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.

Lornea Lahens

My journey with LoLo Boutiques began in 2020\. At the time, I was working at Walmart and also serving as an assistant manager at Burger King\. While I appreciated my work experience, I reached a point where I felt ready to create something of my own and explore my creativity\. Read more>>

Albert Orta

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and I’m the first-generation son of Cuban parents who came to the U.S. during the Mariel boatlift in the 1980s. They always taught me the importance of working hard and making the most of every opportunity. That mindset has stayed with me throughout my life. Read more>>

Ohav Saias

Babu Bath started from a very personal need. After my first son, Pele, was born prematurely at 34 weeks, bath time became one of the most stressful parts of our routine. He was so tiny and fragile, and after my own difficult recovery, constantly bending and kneeling over a traditional bathtub was uncomfortable and honestly felt unsafe. Read more>>

Gunther Schenk

I got my start in the business in 2016, as I was wrapping up my undergraduate studies at Florida Gulf Coast University, over in Fort Myers. Read more>>

Daniela Silva

I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Growing up, my family owned multifamily residential properties, and the plan was always for me to eventually help manage and grow that part of the business after graduating. Read more>>

Anaiyah Sunshine

My journey has always been rooted in creativity, service, and perseverance. I began modeling more than 20 years ago, and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work in fashion, beauty, television, film, and live events. Every experience taught me something new—not just about the industry, but about resilience, professionalism, and the importance of building genuine relationships. Read more>>

Maneesh Chatman

Like many of the spaces I create today, the Harmonizing Masculinity Collective (HMC) was born from recognizing a need that wasn’t being met. Throughout my own journey as a transmasculine person, I experienced firsthand how often transmasculine people are overlooked in conversations about health, healing, visibility, and community. Read more>>

Alina Meledina

My name is Alina Meledina, and real estate has been a part of my life for more than 15 years. I started by investing in properties and later became a licensed real estate broker in Florida. Read more>>

Michelle Coronado

In retrospect, unlike many artists, I never thought I could actually become one. I didn’t grow up with a grand plan or a clear vision of what I wanted to do. Looking back, I think my story really started with people. I actually learned to draw because of a fashion contest. Read more>>

Anna Turowska

I have moved to US from Poland in 2002 when I was 19 years old in order to pursue my Ballroom Dancing career. Read more>>

Tina Brown

Every great brand begins with a dream. Ours began at the kitchen table after long days of hard work, a shared vision, and a belief that every woman deserves to feel beautiful—without spending hours in a salon. I’m Tina, co-founder of Liquid Glamour Press-On Nails, and my journey began in 2018. Read more>>

Marli Hernandez

I started as a child, in the walls and old papers inside of a family full of dreams and questions kind of ‘How I will educate my kids in this crease world?’, in a humble place of São Paulo/Brasil. Read more>>

Kelly Gonzalez Wilder

Fitness has always been more than exercise to me, it has been a way to build confidence, resilience, and purpose. I began my career as a personal trainer because I genuinely love helping people realize they’re capable of so much more than they think. Read more>>

Jik-Reuben Pringle

I started photography in 2010 while studying at the University of Technology, Jamaica. What began as a hobby quickly became a passion as I realized photography was much more than creating beautiful images. It was a way to tell stories, preserve culture, and give visibility to people whose voices are often overlooked. Read more>>

Paxton Terris

It started as a pretty simple idea and concept: build floating, navigable heliboats (essentially mobile helipads) designed for helicopters. From the beginning, we wanted to take that idea and make it much bigger and more impactful We decided to take that original concept and completely re-engineer it. Read more>>

Dr. Rebecca Nicholson

Thank you for inviting me! I always had a strong sense of mission. At first, I thought the best way to pursue that mission was through politics. As a teenager, I began working on political campaigns, including the governor’s campaign, the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives, and private fundraising events. It was during one campaign that I had my first out-of-body experience. Read more>>

Salomé Camargo

I started in music at 9 years old. Over time I became a finalist on Factor XS, and from there my path opened up into acting and, eventually, into television as a host in Colombia. I have been in media for more than 15 years. Read more>>

Victoria Fonseca

When I first entered the fitness industry, my focus was what most people expect: workouts, aesthetics, and helping women become physically stronger. I started creating content online because I genuinely loved teaching movement, and over time that grew into an incredible community and a business built around coaching women through strength training. As my career evolved, so did my perspective. Read more>>

Raul Betancourt

We are the Betancourts, a family of four turning our time together into stories worth telling. Under the name The Walking Tales Family, we have had the incredible opportunity to appear in television commercials and create content for brands such as Walt Disney World, LEGOLAND, Royal Caribbean, FPL, Ambetter, and Telemundo, among many others. Read more>>

Tracey Winn

Spirit Lit Yoga Retreats is my dream brand that had been in my mind for as long as I can remember. It was an unfolding journey of mastering my skills, believing in myself, and making big leaps to live the life of my dreams. I have been teaching yoga and working in the health, wellness and medical space for over 20 years. Read more>>

Yazi Troche

I started off doing lashes because I was broke and in college going through a hard mental and financial time. I used my last $1K to take a lash class and decided after doing the class that it was not something easy. Ultimately I didn’t want to pursue it. Read more>>

Lauren Arkin-Malacsina

I started my vintage business (L.A. Boudoir Miami-More than Just Vintage) in 2010. I graduated from college 1 year prior and was working at the Florida Grand Operas costume department. I always had a passion and love for collecting vintage clothing, accessories and some house items. Read more>>

Maricé Guzman

I was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States with my mom when I was 11 years old. Watching my single mother rebuild her life from scratch taught me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of creating opportunities where none seem to exist. Read more>>

Dominic Easter

Hello, my name is Dominic Easter. I was born and raised in the Maryland and Virginia region. My mother had a deep appreciation for film and visual art, and she definitely instilled that love in me. I moved to South Florida to attend film school and never looked back. Read more>>

Kari Azcarate

I was born and raised in Colombia, then moved to New York before relocating to Miami in September 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Starting over in a new city inspired me to pursue something I truly loved. I’ve always had a passion for creating organized, functional spaces, so I turned that into Kari Professional Organizing. Read more>>

Ricky O.I.

I was born and raised in Miami. I graduated high school and university here. I was in a local band with my best friends here. Eventually, I got a real job and had to make the hard decision give up on my music. I was making decent money and I bought a nice starter apartment in Kendall. Read more>>

Cindy Hing

Jetsetter Films was founded from our passion for storytelling, travel, and showcasing the people and places that make destinations unique. After years of producing lifestyle and travel television, I wanted to create content that not only entertained viewers but also supported local businesses and tourism. Read more>>

Odalys Ruano

Photography started as a passion, but it quickly became something much bigger. I came to the United States from Cuba when I was young, and over the years I learned that success comes from hard work, consistency, and never giving up. I began by photographing families and children, always striving to create meaningful memories rather than just beautiful pictures. Read more>>

Tatum Fritts

I’ve been an aesthetician for over 26 years and have proudly owned Skin by Tatum for the past 19. Read more>>

Gerald ‘Nova Sound’ Campbell

Gerald ‘G Nova Sound’ Campbell is a producer, musician, entrepreneur, educator, author, and the founder and CEO of Nova Sound. Born in Queens, New York, and raised in a family deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, his passion for music and creativity began early and has evolved into a career that bridges music, media, technology, and financial education. Read more>>

Drew Segura

Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up in a Dominican-American household in South Florida, I was surrounded by different sounds and cultures—from merengue and salsa to freestyle, hip-hop, pop, and electronic music. I began DJing at a young age, and what started as a passion quickly became something I knew I wanted to pursue professionally. Read more>>

Chelly Peyrefitte

To be honest, I am just getting started, but I have been creating Art and writing as well as making music since I was a child. I went to Dillard’s school of the performing arts which nurtured and kind of honed my skills. Then while attending college, I had some potentially great opportunities which I passed on due to financial or domestic issues. Read more>>

Gonzalo Di Primio

I come from a family of entrepreneurs whose roots trace back to Agnone, Italy. That entrepreneurial spirit was passed down through generations, eventually bringing my family to Argentina, where I grew up. I’ve spent more than 20 years building and leading businesses in different industries, first in Argentina and later in the United States. Read more>>

Sergio Lazo

I gained an interest in art very early on in my life. At around kindergarten age, I remember drawing complex murals on the walls of my room. Something which could’ve normally warranted punishment, my mom instead gave me more art supplies to work with, and the rest is history. I have been working as a full time professional artist for over 25 years. Read more>>

Atravia Hill

I have been working since I was 15 years old. My first job was in a nursing home, where I assisted senior citizens with exercising and played games with them to help them have fun and stay engaged. Read more>>

Gil Wright

My name is Gil Wright, and I perform stand-up comedy under the stage name Gil Esco. My dad introduced me to comedy, but my mom gave me the personality to perform it. Growing up, my dad and I watched late-night stand-up, comedy movies, and television shows together. That is where I first fell in love with comedy. My mom has always had a big personality. Read more>>

Claudio Picasso

I was born in Chile and my mother brought me to Miami when I was a baby. I have been drawing since I can remember, marking the halls of our first apartment and blaming it on an imaginary friend, doodling in class, sketching Rube Goldberg machines, creating fantastic places and monsters. Read more>>

Erniel Chacon

I was born in Santiago de Cuba, where I grew up in a culturally rich neighborhood that sparked my interest in drawing, craftsmanship, and making things by hand. As a child, I built many of my own toys from found and recycled materials, an experience that taught me to see creative potential in ordinary objects. Read more>>

Megan Aroon

Megan Aroon is a fine artist whose brush finds its rhythm where mechanics meet nature, where the cold precision of a gear collides with the soft curve of a petal. Read more>>

Rodrigo Zambrano , Eric Escanes Rodrigo Zambrano , Eric Escanes

We met at a jam at Jazid in South Beach in 2006. We then started our Band Electric Kif in 2007. We have been on the scene playing music collaborating, recording and releasing music for almost 20 years. We have six albums to date with Electric Kif.and one duo EP from 2023. And a new Duo EP coming out in 2027. Read more>>

Gavin Walcott

How I got my start the story is I used to work at my family’s bakery being the social media content, creator, and brand manager, and we would get invited out to custom curative events regarding our brand and I were dressed very above average and through those experiences. Read more>>

Victoria Posner

I’ve always believed that fitness is about so much more than how you look—it’s about building confidence, resilience, and proving to yourself that you’re capable of hard things. I’ve been a fitness coach for over 17 years, and what started as a passion for helping people become healthier has grown into a mission of helping people become stronger—both physically and mentally. Read more>>