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.
Dr. Marni Feuerman
I also returned to school to obtain a doctorate in clinical psychology several years ago. As you can tell, I am a lifelong learner and love staying up to date on the most advanced clinical practices. I continue to run a thriving solo private practice specializing in relationships issues with couples and individuals and I love it! Beyond this, I am most proud of the family life my husband and I created together. We are empty-nesters now and enjoying that phase of life. They all keep me motivated the most! Read more>>
Adriana Flores
Before launching The Wonder Cycle, I worked as a social worker in the ICU, supporting families through some of the most vulnerable and emotional moments of their lives. That work deeply shaped me. It taught me how meaningful experiences are and how much small moments of lightness matter during heavy seasons. Read more>>
Leehe Finer
My journey into this field began with a deep fascination for human behavior and an even deeper respect for the courage it takes to seek help. Early in my career, I realized that what changes people most isn’t just insight; it’s connection. That realization shaped everything that followed. Read more>>
Stephanie Salcedo
My journey didn’t start with a perfect plan, it started with a deep desire to create meaningful spaces and a willingness to figure things out as I went. I’ve always been drawn to creativity, community, and building things that bring people together, but stepping fully into that took time, growth, and a lot of faith. Read more>>
Shanae Cooper- Robinson
I started from humble beginnings (the bottom), endured pain , went through many adversities , setbacks but with resilience I am now walking in my purpose while helping others to discover theirs. Read more>>
Stephanie Briscoe
I started yoga because I needed to slow down my mind. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and as I grew into adulthood, I realized it never really left — my mind was always moving, always thinking, always racing. Then I found yoga. Yoga and meditation became my therapy. My grounding. My peace. Read more>>
Dr. Harrison Albert
I am a South Florida native who grew up on the beaches of Miami and Fort Lauderdale and spent almost every family vacation in the Keys. Since I was surrounded by the marine environment from such a young age, I developed a deep interest in ocean life and knew that I wanted to study marine science once I got to college. Read more>>
Jazmin Jimenez
I was always interested in hair and makeup as a little girl, fast forward 10 years it’s my honor to give the experience of feeling your absolute best to others. I’ve dabbled in hair color, and cuts, but hair styling and makeup is where my heart truly resides. Which is why I focus on Bridal experiences and special events. Read more>>
Yazz Giraldo Moghaddam
My journey to creating YazzBeauty is both personal and purposeful. Long before I understood the true meaning of beauty, I experienced the opposite. As a child, I was bullied and made to feel that I wasn’t beautiful — words that left a lasting imprint on my self-esteem. Read more>>
Christian Corsi
Everything began in 2019 when I decided to formally study music production. I had always loved dance music — the energy, the emotion, the sense of unity it creates — but that was the moment I chose to move from being a listener to becoming a creator. Read more>>
Anita Linville
My story isn’t a straight line — it’s more like waves that kept pulling me back to myself until I finally stopped running from the current. I started as someone who carried a lot of early wounds — abandonment, neglect, cruelty that left me questioning my worth for way too long. Read more>>
Jérôme Scullino
was born in the south of France and spent part of my childhood in the French Alps, where I first learned photography at eleven years old. I didn’t know then that it would become my life’s work — I just knew I was fascinated by the way light could make an ordinary moment feel sacred. My path wasn’t linear. Read more>>
Christopher Beckwith
Having begun my professional journey serving in the United States Coast Guard in South Florida, I developed an early foundation in discipline, accountability, and mission-focused leadership. Those formative years shaped the way I approach both challenges and teamwork, lessons that would later prove invaluable in the business world. Read more>>
Danielle Fox
I grew up in dermatology. My mom is a dermatologist, so skin was always part of my world. I saw firsthand how much confidence healthy skin can give someone, and I knew I wanted to be part of that in my own way. I didn’t want to just work in a traditional medical setting. Read more>>
Frank Chinea inguanzo
As a first-generation Cuban, I had a complicated upbringing. We grew up on the streets of the Miami River area of Little Havana. I was one of the lucky ones. I had two beautiful parents and a bright, tough sister. My mother was my best friend — fearless and loving. My father was sweet and noble, just like my grandmother. Read more>>
Mariya Vlasova
I was born in Ukraine and began my professional path in the United States, where I earned my degree from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. My background is somewhat unconventional for real estate — I started in event management and digital marketing. Read more>>
Daniela Segura
I started my journey as an entrepreneur in Peru, where I built and ran a plus-size fashion brand for over 12 years. Through that experience, I became not only a business owner but also the face of my brand, which naturally led me into content creation and social media. I realized that fashion was more than clothing — it was confidence, identity, and empowerment. Read more>>
Thais Cervantes
I am a Brazilian-born actress, creative entrepreneur and animal advocate based in Miami. My journey began in the arts as a child in Brazil, where I discovered storytelling as a powerful way to connect people, emotions and purpose. After moving to the United States, I rebuilt my life from the ground up, embracing reinvention, resilience and creativity. Read more>>https://voyagemia.com/interview/rising-stars-meet-thais-cervantes-of-miami
Mehdi Taifi
I’m Moroccan American. I went to Rollins College for undergrad and graduate school, studied international business and later philosophy, and played competitive soccer, which probably taught me more about discipline and resilience than any classroom ever could. During college I worked as a sous-chef, then stepped into finance after graduating. Read more>>
Cassandra Claude
Music was never just a hobby for me. It was identity, expression, and connection. As I moved deeper into formal training and eventually into higher education, I began noticing something that changed my trajectory. Incredibly talented artists were graduating without sustainable pathways. They had skill but not structure. Passion but not positioning. Heart but not infrastructure. Read more>>
Nelson Ortiz
Ivanco’s story began back in high school. I got paired up with a classmate named Julian for a class project. The assignment was simple. We had to create a mix of songs. During that process, he casually mentioned that he owned a DJ controller. Read more>>
Paola Diaz
Aqua Intima started as something very personal. Coming from a modeling background, I experienced fashion from the outside in, but I always felt pulled toward creating rather than just wearing. I started designing pieces that reflected how I wanted to feel, feminine, confident, and a little cinematic. Read more>>
Natalie Vaulin
I first came to the United States in 2008 as a student. At the time, I had no idea that this country would become my home. I studied marketing and management, built my early career in branding and advertising, and always felt deeply drawn to the beauty industry, not just aesthetically, but strategically. Read more>>
Anastasiia Smorgun
God created me, gave me this talent, saved me, leads me forward, and continues to give me the opportunity to use and develop my gift every day. My journey into music began at the age of three, and today I perform on stages in the United States. Read more>>
Marina Barone
Unlike the typical expectation of picking one career path, I’ve had three, and all of them were born out of a desire to remedy something. 1) Nutritionist, 2. Conflict Coach, 3) Voice Coach. Read more>>
Emeril McCutcheon
I started my journey in wellness almost a decade ago, driven by a deep curiosity about how the body truly moves and heals. Early on, I realized I didn’t just want to help people “work out” I wanted to help them move better, feel stronger, and build confidence in their bodies for life. Read more>>
Daniel Lee
My story began in Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, where I developed an early passion for business and the mindset of building something from the ground up. Read more>>
Taras Kovtun
My name is Taras Kovtun. I’m the father of Nickolas and the creator of the project known as @no_clue_boy. I have over 30 years of experience in marketing, and this project was created intentionally as a channel idea. I clearly understood how modern technology is often perceived and why many people find it intimidating. Read more>>https://voyagemia.com/interview/conversations-with-taras-kovtun
Crystal Parks
I started making epoxy cups and custom apparel from our home during the pandemic. The orders quickly grew and by 2021 I expanded into a commercial building in Cooper City. We grew quickly and added in sublimation and expanded into corporate swag and apparel. Slowing adding new equipment to include laser for wood working and acrylic options, transfer printers and uv printers. Read more>>
Kelly Robotham
Kelly Robotham, Artistic Director of Armour Dance Theatre , born in Bronx, New York raised in Miami, Ms. Robotham is a 2006 alumni of New World School of the Arts. She went on to graduate with a BFA from The Juilliard School in 2010 where she was chosen to represent The Juilliard School in Costa Rica for a Cultural Teaching Exchange. Read more>>
Aris Taniyah
I’ve experienced a very unfiltered way of life due to having a single mother. However, she had the help from my grandmother, who I call my “NaNa” and aunt, in molding my world and making me more than what’s determined for me by our situations. I’ve experienced struggle as much as I experienced gain. Read more>>
Amaury Love
Every time I’m asked this question, it’s hard to figure out where to start. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with hip hop, but as far back as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to it. It was probably introduced to me through The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air or the House Party movies. Read more>>
Pablo Lucchesi
I co-founded Crown Linen in 2003 with a group of investors who shared a long-term vision and a disciplined approach to building the business. We started with a small operation in South Florida and focused on reinvesting in people, equipment, and process discipline rather than pursuing rapid growth. Read more>>
Amanda Stone
I previously owned Pilates studios in Miami Beach and Midtown Miami, where I met Ty Stone, who was working as a personal trainer at the time. After closing my studios post-Covid, I transitioned into integrative health, while he deepened his studies in neuroscience, pain management, and sports performance, eventually specializing in working with children. Read more>>
Ali Verdeja
I started making pottery in Aug of 2022. The class was a gift from my parents for my birthday that year. After my first 5 week class I was hooked. I went to the studio 2-3x a week and sold my first piece almost a year later in July 2023. Read more>>
Samin Sarwar
I began my journey as an entrepreneur in 2021 with a clear vision: to serve and uplift communities through meaningful, purpose-driven businesses. My first venture, Desi Dhaba Orlando, was born from a passion for sharing authentic, homemade Pakistani cuisine with the local community. Read more>>
Christian de la Huerta
I often say that my path has been shaped as much by inner calling as by outer circumstance. I was born in Cuba and came to the United States as an immigrant at age ten. Like many immigrants, I grew up with a strong awareness of both challenge and possibility. Read more>>
Olga Nikishina
After moving to the United States three years ago, my husband and I decided to open an art school for children and adults. With no prior experience running a business like this, we started from scratch and handled everything ourselves: developing the concept, assembling the furniture, selecting materials for lessons, building the website, launching advertising, teaching classes, and more. Read more>>
Franyerlin Brito
Flow Hollywood was born from a dream I’ve carried in my heart since I was a little girl. Growing up in karate, I didn’t just learn how to fight — I learned discipline, respect, resilience, and purpose. Karate shaped my character and became the foundation of who I am today. Read more>>
Alvin Frazier
Born and raised in Cleveland OH, my parents were both very musically inclined and they played music in our home daily. In fact, my dad was a singer and had a vocal group he performed with. They often rehearsed in our living room and they sounded amazing! Their cover renditions were just as good or even better than the originals. Read more>>
Raul Vinas
I’m Raul Vinas, founder and CEO of Vinas Studio in Miami. My story starts in Cuba, where I fell in love with photography and editing early on, before it was a “career plan,” it was simply the way I learned to see the world. I was always drawn to emotion, light, and the small details that make a moment feel real. Read more>>
Carlos Rodriguez
About three years ago, I moved here and stepped into a completely new season of my life. It was a big transition — new environment, new routines, new challenges. In the middle of all that change, I found something that grounded me: content creation. What started as a simple way to document my life quickly became something much deeper. Creating videos gave me a voice. Read more>>
Irene Fernandez
I actually got introduced to real estate through my family. We started by flipping houses together in Las Vegas, and that’s where I first saw how real estate could completely change someone’s financial trajectory. It wasn’t just about renovating homes — it was about creating opportunity and building something meaningful as a family. Read more>>
Deborah Picou
I have been actively doing Quantum Healing work for a decade. I did not plan to do this though it is clear this is my Dharma, my life’s work. It started when I happened to see a video on YouTube inviting people to participate in a brief explanation of Emotion Code. Read more>>
