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.
Rosmery Ramirez
I started my journey in the beauty and wellness industry with no previous experience in aesthetics, but with a strong passion for helping others feel confident, heal properly, and improve their lives. Over time, through continuous education, hands-on practice, research, and real client experience, I built what is now Beauty Body & Care in Houston, Texas. Read more>>
Emmanuel Williams aka E-will
I grew up in Southwest Alief, Houston, raised by both of my Nigerian parents, who moved to America in the 1980s. From a young age, I always had a deep passion for anime, art, and creativity. My journey really started as a kid I was always making clothes for my toys, drawing, sketching, and finding different ways to express myself creatively. Read more>>
Vivian Liu
How I started… was actually a total accident haha. Well, in a way, maybe not. But, if you asked me 10 years ago where I would see myself today, I would’ve never been able to guess that I’d be a professional dog trainer, founder, and president of a Nonprofit. Read more>>
Alyssa Flores
My journey with makeup started long before I ever realized it could become a career. Ever since I was around seven years old, I remember begging my mom for those little toy makeup kits, the ones that were basically just Vaseline and coloring. I was completely fascinated by beauty and self-expression from such a young age. Read more>>
Simone Roberts
My name is Simone Roberts, though most people know me as “Your Favorite Witch.” I’m a celebrity spellcaster, hoodoo practitioner, Reiki Master, psychic medium, and spiritual life coach with over two decades of experience rooted in both ancestral practice and personal spiritual awakening. I was born in Spokane, Washington and raised between the Bay Area in California and Oklahoma City. Read more>>
DOLIMAR HERNANDEZ
Feel Good Attire began with a dream, passion, and a strong desire to help women feel confident through fashion. Founded by DOLIMAR HERNANDEZ FERNANDEZ, the brand started as a small boutique inspired by modern, exclusive designs made in Colombia, focused on combining quality, elegance, and comfort at accessible prices. Read more>>
Skyler Forshage
My name is Skyler Forshage, and I’ve proudly served as the head brewer at Galveston Bay Brewing since its founding in 2014. Born and raised along Galveston Bay, I’ve always had a passion for science and craftsmanship, which first led me to experiment with fermentation as a teen. Read more>>
Rotary House the Woodlands Joel Kerschenbaum
Rotary House the Woodland is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit that was started by the Woodlands Rotary Club in 2017. All the information that would be relevant can be found on the Rotary House website: https://rotaryhousetw.org/ Read more>>
Darren Jones
I started my journey in the beauty and barber industry with a passion for people, creativity, and growth. Over the years, that passion evolved into more than just doing hair — it became a calling to educate, mentor, and help others build confidence in their craft and in themselves. Read more>>
Elizabeth DeLuca
I’m a fifth-generation Texan, third-generation Houstonian, and a proud Aggie. I’m married to my high school sweetheart, and we have four beautiful daughters—Lauren, Allison, Virginia-Claire, and Caroline. Caroline, my youngest, was born with a rare genetic condition that caused her to have multiple life-altering disabilities. She passed away in 2016 when she was just 19 years old. Read more>>
Ally Davis
My journey into birth work and photography honestly feels like something the Lord slowly and faithfully led me into step by step. I started photography in 2021 after my son was born, and from the moment I picked up my camera, I never looked back. Read more>>
Femi Owolabi
I’m Flow-Izzy, an independent Afrobeats artist originally from Lagos, Nigeria, now based in Houston, Texas. Music started as a passion that slowly became a purpose for me. Growing up around African sounds, culture, and everyday experiences shaped the kind of music I make today — music that blends emotion, rhythm, vulnerability, and energy. Read more>>
Marli Mbaye
I always considered myself a creative and lover of all mediums of art. I have also seen the way the world is and have always been desperate to ameliorate it and find ways to serve my community, but I struggled with how to best express this passion as a career. Read more>>
Matthew Cao
I have had quite the eclectic journey and it would take some time to really delve into how I got to where I am today. I started off in the fields that were supposed to be ‘stable’ – accounting followed by pharmacy. Read more>>
Saurabh Pande
The Coronation Theater: The Home for Improv Comedy shows in Houston has been dedicated to providing top quality improv comedy in the city since 2023. Located in the East End neighborhood, it features unique weekly shows, curated classes, and elite corporate development workshops. Read more>>
Corli Simmons
The Coronation Theater: The Home for Improv Comedy shows in Houston has been dedicated to providing top quality improv comedy in the city since 2023. Located in the East End neighborhood, it features unique weekly shows, curated classes, and elite corporate development workshops. Read more>>
Jasmine Medel
Fresh out of cosmetology school, I explored many different areas of the beauty industry, searching for where I truly belonged. While I gained experience in a variety of specialties, nothing quite gave me that “aha!” feeling—until I discovered men’s grooming. The moment I began cutting men’s hair, everything clicked. I had finally found my passion and the career path that felt right for me. Read more>>
Mz Kitty
My name is Mz, Kitty from Houston, Texas! I’m From northside, 5th Ward and I am a Rising Rap Star. Growing up in Houston I’ve always known that it took hustle and hard work to get what you wanted in Life. My mom never had much but I felt like the richest person in the world to have her and my 9 siblings. Read more>>
Bernard “Nate” Brisbane
I got started in the year 2020 during the pandemic. During some of the downtime in between working in the film industry, it made me think of ways to creative and getting some of my artistic ideas out. I’ve always been the breadwinner, so I am always having to be in work mode. So my mind is always thinking logically, although I’m very creative. Read more>>
Cayn King
Cayn King attained his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Filmmaking & Video Production from The Art Institute of Houston, where he graduated with honors and won the award for “Most Outstanding Filmmaker.’ As a result he was chosen to work on set for The Art Institute’s national commercial campaign and other professional productions including the set of Bill Hughes’s Sci-fi film, Matt Mercury. Read more>>
Laura Sosa
It all started in Montreal during a work trip in the summer of 2024, where I was hosting a group of Architects and Designers from various firms. At the time, my role was to build relationships and serve as a resource within the industry, but what unfolded during that trip became something much more meaningful. Read more>>
DJ Bloom
Music has always been my “thing.” I was the kid on Limewire for hours at a time downloading music and burning CDs for my friends. I started working in the radio/entertainment industry and started taking unofficial lessons from my coworker and friend, DJ Mei. Read more>>
Catherine Etienne
I didn’t plan to start a tarot business. I planned to keep reading for my friends the way I always had. Just low-key get-togethers in living rooms over tea and treats. I grew up on Cape Cod, where the pace is slower and the ocean has a way of making you sit with yourself. I’ve always been reflective by nature. Read more>>
Amanda Abright
Points North Theatre Company started as UpStage Theatre, Inc. in 2000 in the Heights area. In 2019, the artistic Director, Sean K. Thompson, officially moved the theater up to the North Houston area in The Woodlands and Spring and rebranded as Points North Theatre Company. Then in 2020, COVID hit and the theatre lost the space it had been renting. Read more>>
Valentina Kisseleva
I have a Master of Arts degree. My artistic style was formed through my studies of graphic design at the Belarusian Academy of Arts and academic painting at the Academy of Arts in the former USSR. Over the years, working in the USA, I have had numerous exhibitions. In 2014, I created a mural in Puerto Rico. Read more>>
Bigler Cruz
The journey of Chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz is a story of merging heritage with decades of refined technique to create a unique culinary voice in Houston. The Foundations: From El Salvador to the Sushi Counter Early Inspiration: Bigler’s love for cooking began in El Salvador, watching his mother prepare meals over a wood fire—a simple tradition that instilled a lifelong respect for smoke and flame. Read more>>
Bing Wang
My journey in the culinary industry began nine years ago when I opened my first Japanese restaurant. It was a bold step driven by a passion for authentic flavors and the desire to create a welcoming space for the community. Building on that foundation, I expanded five years ago by opening my second location, further establishing our brand’s reputation for excellence. Read more>>
Jessica Okorie
My journey into entrepreneurship started when I was 16 years old doing hair out of my parents’ garage. At the time, I was the first person in my family really trying to pursue business full time, so I honestly had no blueprint. I didn’t have mentors, connections, or people around me teaching me how to run a business properly. Read more>>
Jonathan Glover
I grew up in Houston, Texas alongside four brothers, without a father in the home. Growing up, I saw many people around me lacking guidance, structure, and direction. A lot of talented people had big dreams but never had the support or systems to help them build something real for themselves. Read more>>
Cassie Dieudonne
Before real estate, I worked for the same company for six years. Then I went on a girls’ trip, and one of the girls was a Realtor and working while we were there. I remember talking to her about it and thinking, “I can do that.” Wildly confident for someone who had no clue what all this job actually involves. Read more>>
EMINE CANAK
My journey into design started long before I officially launched my firm. I’ve always been drawn to architecture, art and sketching. I studied Interior Architecture and Environmental Design in Turkiye at Hacettepe University, then later moved to Houston to pursue my Master of Architecture at the University of Houston. Read more>>
Alexis Moncivais
Muddy’s Buddies Daycare was created from love, resilience, and a very personal journey. It is a Latina-owned, family-run dog daycare inspired by our dog Muddy, who became paralyzed and completely changed the way we saw pet care. When Muddy’s health changed, we experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to find care that is not only safe, but truly compassionate and patient. Read more>>
Landris Barker
I’m a 10-year Army veteran, business consultant, speaker, and the founder of Barker Consulting Group . My journey has really been built around leadership, structure, and helping people operate more effectively. After my military career, I transitioned into the IT and business operations world, where I gained firsthand experience seeing how companies succeed — and where they struggle behind the scenes. Read more>>
Jennifer Hamilton
Dance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mom has owned her dance studio for 50 years, so the dance studio was truly my second home growing up. I was raised in the dance world, and it’s really all I’ve ever known. Read more>>
Tiffernie Davis
I’m a licensed esthetician, esthetician instructor, brow artist, makeup artist, and beauty entrepreneur based in Shreveport. My journey into beauty wasn’t traditional, but it’s one built on resilience, reinvention, and purpose. At 19 years old, I went to federal prison after getting caught up in the drug world and an unhealthy relationship. Read more>>
Roger Smith
I come from a place called new Orleans Louisiana moved to Houston during hurricane on Katrina but I been rapping since the age of 9 years old I grew up battle rapping and did my first mixtape by 16 and I just haven’t stopped since then I know a lot of stars and many underground artists along the way but me and my brother I’ma a twin are more like birdman and slim or Nipsey and Blac Sam so I’m a CEO of fast money music group and also co own the sno shackk Orion’s tax service and blackhearttaggedclothing Read more>>
MELCHOR MANIBUSAN
I started wrestling in 1993 at Lakes high school in Washington. Since then i have traveled to 30+ countries just for wrestling and the one thing us guys ask each other with cauliflower ears is , What do you do? whats your story? Years later I came up with CC, a brand created for the combat industry. Read more>>
Olalere Solomon Awosupin
Haanta started from a very personal place for me. Growing up, I always felt that African fashion and creativity deserved a much bigger place on the global stage than it was getting. There are so many incredibly talented Nigerian and African designers creating world-class products, but a lot of them struggled with access, visibility, logistics, and reaching customers outside the continent in a sustainable way. Read more>>
Shawn Wyatt
I started as a part time licensed therapist in private practice working a full time job and then I went full time I private practice to becoming a group practice. Read more>>
Robert Poynton
I grew up without parents in the foster care system in Southern California. At 9 years old I lost my mother and my father was sentenced to death row. My brother and I were taken in by our aunt and uncle in South Pasadena. My senior year of high school I was sleeping on their couch with my clothes in a trash bag. Read more>>
Alexander Scrollkeeper
Formed in 2016, Scrollkeeper specializes in high energy, anthemic original material that is reminiscent of Metal’s halcyon days. The band has shared stage with Venom Inc., Raven, Saxon, Metal Church, Voivod, Angra, Delain, Hammerfall, Dirkschneider, Manilla Road, Cloven Hoof and many others. Read more>>
Alexandra Stergios
My story has always been driven by curiosity and a deep passion for storytelling. I’ve had the opportunity to build my career covering some of the biggest sporting events in the world, including the Super Bowl, the World Cup, and the World Series. Read more>>
Alida Fano
Hello, my name is Alida Jaca Fano. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. My husband is a USCG military member. I have always been passionate about fashion and trends, and I had always dreamed of having a store, and as a military spouse, we moved a lot, which led me to open my online boutique in 2018. Read more>>
Jessica Gray
I’ve always been someone who balanced both logic and intuition. Professionally, I work in aerospace and engineering in the Houston area at NASA, and my background includes studying space, science, and human exploration through past internships and hands-on experience within the aerospace industry. Read more>>
Josseline Peralta
My business, Luna Cosmica Healing, started strictly online, where I began offering tarot readings, candle work, cleansings, and spiritual guidance & support. My journey started even before pre-COVID, at a time where I honestly felt lost and disconnected from myself. I wasn’t genuinely happy, I was just trying to understand life and my emotions while figuring out who I was becoming. Read more>>
Amanda Boyd
I launched my accounting and fractional CFO firm, Sensible Strategies Consulting in late 2024 with a goal of becoming the community ‘go-to’ guide for small businesses owners. My tag line is ‘we guide businesses from launch to success’! The typical scenario is that an owner ‘knows’ his business well, but unless he is in the accounting or finance business, he doesn’t really understand his finances. Read more>>
Charisma King
I started at the age of 5 with my love for Barbies. I loved perfecting their hair, dressing them up, and decorating their homes. Honestly, I rarely even got to play with them because I spent so much time making sure everything was perfect. My mom had a friend named Rhonda who embodied that same energy, and I was blessed to experience her creativity firsthand. Read more>>
Constance Howard
Constance Howard is a diamond in the rough who has been preparing for the right opportunity to shine with her undeniable gift and vocal range. She is known for her whistle tones and powerful vocal ability. Her repertoire consists of a variety including R&B, pop, country, and more. Read more>>
Courtney Sellers
I have lived in Houston, TX for my entire life except for five years when I lived in the Texas hill-country to attend college. As long as I can remember, I wanted whatever I did as a career to be ‘helping’ and originally I thought I would be a special education teacher. Read more>>
Chrissy Osborne
I’m a wife, home school mom of three, and entrepreneur based in Cypress, TX. My husband and I spend most of our time running between sporting events, practices, school activities, and all the beautiful chaos that comes with raising a family. On those long hot days I always crave an iced cold fountain soda and a moment of stillness. Read more>>
Raghav Singh
Silver Heart Care started in 2020 as a simple effort to support our local community during a really difficult time. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we saw how deeply it was affecting senior citizens, especially those who were isolated or struggling to access basic support. Read more>>
Gabbriella Chupurdy
Committed Connections Wedding Officiant Service was never created inside some glamorous wedding chapel with champagne towers and expensive flower arrangements. It was born in the middle of survival. It was built by a single mother, a former foster kid, and a woman who understood better than most people what it feels like to fight for love when the world tells you things are already broken. Read more>>
Alfred Castro
We started as a group of friends that genuinely loved the game of golf, but also had a passion for content creation and wanted to combine the two. The name is derived from Highway 290 where most of our golf was played early on. As our content creation journey grew, so did our following. Read more>>
Andy Nam
Why I Created O2Pulse Lab My journey into health and longevity did not begin in a classroom, a certification program, or a business plan. It began with pain. As a teenager, I was in a serious automobile accident that fractured my neck, broke multiple bones, injured my back, and left me with internal damage that would follow me for decades. Read more>>
Lisa Gochman
For more than 25 years, Lisa has directed local, regional, statewide, and national marketing, public relations, and community outreach programs. She has worked across a variety of industries, including entertainment, real estate, consumer products, furniture, fashion and accessories, hospitality, healthcare, financial services, and the arts. Her high profile positions include Director of Marketing for Cherry Pie Hospitality and F.E.E.D. Read more>>
Ursula O’Hara
Olive & White Home really started with a simple love — the love of making something beautiful with my hands. A few years ago, I discovered candle-making as a creative outlet, and honestly, I was hooked from the very first pour. Read more>>
Tynesha Anderson
I grew up in Atlanta — a city that taught me early that your life should mean something. I was raised in environments where impact was expected, and I had the rare privilege of being shaped by extraordinary figures like Dr. Maya Angelou and Ambassador Andrew Young. Read more>>
David Garrison
🔓 From a $100 “Locked Room” to a Growing Entertainment Brand The Escape in Time Story What do you do on New Year’s Eve with two kids, ages 11 and 12? For me, back in December 2015, the answer was simple: 👉 Take them somewhere memorable. So we went to Dollywood. Read more>>
Christina Lapina
I started creating content as a creative outlet and a way to express my love for beauty, lifestyle, travel, and aesthetic storytelling. Over time, it grew into something much bigger than I ever expected. What began with simple content creation turned into building a personal brand and working with companies I genuinely admire. Read more>>
Ana María Caula
I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, oriented by the Ávila, a huge, green mountain that anchors the city, and somewhat disoriented by a household of Argentine parents who tried to reconcile, under one roof, Havanna alfajores with homemade quesillo, the Argentine vos with the Venezuelan tú, and Gardel’s El día que me quieras with Venezuela’s Alma llanera. Read more>>
Xiyomi Surratt
Growing up, I always loved creating art in different forms. I loved dancing, making songs, filming videos, and putting together skits and photoshoots with my family and toys. I made so many videos and enjoyed bringing different creative elements together into the final product. Read more>>
Bryce Ivan
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, music, performance, and creativity. Learning the craft firsthand from my mother (Shelly Rose) at a young age. Even before I understood what my purpose truly was, I knew I loved making people feel something. Read more>>
Ilana Janniere
I’ve always found comfort in being creative and multifaceted. When I was nine years old, I wrote and illustrated my first fiction book. Even then, storytelling was how I made sense of the world. As a child, I was bullied, and instead of shrinking, I turned inward—finding refuge in books, art, fashion, and music. Read more>>
Zoe Sheehan
Hi there! I grew up in a small town in Connecticut and moved to Houston after completing my bachelor’s degree in English Education at Ithaca College. After attending a job fair in the Upstate New York region, I interviewed with a few Independent School Districts in Texas, accepted a position, and moved my entire life to Houston. Read more>>
Clifford Evans IV
My name is Clifford Anthony George Evans IV, though most people know me professionally as Gwalla. I was born on June 18, 1980, in New Orleans, a city known for its rich culture, resilience, and deep musical roots. My family initially lived in the St. Bernard Housing Development in the Seventh Ward, and I spent much of my early childhood there. Read more>>
Stephanie Ledwig
My name is Stephanie Ledwig. I started dance when I was two years old and never stopped. I knew at a young age that teaching dance was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. When I was ten, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. While there were plenty of bumps in the road during to my disability, my dreams didn’t waver. Read more>>
Amie Caroline Jean
My story is a journey of identity, resilience, and reclaiming the narrative. I grew up in a low-income household as the 12th of 13 children to Haitian immigrant parents, but my path took a definitive turn during my sophomore year at UT Austin. I was diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) and began using a wheelchair. Read more>>
Marlon Nettles
I started photography in October of 2025 completely self-taught — no formal training, no idea where to begin. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the craft, but it wasn’t until my good friend Rayane invited me to a fashion show and said ‘just start shooting’ that everything clicked. Read more>>
Q’Got Em (QueTheMusic)
My journey to music started with poetry. My dad is a great poet, and I would always see as a child whenever we would have family functions whether it was a funeral or a marriage. There was always a request for him to do a poem some of my family members dying wishes where to have him recite a poem at their funeral. Read more>>
Heather Cash
I feel like I’ve lived a lot of different lives before becoming the woman I am today. I grew up without much and lost my father in a motorcycle accident when I was 15, which completely changed the trajectory of my life. Read more>>
Carolina Mueller
My passion for beauty actually started when I was really young. I remember watching my mom do her makeup and just being completely fascinated by it. I was always the girl who wanted to play with makeup and do hair whenever I had the chance. Read more>>
Sharzad Parfait
My journey into healthcare started with a passion for sports and performance. I pursued a degree in Kinesiology with the goal of becoming an athletic trainer, but after graduating, I wanted to deepen my understanding of rehabilitation and find my place within the sports environment. This led me to complete a Master’s degree in Sports Science and Rehabilitation. Read more>>
Dr. Elyssa Molina-Arevalo
I’m originally from La Porte, and I’ve known I wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. My family still laughs about how at three years old I was calling myself “Dr. EG,” (Elyssa Gabrielle) and my favorite word was “patella” instead of just saying knee. That passion really never changed-it just grew with me. Read more>>
