Houston’s Most Inspiring Stories

Every neighborhood in Houston 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 the Fourth Ward to Sugar Land (and everywhere in between) we’ve been blown away by how many creative and talented people call Houston home.  Check out some of the inspiring stories we’ve discovered throughout the city.

Randy Gonzales

I was not crazy about my options in stores and online. I also was not a fan of how I had seen the barong presented and worn to that point. They were usually worn oversized, baggy, and unflattering to the wearer. The embroidery was ok, but not great. I waited for someone to come along and make a barong that would fit my personal preference for clothing: a tailored fit and a proportionate length to my body, plus impressive, complex, and memorable Philippine embroidery. Read More>>

Angela Romero

It started when I was a kid, my cousin had put on cake boss and after watching just one episode, I was obsessed with decorated cakes. All of high school I would make a bunch of sweet treats and just hand them out to my friends, sometimes took orders from some of my favorite teachers. After graduating high school, I studied at the University of Houston in the Hilton College program with an emphasis in food and beverage. I had always imagined of owning a bakery, but it wasn’t until I took my beverage marketing class that my passion project, my dream job was to open a coffee shop. Read More>>

Paloma Schell

I’ve shared the stage with none other than Anne Geddes, the world’s pioneer of newborn photography, which was a great honor. In 2021, I moved to the United States with an extraordinary ability visa, granted for the impact and excellence of my work. I am the author of three books on newborn photography and specialize in capturing unique moments of pregnant women, newborns, and babies. I continue to reinvent myself, always offering a personalized and unique experience for each client. Read More>>

Lframbue Facepainting

One of my most unattainable dreams I had was to create my own facepaint makeup brand. And in 2022 I was able to realize that dream. I released my first collection which I named #LFRAMBUEAQUACOLORS (with the help of face painting colleagues who advised me on some combinations and the name that sounded best that helped me decide, I am grateful to them who have supported me since I met them in Facebook groups, in workshops and other girls as followers in my lives) in fact my first collection was a success that I sold out in two months!! Read More>>

Kyng Cylus

I’m Kyng Cylus Raised in Houston,Texas I’ve always seen myself as this Iconic superstar growing up, just writing an creating my own world where Im the king of my own story, also growing up there was a lot of traumatic experiences which led me down a dark path an others would take advantage of me more ways than one. I felt music has always saved me a shaped me into this king I’m destined to be. Read More>>

Breiyna Price

My name is Breiyna Price and at 26 years old, I’m balancing life as an entrepreneur, student, and full-time worker. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve always been determined. Right now, I’m studying small business management and entrepreneurship at the University of Phoenix, and I’m also enrolled at Wilmington University for project management. I started seriously thinking about entrepreneurship back in 2019 when I joined a program called Year Up. Read More>>

Carly Kirk

While I was in college, I felt the pull towards social work. The goal was always to work in private practice one day, but I knew that gaining a wide variety of experience in the counseling field would be invaluable. After years of working with students, families, and teachers in school-based mental health, I was excited to join with my mom and find a space together to start seeing clients. We started dreaming up The Well Counseling together in the spring of 2021, and we are continually overwhelmed (in the best way) by where The Well is today. Read More>>

Liliana Jaimes

I have always loved Christmas and holiday cheer. I’ve always found a lot of joy in decorating my home for the holidays, and my friends and family would always tell me how much they liked my creative vision when it comes to Christmas decor. A lot of them would ask me for help to decorate their homes as well. They were always happy with my ideas and when my kids went off to college, I was really encouraged to turn my passion into a business. Read More>>

Ray Villareal

I have been making and selling my music on CDs and mp3s for many years to people from around the world and locally. I also love to go fishing in Galveston, Freeport and throughout the Texas Gulf Coast. and am a content creator on YouTube, TikTok, IG & FB. I love making videos to share with the world. I also started doing food vlogs recently and workout videos as well. I am hoping to inspire people to do what they enjoy and love to do. If you love what you do, it will love you back and you get what you give. Read More>>

Henry Williams

I got started singing in church at the age of 4 with my pawpaw. It wasn’t until I was 11 or so when I picked up my first guitar. Learning guitar was easy and singing just made it more fun. I used to play for anyone any chance I got really. I always looked at it as a fun hobby because I wasn’t sure it was something I was gonna pursue. It wasn’t until after I graduated high school and was two years into my degree that I wanted to pursue music full time. Read More>>

Tangela Stoot

As a little girl I experienced trauma from my parent’s divorce and my dad’s mental illness that caused rejection and abandonment issues in my life. I finished high school despite the odds and went straight to college at Texas Southern University where I obtained my bachelors degree in Administration of Justice. I got married and had 3 children within a ten year span. We became foster parents and business owners then got divorced after 10 1/2 years. Read More>>

Muhammad Saifuddin

Leaving kids behind in the home country Starting from scratch again..I am just a high school graduate and my native language is not English so building a life in usa was difficult for me.i was doing business since I was 15 years old but working as an employee here was very challenging for me. Read More>>

Yulya Butler

The roots of my journey into the world of fashion began in childhood, watching my mother—a skilled seamstress—design and sew custom garments for the women in our town. I remember spending hours playing with fabrics, draping them around myself, and imagining the beautiful clothing they could become. I witnessed my mother transform an idea into a pattern, then into a finished garment, eventually seeing it come to life on the happy faces of her clients. It was in those early years that I first dreamed of becoming a renowned fashion designer, with my creations worn by celebrities around the world. Read More>>

Tkeyah Hamilton-niamike

Four years and 3 children later, I dedicate my business to uplifting women who have gone through huge changes in their lives. My passion is to help them see themselves in a new light and to take all of the negative thoughts they have about their body, and transform them into something positive! Read More>>

Trivibrance™

TriVibrance™ has some really mind-blowing goodies! They are all made with the highest quality ingredients and materials. But, what really sets them apart and makes them so powerful, is the proprietary technological technique used to imprint high-vibration frequencies directly onto each product. We further empower this technology’s effects through the use of energy testing whereby the exact specialized formula for each individual product is ascertained. These formulas empower the body to release negative emotional and physical blocks and allow in the most positive and healing energies. Read More>>

4got1en 6ol

My story never really started as far as I’m aware i just always was and have been … unless i can say when my parents met. Everything from the introduction of my parents to writing this right now has played a factor into where i am, to where i am going. Read More>>

Heather O’harra

This event is our annual fundraiser. Ainsley’s Angels depends on community donations to fund and purchase equipment for athletes with disabilities. The Axiom racing chair, crucial for our athletes, costs around $5,550 each. To support this, we host the annual Ainsley’s Angels Twilight 5k & Celebration of Inclusion held at the Tomball ISD Stadium and Event Center, raising funds for equipment and other expenses to keep our Greater Houston ambassadorship thriving Read More>>

Allison Cain

The building I work in use to be a popular theater in the area until a fire in the 80’s retired it’s days of showing films. Since working on my own I’ve been able to expand my service menu, products, and skill set. I do all things brows, makeup, tinting, laminations, waxing, and lash lifts. Working for myself I am the happiest I’ve ever been and beyond grateful I get to uplift others daily. Sometimes you may wonder why the path is so rocky but if it led me here I’d take it over and over again and again. Read More>>

Nicole Burgess

I’ve been a professional photographer for 8 years, but I’ve been passionate about photography my whole life. My grandpa George was a master of capturing the perfect sunset on film and passed his love for landscapes on to my dad who in turn instilled the love of photography into to me from a young age. My passion organically grew into a full-time gig after my daughter was born in 2016 and I was lucky enough to have a community of clients ready to hire me as their photographer. Read More>>

Sydney Huynh

Despite balancing a full-time job and college, I have always sought ways to nurture my passion, making a conscious effort to carve out time for creativity. A prime example of this is my drive in creating innovative boba recipes at home for my family, which not only served as a creative outlet but also fostered moments of joy and togetherness. Read More>>

Yolanda Albarran

My journey as a business owner began in 2020, though my passion for cleaning has been with me since childhood. Growing up, cleaning wasn’t just a chore — it was a way of playing. I’ve always had an eye for detail, and as I got older, cleaning became a hobby that I truly enjoyed. I realized that my personal obsession with cleanliness could translate into a business that offers the kind of service I would want for myself: thorough, detailed, and done with care. Read More>>

Myles Moore

I decided that if I can remember a rap song or play video games, if I give that same effort to the task that’s blocking me from success, I wouldn’t have no one to be disappointed in but myself. Before I created Clowning Down South, in life I started to learn and gain certain skill sets that I thought I would never be able to do, so when I was putting Clowning Down South together, I told myself I would do everything myself until it gets out of hand. From the thought, to the writing, scenery set up, costumes, filming, editing, I learned how to do it all myself and there’s no other feeling like it. Read More>>

Macy Diulus

I feel very fortunate and blessed not to have encountered any major obstacles along my journey thus far. The most challenging part was likely overcoming various gastrointestinal issues in high school, but this experience also inspired me to pursue my dream of becoming a dietitian. Read More>>

Yovana Trevino

I was born in Mexico City, and I immigrated with my parents to Pasadena at the age of 8 years old, the feeling of being in a new city not having my family, and not knowing the language made me homesick! Years passed and I always had the feeling of missing my hometown, I got into the medical field but there was that empty hole of not feeling complete I’m not going to lie it was hard trying to figure out what I wanted to do with “my life” you know when they ask what is your purpose in life? I did not have an answer for that. Read More>>

Kenydi Nicole

As a sophomore student-athlete at North Carolina Central University, I founded Simply Allure by K Nicole LLC. In 2019, I noticed the rising popularity of the lash industry, especially among people my age. Intrigued, I took a lash course in Baltimore, Maryland, where I became a Certified Lash Technician. I initially thought the lash industry would be easy to break into, but I quickly realized the level of patience, time, and skill required. Read More>>

Erica Luna

Nails have always been an outlet for me to relieve stress and put my all into making someone else feel more beautiful by accessorizing with my handmade customizable nails. I spend my own money, time, and love making these nails and supporting my business. Although I am small and just starting I vow to never give up in hopes that my small hobby will one day fund my dreams and future doing what I love. Read More>>

Emily Ashley

I started making candles as a hobby around 2014, I made what I wanted to see and smell in my home and being someone who has always been very crafty, it came fairly natural to me. I started my business during covid in 2021, when I was out of work and needed to stay busy, I have loved how creative starting a business has allowed me to be, not only was I able to make my own candle vessels from concrete, (as candle vessels were scarce during this time.) I was also able to build my own website and blend my own, unique fragrances.  Read More>>

Thurmina Adams

After I had my baby I returned to a church I joined at 13 with my family called South Post Oak MBC, now The Fountain of Praise. My baby became the pastors baby, when I left and returned he called me out during his sermon. Stopped talking, came down, walked up to her, she reached up to him and he picked her up. He preached with her in his arms. I stayed there for years while confused and doing crazy things.  Read More>>

Kameryn Sampson

I am originally from LaPlace, Louisiana and a proud graduate of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. It was there that my passion for community service and supporting women and girls came alive. However, I have a long tenure from before joining the organization I currently work at, Girls Empowerment Network, in 2018 of direct service experience with youth. During my undergraduate education, I served in executive leadership for various organizations such as Volunteer LSU, the Minority Women’s Movement, and LSU Service Breaks. Read More>>

Baridilo Dube

I adore finding new pieces to play with and thinking of new ways to orient my space. My friends and family always make fun of me for my furniture thrifting tendencies and the fact that no configuration of my space lasts very long. This passion and knack for interior design led me to seek out Rhonnika in the winter of 2022. I was looking to see what it would be like to get started in an industry brand new to me and learn what it would take to pivot. What I really appreciate about working with Rhonnika is getting to see the behind the scenes of R J Clifton Designs and learning how dynamic and dedicated you need to be to have a successful business. Read more>>

Toussaint Davis

I grew up in Chicago, and music has always been a huge part of my life. I’ve wanted to be a singer for as long as I can remember, and I’ve spent these past few years working hard to create great songs for my fans. Dancing is also a big part of who I am—it’s something that fuels my passion and keeps me connected to my art. Everything I’ve been through has led me to this moment, and I’m grateful to be living my dream. Read More>>