Pilates in 3 Studios in St. Petersburg. I wanted to Open my own studio and started loking at different options. Read more>>

Blake Martinez

I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean and the animals that call it home, especially sharks. That passion eventually led me to a career in marine science communication, where I combined my love of storytelling with conservation. Read more>>

Dr. Nancy G. Surpris

My journey has been one of faith, service, resilience, and a passion for helping others succeed. For more than two decades, I have dedicated my life to community service, ministry, entrepreneurship, education, and leadership. What began as a desire to make a difference in the lives of others has evolved into a lifelong mission of empowering individuals, families, and communities. Read more>>

The Otaha Family Na’i TAHITI Nui Tahitian Academy and Moeata LUAU Entertainment

Our inspiration came from something very close to our hearts: our daughter, Moeata. As parents, we have always believed that culture is one of the most valuable gifts we can pass on to the next generation. We wanted our daughter to grow up knowing where she comes from, understanding the beauty of her Tahitian heritage, and feeling proud of her roots. Read more>>

Tranivia Brown

The Journey of Tranivia Custom Designs My journey began in the 6th grade. I can vividly remember sketching fashion designs in class, never realizing that the gift God had planted in me at such a young age would one day flourish into beautiful custom designs and alterations. Read more>>

Taylor Mayfield

I grew up in a family business owned by my dad, Lonnie Mayfield called Mayfield Construction. He is the reason I have spent my entire life chasing my dream of being my own boss, creating something of my own, and helping others along the way. I began my own photography business in high school – way back in 2008. Read more>>

Aleksandra Filatova

My work is rooted in more than 16 years of experience in floral design, but over time it has evolved far beyond traditional floristry. I developed Flower Therapy as an original approach that uses flowers as a sensory, emotional, and creative medium for human well-being. For me, flowers are not only decorative objects. They are a language of emotion, presence, and connection. Read more>>

Smooch Wallace

Smooch Wallace is a Chicago R&B Artist, Actor, Comedian, and radio personality.As an artist he has a Soulful sound graceful range and skillful ability with a balance between old school sound with a new age twist. Singing since the age of 4 in church but professionally 2012.As a host and Comedian, he brings an edgy and energetic laughter that echos and resonates with the audience. Read more>>

Jessica Barbosa

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, to Brazilian immigrant parents, and for the first 21 years of my life, South Florida was all I knew. During the pandemic, I moved to Missouri to attend the Kansas City Art Institute, where I eventually earned my BFA in Fiber in 2023. Read more>>

Elizabeth Taylor Mays

I was born in Canada. The daughter of a creative artist who tragically took her own life when I was only 15 months old. I moved to the US in my 20s where I married and lived in NY with our 3 children. For many years I was a medical Esthetician, when I had a personal scare concerning breast cancer. Read more>>

Kristele G. Alerte

I started my journey in wellness from a very personal place, feeling disconnected from my body and constantly trying to “figure it out” through food, exercise, and structure that never felt sustainable. At the time, I didn’t realize it would eventually become my life’s work. I was simply trying to feel better in my own skin and find something that actually worked long term. Read more>>

Victoria Alston

I grew up eating the standard American diet and was not very knowledgeable about health & wellness. In my teens, I started to lose a lot of family members due to lifestyle diseases. Family members who should still be here, but didn’t really make it to older age. Read more>>

Taisiia Sergievich

I was born and raised in Vladivostok, Russia, and later moved to the United States in search of new opportunities and experiences. Starting over in a new country was both exciting and challenging. I had to adapt to a new culture, improve my English, build a new network, and find my place while navigating an entirely different way of life. Read more>>

Kacey Eloy

Kacey Grace Eloy is a young woman born and raised in South Florida with a heart devoted to Jesus. She is a registered nurse by trade and spends the rest of her time intentionally pursuing purpose and impact. Kacey Grace’s first identity is as a daughter of God, along with being a friend and a servant to others. Read more>>

Papou Koliopoulos

Paintings found me. I would have died without it. Read more>>

Kyle Holbrook

I’m an artist based in Miami and the founder of the MLK Mural Project, a nonprofit that uses public art to bring communities together. More than twenty years ago, I began creating murals with a simple belief that art can bring people from different backgrounds together and make a lasting impact on communities. Over the years, that passion grew into a global career. Read more>>

Io Rizea

The Story: A Synthesis of Art and Advocacy My journey is defined by a deliberate, multifaceted evolution—a refusal to be confined by the traditional boundaries of what a professional model or a titleholder ‘should’ be. Read more>>

Eduardo Atria

I’m a Venezuelan-born singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer based in Miami. I started making music as a teenager, inspired by the artists who shaped the Latin American rock movement, as well as classic rock, blues, and alternative music. What began as a passion for songwriting eventually evolved into a lifelong commitment to creating music that connects with people on a deeper level. Read more>>

David Farias

My story starts in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where I grew up with an almost obsessive fascination with media. As a kid, I would beg my parents to take me as a guest to TV shows, and as a teenager I was already writing, directing and filming my own movies and series with my sister and cousins. That passion never left me. Read more>>

Quang Duy

I started studying art professionally at the age of 16, and today I am pursuing my path as a PhD researcher in art studies and fine arts. For me, painting has never been just a profession or an academic field — it has always felt like an inseparable part of who I am. Read more>>

Ana Paula Ford

My journey in the beauty industry spans more than 23 years and has been built on a deep commitment to education, growth, and excellence in esthetics. What began as a passion for skincare evolved into a lifelong pursuit of mastering the science and art of esthetics. Throughout my career, I have continuously studied, trained, and refined my expertise, ultimately becoming a Master Esthetician. Read more>>

Paola Saraì Ramos Ayala

Paola Sarai is a multicultural entrepreneur, artist, and community advocate whose work is dedicated to celebrating culture, diversity, and unity. Beginning her career as a model more than 20 years ago, she has since expanded her creative journey into multiple disciplines, becoming a media producer, event curator, clothing designer, singer, painter, and founder of SOMOS HECHOS EN MEXICO Magazine. Read more>>

Ashley Carrasquillo

Looking back, my story has been shaped by a lot of reinvention. I’m originally from the Boston area, and over the years I’ve taken a few leaps of faith that completely changed the course of my life. I moved across the country to California in my twenties and later made another cross-country move to Miami, where I live today. Read more>>

Gabrielle Radabaugh

I started my career in healthcare as an ICU nurse, where I spent several years caring for critically ill patients. That experience taught me a tremendous amount about medicine, but it also showed me some of the limitations of the traditional healthcare system. I often felt that patients needed more time, more education, and more personalized support than the system allowed. Read more>>

The Scentsei

My name is Kashif, also known as The Scent Sensei, and my fragrance journey started with a simple curiosity: how can a scent create a feeling, trigger a memory, or completely change someone’s confidence? What began as a personal passion quickly turned into a deep appreciation for the art, creativity, and storytelling behind fragrances. Read more>>

Rob Henry

My story starts on a football field. I was a two-time team captain and starting quarterback at Purdue University, and after college I signed with the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders as a free agent. Football had been my entire world for 25 years — and then, almost overnight, it wasn’t. That transition was harder than most people realize. Read more>>

Alina Temirova

My journey as an artist has been anything but traditional. As a child, I did not enjoy drawing. My mother enrolled me in art school, but I attended for only one year. Although my teachers believed I had talent and encouraged me to continue, I simply wasn’t interested at that time. My passion for art developed much later during my teenage years. Read more>>

Percival Jordan II

I have always been a creative at heart. From writing contests in school, to discovering poetry. Writing was always my thing. To this day it still is. At some point I got really into flying drones, to the point where a friend of mine saw the videos I was making and asked me to do whatever I do, but do it at their wedding. Read more>>

Soulfiya

Honours, manners, and respect. I am Soulfiya, I’ve been making music for over 20 years. From playing percussion, then keys, to fronting my own projects, producing for myself and then a litany of talent across the globe. Every time I hit a wall I create a way through. Read more>>

Lauren Bartlett

My name is Lauren and in my mid 20’s, I decided to move away from a small town and move to my dream city, Miami. I’ve always had a bigger vision that I wanted in my life and I thought the best way to achieve it, is to push my comfort zone and start over in a different environment. Read more>>

Blake Brasher

I was born in Oklahoma. My dad enlisted in the Air Force right out of high school and served for 20 years, so I grew up in Alaska, Arizona, and Turkey (with a year in Texas) before moving to Massachusetts to go to MIT when I was 18. Read more>>

Mislav Buntic

Before starting Clean My Mess, I worked as a Project Manager on construction sites in Miami. During that time, I noticed there was a lack of reliable cleaning companies and a real opportunity in the industry. I didn’t start with large projects. I started by cleaning balconies and windows, charging around $60 per balcony, which was well below the market rate at the time. Read more>>

deun salnave

I started Hazel Grove Floral from a place of recovery. After giving birth to my third child late 2024 I struggled with post partum anxiety, and found myself searching for purpose outside of motherhood. I have always enjoyed making floral arrangements and it brought me peace. From the support of my village I was encouraged to turn this into a business. Read more>>

Carson Graham

Three days after my 20th birthday, I was kicked out of my home. Suddenly, I had to navigate adulthood and financial decisions on my own. I was learning everything in real time—opening my first credit card, building a career, understanding investing, finding housing, and eventually starting a business from the ground up. Read more>>

Jessica Kastner – Friedlander

I started my small shop during COVID. My husband was a frontline worker and I had developed pretty severe anxiety so I was really looking for something to keep me busy and my anxiety low. Read more>>

Dr. Ari Gonzalez

My path to founding Forma Physiotherapy wasn’t a direct one. I began my career working primarily in orthopedics and sports rehabilitation, helping patients recover from injuries, return to exercise, and get back to the activities they loved. Read more>>

Elena Iutsis

I’ve always been drawn to beauty, creativity, and bringing people together to celebrate life’s most meaningful moments. At the same time, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I earned a degree in Event, Leisure and Tourism Management and a Master’s degree in Marketing and Communications in the UK, and throughout my career I worked across different industries in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Tracy Liang

If I am being honest, SMILE-FX did not start as a business. It started as a problem I could not solve for my own family. And the embarrassing part is that I am an orthodontist. A few years ago my co-founder and I went looking for the right orthodontist for the people we love most. Not just a competent one, the right one. Read more>>

Gonzalo Rubino and Matias Palloni Gonzalo Rubino and Matias Palloni

We met years ago while working in restaurants in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and quickly discovered a shared passion for hospitality and entrepreneurship. After relocating to Miami, we continued building businesses together and eventually launched several restaurant concepts. By 2022, we found ourselves talking constantly about burgers. We both loved them, and we felt there was an opportunity to create something simple, approachable, and highly focused. Read more>>

Valentina Pope

My journey began while studying Public Relations at the University of Miami. Eager to gain real-world experience, I pursued internships whenever possible, which ultimately led to a full-time role with Braman Rolls-Royce. There, I managed VIP guest relations, coordinated exclusive events, and executed luxury brand activations for high-net-worth clientele. Read more>>

Abigail Metzler

Growing up, I was highly involved, achievement-oriented, and passionate about helping others. When I started college, I was convinced I would become a physician and was drawn to healthcare because I wanted to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. However, as many students discover, our plans don’t always unfold exactly as we expect. Read more>>

Nadine Zyman

I’m originally from Venezuela and currently live in Miami, where I’m raising my two children while building a career in endurance sports and coaching. Sports have always been part of my life, but triathlon became much more than a hobby. It became a way to challenge myself, rebuild confidence, and discover what I was capable of both physically and mentally. Read more>>

Belen Capaccio

I was born and raised in Ecuador, and in 2008 I moved to Miami looking for opportunities and a better future. Like many immigrants, I arrived with dreams, ambition, and the willingness to work hard for everything I wanted to achieve. In 2010, I married my husband, Pablo, and together we began building not only a family but also several businesses. Read more>>

S’ken Evans

My journey began from a quiet yet powerful belief planted by my grandmother, who raised most of her grandchildren in a single household while our parents faced significant personal challenges. She spoke into my life with a bold promise: I would lead our family toward a better future. Read more>>

Tiffany Ellis

My journey into event planning started long before I ever imagined owning a wedding and event planning company. Around 2010, I helped plan my best friend’s brother’s wedding, and something just clicked. I loved the fast pace, the creativity, and the challenge of bringing so many moving pieces together for one beautiful purpose, celebrating love. Read more>>

Kristina Lucia Pezza

I started drawing lessons when I was 7 years old and quickly realized that I wanted to pursue art as a career. Like so many creatives, the question of how I would make this dream possible was unclear. To support myself I found myself in various roles that allowed me to cover the bills and at times deny my calling to be an artist. Read more>>

Arianna Coltellacci

My story begins in Caracas, Venezuela, in a home where my father, Sergio Coltellacci, would race my three siblings and me at the children’s plaza every weekend. Whoever won running a race got a planner as a prize, and I almost always won, because he warned us that whoever he caught with his foot would get a little kick in the behind. Read more>>

Kristy Baker

I began my dance journey at the age of two and have been dancing ever since. Throughout my training, I have studied a variety of dance styles, developing a strong and well-rounded foundation. Read more>>

Liana Ross

When I went to therapy for the first time in High school, I was struggling. Finally being able to talk to someone who would understand me and listen was a big milestone. I realized I wanted to be that person for other people Read more>>

Sunny Ferguson

My story starts with my own skin. I came up in hair and makeup, but in my mid-20s, I started dealing with acne, congestion, and hyperpigmentation, which wrecked my confidence. My first facial was a turning point, and I was hooked instantly. Read more>>

Leticia Sánchez Toledo

I grew up in Cabaiguán, a small town in central Cuba where art was part of everyday life. My mother was a painter, and watching her work influenced me deeply from an early age. We lived right next to the town cinema, a place that shaped how I see the world. Read more>>

Brianna Cantore Terlizzi

I grew up in New Jersey, about 25 minutes from New York City, the fashion capital of the world. Fittingly, I’ve been obsessed with fashion for as long as I can remember. By kindergarten, I was picking out my own outfits every day, and by fifth grade, I was absolutely obsessed with fashion magazines and celebrity tabloids to see what everyone was wearing. Read more>>

Allan Esterhuizen

My journey in hospitality started when I was 15 years old in South Africa. What began as a part time job quickly turned into a passion, and by the age of 18, I had moved to London to pursue a career in professional kitchens. Read more>>

Gabriela Fernandez

My journey as an entertainer really started when I moved to Miami in 2009 and founded the Front Yard Theatre Collective- a grass roots theater company where we would perform sketch comedy, improv, stand up in a front yard in midtown. From there, we started touring local venues, until we found a home in Miami’s epic club Grand Central. Read more>>

Daine Steele

I started doing music at the age of 12. I always knew that I wanted to do something involving art, however, drawing was never much of a strength for me so I naturally leaned towards the audio and visual side of art. I have been featured on hundreds of blogs throughout my career as well worked with some very big names in music. Read more>>

Dmitriy Sukhov

I was born in Kazakhstan and later spent many years living in Toronto, Canada. Like many immigrants, I learned early that success comes from hard work, persistence, and being willing to start from the bottom and earn every opportunity. For years, I worked in the appliance repair industry, gaining hands-on experience with everything from refrigerators and freezers to high-end luxury appliances. Read more>>

Alejandro Saenz

Bareform Art started as a creative itch I couldn’t ignore. I come from a marketing and technology background, but I’ve always been a lover of art and artists and somewhere along the way, I realized I had an inner artist of my own that needed an outlet. Bareform Art became that outlet. Read more>>

Laysa Cazares

I have been a licensed nail tech for 10 years. I started at 19 yrs old. I’ve always loved art and nails and when I realized I could combine both it was over. It’s been hard work to get where I am at now. But I finally can confidently say I am a master at my craft. Read more>>

Colette DuBose

Born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut in a God fearing home where faith, love, and music were at the center of my upbringing. Alongside those values, basketball was a natural gift that shaped much of my early life. I played competitively from childhood through college. After college graduation, I moved to Georgia to pursue an opportunity with a semi-professional basketball team. Read more>>

Jonathan Raude

I grew up in Queens, NY, and eventually made my way to Boston College, where I played Division I tennis. That experience shaped a lot of how I think about business: compete hard, stay disciplined, move quickly, and keep showing up even when things get difficult. Before starting Resourceful Talent Group, I built my career around sales, technology, recruiting, and entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Ramses Terrero

What started as a small side hustle during our college years—creating as-built drawings of existing residences and drafting plans for local architects—has since grown into an operation with an international reach. Today, we support projects across California, New York, the Bahamas, Belize, and our home base of South Florida. Read more>>

Brandon Hayman

In my early 20s I was surrounded by many queer creatives who were all very artistic in their own way. Back then, I was still in a stage of self-discovery and feeling accepted by others was still a priority in my life. Read more>>

Larry J Snyder

I grew up in a family business with my grandfather and father. I witnessed my grandfather’s love of people and community with my own eyes. His joy was finding others that wanted to build a town through economic development, public events, and culture. Over the course of 50+ years, the City of Burien, WA. Read more>>