Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Elvis Fuentes
I was born in Cuba and studied Art History at the University of Havana. My career began at the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana, in 1999, where I served as curator working directly with contemporary artists and organizing monthly exhibitions and educational programs, and promoting international new media, video and avantgarde art in Havana. Read more>>
Shaee Presume
Since I was young, I’ve always had a love for makeup. Even though I’d always get in trouble for wearing it! Read more>>
Chani Lisbon
I was always a funny kid. Being funny in our family was like a currency — whoever was the funniest was the best. I think we were all trying to make our father laugh, because in our minds, we knew he was the funniest one of all. In my late twenties, someone suggested I take a stand-up class. Read more>>
Nyjel Thompson
My journey started off trying to get into fashion, I started with trends, get ready with me, and outfits of the day. It was simple and easygoing plus I really enjoyed making an outfit and recording videos. All of this was on TikTok trying to build my confidence and name into something that I never really thought about before. Read more>>
Kiki Corbitt
I’ve been behind the chair for over a decade, and my career has really been a journey of continually refining both my craft and the experience I want to create for my clients. I began my career in the Jacksonville Beach/ Ponte Vedra area, where I spent eight years at a high-end salon building a loyal clientele and developing my foundation as a colorist. Read more>>
Regina Veedell
I feel my segway into the wellness and holistic arts has been my own journey of wellness.. As a young woman having digestive issues and issues with food,, it was part of of my life to have daily discomfort. There wasn’t much for me to turn to for answers. I was consistently searching for answers to find a good place for comfort and well being . Read more>>
Eddie Betz
My story is a little different than most. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in a family that only consisted of my mother that didn’t have much. We were poor, and from a young age I learned that if I wanted something, I had to figure out how to make it happen myself. Read more>>
Alice Hernandez
As a young girl, I was always drawn to vintage. I loved the idea of finding something unique—pieces with character that felt completely my own and weren’t hanging in everyone else’s closet. As I got older, that love of vintage naturally became part of my personal style, and it has only grown from there. Read more>>
Yadira Fortunato
I’ve been a social worker for over a decade, and for most of my career I worked in more traditional settings. I did the jobs, gained the experience, and learned a lot, but I always knew I wanted to build something of my own. Eventually, I took the leap into private practice and created Think Out Loud Therapy. Read more>>
Joe Tufte
My name is Joe Tufte, and I’m a Miami-based filmmaker, professor, and creative. I moved from the Midwest to Miami in 2022, and I’ve been intentionally carving my own path for as long as I can remember. I’ve never really wanted to pursue an ideal based on someone else’s idea of what the industry, fame, or success is supposed to look like. Read more>>
Vera Cap
Neo Aesthetics and Medical International Academy (aka Neo Beauty School) really started with two sisters, a shared passion, and a dream that we weren’t completely sure where it would take us. We’re Anastasia and Vera, and before Neo, we spent years working as spa owners. We loved the beauty, aesthetics and wellness industry, but we also saw firsthand how quickly it was changing. Read more>>
Susan Convery
Let me start with where I am today. At this moment I am an artist, a workshop leader and a teacher. I give private instruction from my home studio in drawing and painting to adults and young adults at all skill levels in a variety of media. Read more>>
Samantha Caprio-Negret
My journey has always been rooted in creativity, storytelling, and the belief that it’s never too late to pursue something that truly speaks to you. I’ve always had a vivid imagination and a love for creating, but my path hasn’t necessarily been a straight one. Read more>>
Deborah Weitzman
I began my path as an architecture student in Caracas, stepping directly into the real world by spending five years as an intern in one of the largest construction offices in Venezuela. Those years shaped my foundation — learning how projects move, how teams coordinate, how drawings become buildings. In 2000, I graduated from UCV FAU in Venezuela, ready for the next chapter. Read more>>
Uttara Vaidya
My relationship with dance actually began long before I ever imagined it would become my career. I grew up in India and started training in Indian Classical Dance when I was nine years old. For more than 14 years, dance was a very disciplined and meaningful part of my life. Read more>>
Patricia Edelstein
I started my real estate career five years ago, but real estate has always been a big part of my life. I grew up in a family that built a portfolio of more than 100 properties, so I was exposed early on to investing, property ownership, and the opportunities real estate can create. Read more>>
Zeljka Licina
My journey to where I am today has definitely not been a straight line, but I think that is what makes it so meaningful. I was born and raised in Southeast Europe but spent my childhood in Canada. Even as a child my career focus was on healthcare and helping people. Read more>>
Desirée Patterson
My path to becoming an artist was not particularly linear. Before establishing my practice, I spent years travelling and living in different parts of the world: Australia, the Canadian Rockies, Florida, Switzerland and Europe, Southeast Asia, and eventually Whistler and Vancouver. Read more>>
Chyna J
It all started a long, long time ago……. ( Just kidding) I got to where I am today by simply following the creative sparks that light me up inside. Ive been involved with film and music since a child My dad worked for the news station Channel 7 and my mom was a radio Dj for the local R&B Station at HOT 105. Read more>>
Attila Mendez
I grew up in the suburbs of Paris and started writing songs at age 7. I was influenced by the ‘old people’ French chanson I heard on a toy AM-only radio and a couple country tapes my American Dad had sent me. My first song was in French naturally. Now I sing in 4 languages. Read more>>
James ‘Coach Cal’ Callier III
My journey to CAL SUCCESS COACHING is really a story about discovering that my purpose was bigger than the game. Football gave me so much. It taught me discipline, resilience, accountability, leadership, and the importance of showing up when things get difficult. After my playing career ended, I thought my relationship with the game would simply evolve into coaching. Read more>>
Kayla Czarniecki
Gypsy Lemon began as an organic vision for life’s most meaningful moments. I started out simply with a camera, a few trips around the globe, and a desire to tell stories that feel authentic and full of emotion. Over time, what began as a personal passion evolved into a full-fledged creative business rooted in human connection. Read more>>
Alejandra Lopez
My story has been a journey of transformation, learning, and unwavering perseverance. I am Venezuelan, and my professional journey began in the healthcare field as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. I later earned a Master’s degree in Business Management, and over the years, I discovered my passion for skincare, aesthetics, and holistic wellness. Read more>>
Baby Keef
I’m a professional wrestler, I started the after I graduated high school in 2016. I took a brief break for a few years and returned after the pandemic. I now have wrestled for Reality of Wrestlkng, Ring of Honor and multiple companies throughout Florida , Georgia , Memphis and Texas. I train at the Legendary Dungeon 2.0 under Nattie Neidhard and TJ Wilson Read more>>
Nicole Romero
I was born and raised in Maracay, Venezuela, and my story has always been shaped by communication, resilience, and a strong desire to make my voice useful. I initially studied Law and later became involved in modeling and pageantry, including being part of the Top 30 of Miss Venezuela in 2020. Read more>>
Tini Arrupea
I never planned to work in interiors. In fact, when I left a 15-year corporate career in the luxury watch industry, I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do next. I started my professional career in the U.S. in 2011, when I moved from Argentina to Miami to join The Swatch Group as a Marketing Manager. Read more>>
Leonardo Barros
My journey into this industry didn’t start in a classroom. I was working 60 hours a week as a restaurant manager while teaching myself marketing and design during every free moment I had. Those early days were filled with challenges and doubt, but persistence paid off. Read more>>
Zhuldyz Artykbayeva
My journey in the beauty industry started more than 15 years ago. What began as a passion for nails gradually became my profession, my business, and an important part of who I am today. I am originally from Kazakhstan, and after moving to the United States, I had to rebuild my career in a new country. Read more>>
Lexi Flexx
I have always been someone who enjoyed doing things differently. Growing up as a tomboy, ive spent much of my childhood outdoors, playing sports, exploring, and looking for my next adventure. Soccer was a major part of my younger years. Ive played travel soccer and competed in tournaments across the United States. Read more>>
Roula Chreim
I started painting the moment I learned to hold a pen, and turned it into a professional career 22 years ago. I work with oils, acrylics, mixed media, metal, wood, and paper. For me, creating art is a way to process human emotions, memory, and life itself. Over time, my work has shifted across minimalism, abstraction, surrealism, and dreamscapes deeply rooted in the Mediterranean. Read more>>
Eric Rivera
My journey of service began in 1994 when I entered the US Army Reserves and later switched to serve in the United States Marine Corps, It was in the Marine Corps where I learned the values of discipline, commitment, teamwork, and a refusal to quit when times became difficult. After my military service, I continued to serve by beginning a career in law enforcement. Read more>>
Marie Sonise Eliassaint
My name is Marie Sonise Eliassaint. I am a model, a designer, and a student — but above all, I am a woman who refuses to quit. My journey did not start with lights and runways. It started with a dream and a lot of closed doors. Read more>>
Fernando Guevara
I was born in Cali, Colombia, and tennis has been the central thread running through most of my life. I grew up competing internationally and reached approximately the top 400 in the ITF junior world rankings. Read more>>
Chante Bacchas
Constantly evolving, learning, unlearning and blooming defines my creative journey. Over the years, I have assumed many different roles, but about two years ago, during a period of deep personal transition; my creative focus shifted towards something much closer to my heart. Read more>>
Asiana Gibson
Growing up in a small town in North Carolina taught me to dream beyond what I could see. That mindset carried me through years in hospitality, entrepreneurship, and building alongside my family. Along the way, I learned how deeply atmosphere can shape the way we feel, connect, and experience everyday life. That understanding became the foundation for Mazi World Scented Candles. Read more>>
Nickole Guerrero
I started as a content creator, sharing my life and the things I genuinely love. Over time, I built a community that inspired me to take another big step: becoming an entrepreneur and creating my own beauty brand, Medio Pastel. What started as a homemade tanning product with my mom has grown into a brand I’m incredibly proud of. Read more>>
I’m Dru!
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up learning different instruments like guitar, piano and drums, but around middle school I really fell in love with hip-hop and started making beats. Producing eventually led me into songwriting, and before long I was rapping and singing over the music I was making myself. Read more>>
Kevin Targia
Who would’ve known that one small, disabled shelter cat would give me a reason to start something so much bigger than coffee? It all started when I dropped off donations at Miami-Dade Animal Services and walked around the facility to wait for traffic to die down. As we made our way toward the cat section, we noticed a disabled cat named Rivers. Read more>>
Kamaria Martin
My name is Luna Rhoze, and I come from a home with a loving, amazing, supportive mother and an abusive, absent father. From a very young age, I was always surrounded by music and art, attending art schools and taking dance classes in Jazz, Hip-hop, and African dance, while auditioning for major companies like Disney. Read more>>
Daniel Zyss
I came to America with a suitcase packed for four days. That was several months ago, and in every way that matters, the trip never ended. Some background first, because none of this makes sense without it. I’m French, and I was the kid who fell in love with math. Read more>>
Michael Paulaje
My journey really started from a place of taking a chance on myself. After spending years working in bridal and gaining experience behind the scenes, I realized that what I loved most wasn’t just the dresses or the details it was being there for the bride, making her feel supported, calm, confident, and cared for during one of the biggest moments of her life. Read more>>
Shane Ramnarine
My journey with 11 Threads Roma really began with a lifelong love of creativity, fashion and beautiful design. Although my professional career developed in a very different world, fashion always remained an important creative outlet for me. Read more>>
Natasha Montenegro
EZPZ Kids Club began with a simple vision: to create a welcoming place where children could grow, learn, play, build confidence, and explore their creativity, all under one roof. We wanted to offer families more than individual activities. Our goal was to build a community that could support children through every stage of childhood. Read more>>
Mariana Cortez
I founded Bunnie Cakes in Miami in 2009, starting with what became the first vegan bakery in the city. At the time, plant-based baking was still very niche, so a big part of my vision was proving that you could use high-quality ingredients, bake completely plant-based, and still create something beautiful, delicious and celebratory. Read more>>
Irina Sang
Miami Vertical Garden Inc. was founded in 2013 with a simple but ambitious idea: to bring nature into the built environment in a way that is both visually impactful and technically sustainable. At the time, living walls were still a relatively new concept in South Florida. Read more>>
Katya Thompson
I remember one summer, I was 6 or 7 years old, playing outside all day with my cousin, I used the stick to draw floor plans on the dirt ground. I can’t quite recall what the plans look like, but I would make a kitchen boundry, and then there was living room and so on. Read more>>
