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.
Zaira Maxwell
Since then, I’ve relaunched my swimwear line, partnered with Swimsuit USA International as a sponsor, and I’m currently preparing for my next fashion show to debut my new collection. I’m so proud of how far I’ve come and so excited for what’s ahead. Thank you for the support. I can’t wait to show you what’s next for Zadore by Z. Read more>>
Temitope Samuel
There have been many challenges along the way. I didn’t feel supported by some people I expected to support me but my parents, siblings and other friends really showed up for me. Some people didn’t ask how things were going or offer help when I needed it most. The conference was a particularly tough moment, with several speakers dropping out at the last minute. On top of that, my books didn’t arrive on time for my launch at the conference which added more stress to an already hectic situation. Read more>>
Bajani Whitehurst
I often felt like a burden and had to fend for myself from a very young age. I’ve been working since I was 13, taking on any small job or side hustle just to take care of myself. At 16, I was kicked out and have been on my own ever since. Growing up in Chicago had its beauty, and I can’t deny that it shaped my values and life experiences. However, it’s also a dangerous place, and I’ve encountered my share of struggles there. I grew up with very little—no college fund, no clothes, no car, and no financial support to participate in typical teen activities. We often relied on food shelters and lived without hot running water. Read more>>
Araybia Wilson
I am a sergeant in the US Army, in the food service Culinary Arts field. I supervise and manage to sum it up. I also deal with weapons and armory. I am know for going after it and getting the mission done without asking questions. I can get anything done individually and also as a team/leader. Im proud of having those around me surpass in their career and get recognition and promotion for their hard work. I have a different mindset. I can motivate anyone and lift them up. I will fight for or with them. I let them know how much they can control and that the picture is bigger; there is no need to stress about it that much. Read more>>
Hyder Dammad
They were quickly recruited into the band. After figuring out our roles and going through a quick name change, Slacker as we know it was born. We hit the ground running. The band officially formed in August, and by October, we were already playing live shows and had released an EP on Spotify. Since then, the momentum hasn’t slowed down. We’ve played a dozen or so live shows, released a few one-off singles, and even laid out a rough roadmap for everything we want to do, right up until the band’s eventual end. Read more>>
Dr. Foye Ikyaator
Not to mention, many clinics are overwhelmed with patients and have long wait times. Houston Injury & Wellness clinic aims to care for patients who are recovering from injuries such as auto accidents, work related accidents as well as patients who need routine physical exams and follow up care after acute illness. At Houston Injury & Wellness Clinic, patients can also be sure of a Doctor that will focus on not just checking boxes on a health screen, but will take the time to ensure that their total wellness is a priority . Read more>>
Nisha Samuels
My journey into makeup started from a place of curiosity and self-expression. I used to spend hours experimenting with different looks, not knowing that this playful passion would one day turn into a career I truly love. Over time, I fell in love with the artistry behind makeup—the way it can enhance natural beauty, tell a story, and build confidence. What began as a personal interest grew into a professional path where I now get to share my creativity and help others feel their best every day. Read more>>
Dr. Chiquita Davis
At the heart of everything I do are four pillars: empowerment, education, community, and impact. These aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the blueprint. Whether I’m speaking on a stage, hosting a WWVP event, or leading a strategy session, my mission remains the same: to help women identify their God-given talents and build lives and businesses that reflect them. Read more>>
Sheila Blue
This journey has definitely had its challenges and obstacles. My background was in the legal field and then I had stayed home for more than 12 years at that time to raise my sons. I had no experience in business or the food industry, other than I loved to cook and serve. Learning how to run and business and then how to grow and lead a team have been some of the most challenging and greatest lessons of my time as a business woman. I actually hadn’t realized how much being a stay at home mom had prepared me for business until I was in the thick of it. Seeking out great business coaching as well as surrounding myself with other women in business who could speak into my life and teach me what I didn’t know. Read more>>
Yetzabel Vieyra
Not at all. I actually had the venue for a whole year before I could actually host my first event. Dealing with the permits from the city of Houston was a total nightmare. But it taught me so much along the way. I stayed calm and just continued to try and understand the process. I had to make a few adjustments to the space before I could even go to the next steps. I learned that asking questions will eventually get you an answer. Read more>>
Steven Champagne
A former Intelligence Analyst in the United States Marine Corps, Steven cultivated a disciplined, analytical approach that became the foundation for his success in both business and the arts. His journey has been marked by highs and lows, each chapter adding depth to his perspective and resilience to his character. He describes his life as one of discovery, failure, and overcoming—a journey that fuels the work he does today. Read more>>
Heather VonBerg
I’d say my story began in 2012 when I started working with an organization called Revelation Wellness. I became a certified fitness instructor and a part of the core team which gave me the opportunity to teach and train new instructors and travel to Arizona multiple times a year to lead at the retreats. Read more>>
Bryan Cooksey
As I perfected my craft in event planning, I felt a pull toward something even bigger. In 2022, I had the opportunity to plan and coordinate my first wedding under Bryan Cooksey Creations. That experience was surreal—it confirmed that creating unforgettable moments, especially on such a significant day, was my true calling. While I love the full planning process, there’s something magical about being hands-on during the wedding day itself, ensuring every detail comes to life seamlessly. Read more>>
Antavia Ogle
Eventually health and wellness took over my family and I’s life and I wanted to share my gifts with the world so when my daughters created a lemonade stands with healthy snacks I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share our brand A Lil Taste of Heaven with the world. We started from a lemonade stand in rural Louisiana to a storefront in Houston Texas and since 2012 I’ve been helping my clients find their optimal wellness through developing a deeper understanding of their habits and lifestyle choices. As a certified Natural Health & Wellness Consultant, I aim to create a life balance that prioritizes your well-being and celebrates all aspects of your true self. It’s time to start nurturing your body and soul again. Read more>>
Katy Wright
After 10 years in education and one particularly painful experience, I hit the eject button on my life. Sold my house. Disappeared. Went full existential crisis mode. The goal? To figure out why the same frustrating patterns kept popping up in my life, who I actually wanted to become, and, more importantly, what it would take to get there. (Answer: a lot of discipline, a lot of grace, and way more self-reflection than I thought possible.) Read more>>
Christopher Whaley
One local radio station, who shall remain nameless, actually let me go because of the music that I was playing. I was called in the office and told that I should just “stick to the hits” and not play album cuts or alternative versions. I was told that although I have a gift for being a radio personality, that my expertise was not welcomed and I was shown the door. It broke my heart, That’s when I decided to create The Soul Brother Show and play the music that I enjoy and that resonates with my audience. I have not had any complaints about my musical selections since I started doing my own thing. Read more>>
Misty Phillip
In her latest best-selling book, Spark Your Influence, Misty Phillip empowers Christian women to lead with boldness, purpose, and passion. She provides biblical wisdom and practical strategies to help readers integrate their faith into leadership roles while avoiding burnout. The book guides women to discern their calling, overcome fear, navigate transitions, and establish healthy boundaries. Jordan Raynor, author of The Sacredness of Secular Work and Redeeming Your Time, describes it as “a timely call for Christian women to lead with faith and courage.” Spark Your Influence serves as a vital resource for those seeking to make a meaningful impact in alignment with their faith Read more>>
Darius Gullett
Heck no, but there’s beauty in the struggle. For me personally, I’m not from Houston so I had to work extremely hard to network and meet other comedians and prove to them that I’m a legit comic and deserve to be here. I’ve done sets in front of only 3 people, open mics at 1:45 am, showed up to mics and 8 pm but can’t perform until 10:45 pm because other established comics got pull over you (even sometimes you’re better). You’re lucky to get a free drink before you see a payday. It’s not all sweet but I respect the process. Read more>>
Cristal Cerda
Over time, word of mouth and social media helped me grow my business. I focused on creating personalized, memorable setups for my clients, and I absolutely loved their reactions. Knowing I played a part in creating a moment that made someone feel loved and celebrated is truly the most rewarding feeling. Read more>>
Johnny’ Rock Bell
And I went to it!!!! OG Hank was my first real customer!!!!! I never looked back…. people would ask me you wash cars for a living and smirk!!!! They never saw the bigger picture… to me I was taking my fate and putting it in my own hands! Most people that know me KNOW!! I don’t care what people think about what I do because I myself love what I do!!! Read more>>
Dhriti Raju
I’m a born and raised Houstonian. I started creating content in February of 2024, and I have learned so much from it. I’ve always thought about creating content and becoming a famous influencer. And though I’m not there yet, I still love posting on the internet and having a creative outlet such as this one. I post mainly about motorsports and lifestyle, and have a wonderful community of people supporting me! Read more>>
Jahzre’ Francis
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been not having a dedicated creative space. I dream of having a space of my own where I can host all types of events and workshops — a place that feels inspiring, welcoming, and fully equipped. Right now, I host most of my workshops in my apartment’s event spaces or I rent venues when I can. It works, but it’s not always ideal. Scheduling, transporting supplies, and setting up in unfamiliar spaces can be stressful. But even with those challenges, I’ve learned how to stay flexible and make the most of what I have — and that’s helped me grow a lot both personally and professionally. Read more>>
Ariel Hunt
Like any journey, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were more downs than ups at times, and I even quit for a while. But God kept pushing me, reminding me of why I started in the first place. Eventually, I relaunched and expanded, turning Flourishing Candle Co. into a mobile candle making bar and shop. Now, we bring the full candle making experience right to your home, business, or events! Whether it’s a fun gathering, a celebration, or a team-building workshop for a company, FCC creates a unique and interactive way for people to connect. Let’s Make Scents together! You definitely want to check out instagram (@Flourishingcandleco) to book your candle making workshop for your next event, date night, girls trip, or a fun activity for the kids. Oh yes, we are kid-friendly! Read more>>
Preslie Watson
I teach them to embrace their anxiety monsters and that it is okay to ask for help if you’re struggling. Some details from the workshop- I start by introducing them to my own anxiety monsters that are sock puppets named “Stressy Jessie” and “Scary Gary”, then we each share our fears, then I read them a book called “How To Tame My Anxiety Monster” to help them overcome the anxiety they shared, then I teach them a fun song and dance about what we learned from the book, and finally each child gets to make their own sock puppet to take home that represents their anxiety monster! Read more>>
Raven Boxie
Of course they would play along, but I kept thinking I wish I had a group of people that I could share those thoughts with that had read the book. I eventually started the book club in November of 2023 with our first book being Never Lie by Freida McFadden and only three other people showed up including my sister at a wine bar. After posting more on social media and gaining more attention, we now have over 170 subscribed members. Each month we have a social event and a book club meeting to discuss that current month’s book pick. Read more>>
Michelle Bang
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was juggling a ton of responsibilities in a fast-paced industry—especially in the wedding world, where everything is high stakes and super time-sensitive. It’s easy to get burnt out because you’re constantly working under pressure, meeting tight deadlines, and making sure every little detail is perfect for our client’s big day. There’s also the emotional side of it, weddings are deeply personal, and clients have high expectations so you always want to deliver your best 24/7. Read more>>
Brandon Thomas and Sarah Havemann
knew from a young age that dance was my passion in life. I started training at age 2, giving me over 20 years of experience. I began performing professionally at 13, teaching at 14, and choreographed my first competitive dance piece at 16 years old. I was a member of a D1 collegiate dance team and later went on to study dance at The University of Houston under the direction of Karen Stokes. I have also had the pleasure of performing with professional dance companies such as Vault Houston, Revolve Dance Company and Chapman Dance. Read more>>
Christy Sanderson
Along the way, I figured out that these characters (who were based mostly off of my pets throughout the years), needed stories. So I started drawing comics. I figured out pretty quickly I wasn’t too good at that and needed to improve my drawing skills. That lead me to streaming my art online in the Twitch Creative community in 2015, and also finally starting a daily drawing habit that stuck. I’ll have 10 full years of drawing and posting online every day at the end of September this year. Once I got more confident in drawing, and faster, I started publishing comics once, then twice weekly, and began self publishing comic compilations in 2019. I’ll have my 6th volume of the Book of Kyoot available this summer. Read more>>
Vanessa Harris
When I became a doctor, I learned the key role moms play in their child’s health and well-being. The mothers who didn’t understand that made it difficult for me to care for their children. So, I also pursued preventive medicine to improve child health on a mass scale. Read more>>
Celia Johnson Sampson
I also serve clients behind the chair, focusing on healthy hair and extensions as a growth method. My heart is in education and seeing individuals who invested in a cosmetology school full complete the process of becoming licensed. 60% of program graduates do not work in the industry due to FEAR of failing the exam or actually failing the exam. I dedicate evenings to tutoring 1:1 or group to give in depth review of hair, skin, nails and the practical skills of cosmetology. Read more>>
Christopher Parker
Financial struggles, self-doubt, and moments where I questioned whether I was doing the right thing were all part of the journey.Starting AnaisCreedStudios with limited resources meant I had to work harder to market myself and prove my value. With Shadows of a Black Man, I’ve had to push past frustration when sales didn’t match the attention it was getting. And with Restricted Security, I’ve had to find creative ways to establish trust and credibility in a competitive industry.Through it all, I’ve learned that every setback is a setup for a comeback. The struggles have made me tougher, more strategic, and more determined to succeed. No matter how hard it gets, I keep pushing forward, because I know where I’m headed. Read more>>
Anjel Joy Rideout
I have more than just fashion and fashion styling in my skillset and talents, I’m a songwriter/singer. I have a Christian romance mystery book I will publish soon! And Im a content creator! God is good and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me! I hope to inspire many in my life to know you can do anything with Christ on your side and believing in yourself and always have perseverance. Don’t ever give up, no matter what situation or age, don’t put a timeline on your success! Read more>>
Hector Quintanilla
I’m Hector Quintanilla, a 22 year old fashion designer & founder of Vivid Vision, I founded the luxury streetwear brand in the summer of 2020 when I was I going into my senior year of High School. This was during Covid so I had a lot of time on my hands to think and reflect on what I wanted to do after high school. That’s when I found my secret talent of creating and design, I instantly fell in love with it. I wasn’t all that good at first but after 4 years of trials & tribulations I would say I have perfected my craft. Read more>>
Yulia Sharapova
I was born and raised in Russia, where I developed a strong personality and a resilient mindset early in life. Life truly put that strength to the test when I found myself in the U.S. as a newly single mother with two young children, no job, and no money. I had full custody, no support system, and was essentially starting from ground zero. But I’ve always believed that challenges are just opportunities in disguise. Read more>>
Matt Harlan
I thought, there has to be a better way — a way to take one of life’s most persistent pain points and turn it into something simple, dignified, and delightful. Tumbl is more than just on-demand laundry — it’s a commitment to helping people get time back. To Never Fold under the weight of busy schedules and invisible labor. To spend more time in the moments that matter most. Read more>>
Brandi Hamilton
Tulsa, Oklahoma, will always be where my heart started singing. Growing up there meant church choirs, school performances, and building a foundation that shaped everything I’ve done since. I fought hard to attend Central High School, a place renowned for its fine arts program. I like to say, “I’m a seed from Arkansas planted in Oklahoma,” and those years laid the groundwork for every big dream I’ve chased since. Read more>>
Chase Manor
For years, people told me, “You should do real estate,” as if talking a little too much was all it took to sell homes. But getting licensed turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Real estate is far more complex than the glossy, drama-filled version people see on TV. There’s administrative work, marketing, lead generation, relationship building, and plenty of problem-solving behind the scenes. But at its core, real estate is about people—and that’s what drives me. I never wanted to clock in and out of a job again; I wanted a career that felt meaningful. Read more>>
Will Vail
However, even if the project has flaws, it can still impact someone in a major way, thus giving it a purpose, even if it’s just one person. Another major challenge is comparison. Whether it be social media, friends, family, or just society, there is always going to be someone you can compare yourself to. In addition, there is always going to be someone who is going to be better than you at something. With this, there are two options: to give up or keep striving to be the best version of yourself. What has given me confidence in my skills and the drive to keep getting better is not the skills that I provide but the person I am in Jesus Christ. Read more>>
BreAnna Wiley
Following my undergraduate degree, I moved home for about 5 months where I kicked off my personal training brand and business (Get Fit Wit Bre Fitness). Once it was up and running, I decided to venture to a bigger city, in which I landed in Houston in December of 2015. I initially had plans to attend the University of Houston and major in Sports Administration. However, I did not attend UH, I was accepted into the Arkansas State University Sports Administration graduate program, graduating December of 2018 with honors. Read more>>
Karen Borne
In a bold move that underscored her commitment to innovation and growth, Karen founded Ruby Roo Saddles, LLC in 2019—an extension of her passion for saddle making tailored specifically for the pony market. With the same dedication to craftsmanship and attention to detail that defined Borné Saddlery, Ruby Roo Saddles, LLC quickly established itself as a trusted name among pony enthusiasts worldwide. Read more>>
