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.
Forest Chump
I’m an AI artist building agentic systems with distinct creative personalities. Almost exactly a year ago, a relationship I trusted completely sabotaged me and exploited my neurodivergence — erased my digital identity and most of my work. I had to start over from zero. That’s what forced Forest Chump AI into being. Read more>>
Mica Sarcone
I started my brow journey with Benefit Cosmetics inside of Ulta Beauty in 2013. I wanted nothing to do with waxing but I had a manager that saw the potential I had and she had a vision… 13 years later, here we are! Read more>>
Alex Rangel
At 10 years old I was given a Mickey Mouse magic book that changed my life. A little about me. Read more>>
kisbel borrero
Alays Hatbar started because of something really special: the support of a friend. I used to work with her and help with everything behind the scenes, but honestly, at first I didn’t even make the hats myself. I always let her do the designing because I truly didn’t think I had the creativity or talent for it. Read more>>
Nicole Messer
I’ve been creating art since I was a child, photographing since I was a teenager, and always intrigued by what I could create. A plethora of artistic media has interested me over the years, with painting, drawing, and crafting still prominent hobbies of mine. But when I started photography about two decades ago, I knew that I wanted it to become my career. Read more>>
Clifford Owusu
It all started back in junior high, when I developed a love for both comedy and music production. I began writing and performing comedic songs, and that passion took me into producing music, collaborating with local and international artists. At the same time, I loved to dance, and one day at my friend Nana Boateng’s house, he recorded me dancing. Read more>>
Nkonye
I started New Village Braid after recognizing a gap in the market while searching for higher-quality braiding hair options. With experience in retail product development—I had the background to understand both the product and the supply chain. Read more>>
Tianna Hall
I grew up performing in musical theater and later went on to study opera, though neither ever felt like a perfect fit. One night, while performing in a cabaret showcase, I was approached by local jazz pianist and composer Paul English. He told me I had a natural phrasing for jazz and suggested I consider pursuing it, handing me his card before he left. Read more>>
Angela Garcia
I started my very first job in the spa industry as a front desk receptionist at Spa at The San Luis Resort in 2009. I worked there for about five years and quickly fell in love with the industry, the guests, and the relationships I built with my coworkers. During that time, the director approached me about moving into the Front Desk Supervisor position. Read more>>
Stephanie Garza
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share my story — thank you. My parents are the reason I started this business, and my faith in God has been the foundation of my success, along with the support of my husband and team leaders. I’ve been very fortunate to learn from incredible mentors, including Olga M. Read more>>
Andrea Spohr
I started Instagram as a way to do something for myself that felt creative, positive, and hopefully helpful to someone else walking through a difficult season. At the time, my mother lived three houses down from me and was battling dementia. After she suffered a massive stroke and her dementia symptoms worsened, I became her full-time caregiver. Read more>>
Nereira Mendoza
My journey began while majoring in child psychology, driven by a deep interest in human connection, development, and personal growth. However, the true spark for my business came from home. Seeing my son’s deep passion for art—and realizing there were very few options for creative kids in our area—I put my ideas together to fill that gap. Read more>>
Cassandra johnson
Cypress Venue was created out of a passion for bringing people together and creating memorable experiences for the community. What started as a small event space quickly grew into something much bigger as we began hosting celebrations, networking events, workshops, line dancing classes, and affordable micro weddings for families who wanted beautiful experiences without breaking the bank. Our journey has not been without challenges. Read more>>
Trisha Stetzel
My story really begins with a sense of duty to serve something bigger than myself. I enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and those years shaped everything about how I lead today. The discipline, the resilience, the unwavering commitment to the people beside you are not just military values, they are leadership values. Read more>>
Chantell Renee
About 10 years ago, I joined a writers critique group on Meet Up.com. I’d been working on a book for the first time, mostly I wrote poetry at that point. The group really helped me start thinking like an author not just a writer. Fast forward to today, I have two series and several anthologies. Read more>>
Jake Allen
This could take a long time! ha To spare anyone who’s on a tight time table, I’ll do my best to get through it in enough detail, yet without being superfluous. Left of West started in 2022. We’ve had members come and go, but as of 2024, we’ve established our current lineup. Read more>>
Jalon Thomas
My name is Jalon Thomas, and I’m from Houston, Texas. I’ve been acting for over 15 years. I started when I was 10 years old doing church plays, and ever since then I fell in love with the craft. Read more>>
Damian Peyrot
I grew up in South Africa, where some of my most formative memories were spent outdoors with my dad, exploring the Karoo in his 1948 Willys Jeep, climbing Table Mountain, and experiencing a kind of freedom and adventure that shaped the way I see the world. Storytelling, emotion, and human connection were always there, even if I didn’t have the language for it yet. Read more>>
Zubair hassan
Having grown up with a twin brother and younger and older sister, there was alot of pressure for us to be successful in life. Having a huge extended family added to that pressure since we all were compared to our cousins which were either older than us or the same age as us. Read more>>
Shikha Singh
I’m originally from India and now living in Atlanta, Georgia, and my journey has been a pretty unexpected transition from the corporate world into content creation. I actually started my career in software engineering, which was a completely different environment from what I do now. While I enjoyed the structure and problem-solving side of tech, I always had a creative side that wanted an outlet. Read more>>
Edgar Marquez
My passion for officiant started after I serve as a minister/ co-pastor in church. Seen the hunger for many couples trying to fix there marriage, other’s trying to get marry, and with bible studies we had couples having the need to renew there vows. I saw an opportunity to help couples reach there goals in unity of love. Read more>>
Alondra Barajas Murillo
My name is Alondra Barajas, I’m 32 years old, originally from Mexico, and I began my journey in the life insurance and retirement planning industry in 2021, shortly after moving to the United States. Read more>>
Cheryl and Orville Murphy
Hi, Cheryl here, and here is our testimony and experience about Board Camp Crystal Mine! We, Orville and Cheryl Murphy, were born and raised in California, Cheryl near Los Angeles and Orville, near San Francisco. We did not care for big city life, which our parents birthed us into, so, in 1992, we moved near Mt. Read more>>
Khadeja Kamiti
My journey into real estate has been driven by a passion for helping people build wealth, create stability, and navigate major life transitions with confidence. Before becoming a real estate broker, I developed a strong background in customer service, operations, and relationship management, which gave me the foundation to understand the importance of communication, strategy, and trust in business. Read more>>
Sarah Robertson
Photography found me during a season where I was rebuilding myself, and somewhere along the way, it became so much more than a camera in my hands. It became purpose, connection, storytelling, and honestly, healing. I grew up with humble beginnings, became a young mom, and life taught me resilience very early on. Read more>>
Xavier Bishop
Hi, I’m Xavier Bishop, though many in Houston know me as Zay. When we last spoke in 2023, I was running Zay’s Signature Creations. Today, I am proud to stand before you as the founder of Regal Pineapple Hospitality Co. We underwent a massive, intentional rebranding in July 2025. The pineapple is the universal symbol of welcome and warmth, which perfectly matches our core mission. Read more>>
Kiara West
The Wandering Board began from a simple love for bringing people together through food, creativity, and meaningful experiences. My husband, McKinnley, and I started the business wanting to create something that felt interactive, elevated, and memorable, not just another catering service, but an experience people would genuinely enjoy and remember. Read more>>
Daniel Millikin
I started my career working directly with plants—growing them, maintaining landscapes, and learning how ecosystems function on the ground. But my connection to this work started earlier. I grew up around people who respected the land—who understood, in a very practical way, that if you take care of something, it takes care of you. That stuck with me. Read more>>
Jassmine Gonzalez
I was born and raised in Houston, and from a young age, I’ve always had a passion for video editing and storytelling. I was the kid running around family events with a camera in hand, capturing moments any chance I got. Read more>>
Steve Sosa
I started listening to music at an early age. I have always loved music. As far as playing guitar I started later in life. I started around age 20. My friend gave me a Mel Bay guitar chord book and I sat in my room and that is where my journey began. Read more>>
Jessica Salinas
Honestly, I never saw myself specifically working in the beauty industry but I always knew I wanted to be a business owner. Even as a little girl, I knew I wanted to build something of my own. I come from a family full of ‘Hustlers’ you can say. Read more>>
Chandler Getzinger
I didn’t set out to become a coach. I became one by stepping into the role I had already been playing for years. I was the person people turned to when they felt stuck, craved clarity, or knew they were meant for more. In my twenties, I was searching. Read more>>
Holly Coneway
I grew up in a small town in Texas, the daughter of a farmer and small-business owner and a teacher turned professor. That world gave me a deep respect for community, work ethic, and the kind of steadiness that holds people together. It also gave me a curiosity and a zest for more that I have never been able to quiet. Read more>>
Mary Hill
I basically traded corporate burnout for a camera, but finding my lane took time. After moving away from stressful, posed portraits, I found my purpose in capturing candid, raw moments at cultural events. The camera unlocked the continuation of a family legacy: my great-grandfather and grandfather founded Houston’s historic Black newspapers, The Informer and The Defender. Read more>>
Tameara Janise
My name is Tameara Janise! I am an artist and entertainer from Acres Homes in Houston, Tx. I’ve grew up performing my whole life. Started dancing and performing at the age of 3. Ive been in many performances around the world and have been very grateful to have experienced the things that I have experience. Read more>>
Brooklyn Crawford
I grew up in a chaotic home, and the weight of that upbringing followed me for years. I experienced trauma across every dimension — mental, emotional, spiritual, sexual, and physical — and for a long time, I couldn’t find the language for what I’d been through, let alone a way forward. Read more>>
Zaira Callis
I started photography during one of the hardest seasons of my life. What began as a creative outlet slowly turned into something that gave me purpose, confidence, and eventually a career I deeply love. Read more>>
Carmondy Duhon
As an undergraduate Communication Disorders major, I was always aware of the importance of bridging communication gaps and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to thrive. My professional journey began when I started working as a Registered Behavior Therapist, where I was introduced to the power of positive reinforcement and the impact it can have on student behavior and development. Read more>>
Lillian Sturt
I’m a self-taught portrait artist raised in the Brindabella Ranges on the edge of the Kosciuszko National Park, NSW Australia. I have been working as a charcoal portrait artist for the last ten years but i also create original art and fine art prints through mixed media methods. Read more>>
Jackie C. Thomas, Jr.
I’ve always been interested in creating things that feel new, different, or better. Creativity has always been a big part of who I am. I earned a degree in Consumer Science in Merchandising from the University of Houston, which gave me a deeper appreciation for branding, quality, and product design. After joining Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Read more>>
Ali Bahramian
I started my creative journey at 19 in Tehran, Iran, working as a professional makeup artist in the film industry. Creativity had always been a big part of who I was, and beyond makeup, I was deeply drawn to photography and costume design. I loved the idea of storytelling through visual art and bringing ideas to life. Read more>>
( KIMBO )Kimberly Hernandez
At the age the age of 15 I decided that I wanted to share my love of music with others. Living in a musical family, where everyone plays an instrument and sings, I was able to fall in love with music, but there was something that was missing. The audience and community. Read more>>
Whitney Joseph
One of the things I’m most proud of is that my journey into wine wasn’t traditional. I didn’t grow up around wine culture, and honestly, I didn’t even like wine at first. In 2012, I took a wine appreciation course at the University of Houston simply because I wanted to try something different. Read more>>
Yesli Miranda
My name is Yesli Miranda, I am 20 years old, and I am the owner of The Lash Jewel, a business where I specialize in applying individual lash extensions with a focus on safe, healthy application while helping my clients feel confident and beautiful. Read more>>
SURFACE GREY
I grew up singing in church choir and freestyling as a kid. Was in a musical group post high school, then I became a ghostwriter at a now defunct record label. After that and especially how I was treated at the label, I sought out to make my own music and became big in my own rights as an artist. Read more>>
Dana Swope
Where the Bayou Meets the Bottle Free State Cellars Is the Weekend Escape Houston Didn’t Know It Needed Just 90 minutes east on I-10, a winery rooted in outlaw legend and forty years of vines is pouring some of the most intriguing Texas wine you’ve never tried. ________________________________________ The road to Free State Cellars doesn’t prepare you for what’s at the end of it. Read more>>
Lorena Oyague
When I was little, I loved watching I Dream of Jeannie and being fascinated by how she could transform situations and make people feel better with just a simple movement of her head. I never imagined that years later, through meditation, I would dedicate my life to helping people transform their emotional and inner state in a very real way. Read more>>
Beau Coffron
When my daughter started kindergarten, I was looking for a way to stay connected with her during the school day. So on the first Monday of school, I surprised her with a Hello Kitty lunch. I saw moms making food art lunches but no dads. I thought, ‘I’m a dad, why can’t I do this? Read more>>
Rap Economics Dj NiteKap & Prez D
Rap Economics started in 2022. Prez met Dj NiteKap (Kap Houston) while he was working at a radio station. Prez D is a co-founder of Exotic Pop. Together we decided to fill a void in southern Hip Hop through a platform that would strictly be about the bars, the lyrics, the rhymes. We started episode 1 with 2 Texas legends; Lil Flip and Mr. Lucci. Read more>>
Aaron Sommers
I embarked on the journey of cosplaying after being unexpectedly invited to an anime convention one weekend. An old high school friend reached out to me. My usual weekend routine involved either staying in and watching anime or going to a local bar with my work friends. It was my first time experiencing weeb culture in a large public setting. Read more>>
Cristala Poole Dorsey
I’m a trained dancer of 25+ years. All I’ve set out to do is one, make a statement and presence with my own talents and gifts, and two, use those talents and gifts to reach beyond the stage and create a platform for others to thrive that look like me. Pay it forward. Read more>>
Kenya Anais
During a collegiate winter break, my brother, uncle, best friend, and I found ourselves in a room discussing how to maximize and leverage our creativity. Each of us was actively creating – whether through music or art – and we knew the traditional corporate path wasn’t our default. In 2012, we officially came together under the name The People Party. Read more>>
Viyakool Acevedo
Two reasons why I decided to launch my wedding planning and coordination business; 1st reason: Our eldest and only daughter became engaged in September 2025. While planning her wedding, I had a ‘lightbulb moment’. Something in my brain, just clicked. I want to be wedding planner. Throughout my professional life, I never felt any passion or excitement. Read more>>
Chenxi Zhuxi
Although we know each other about ten years ago, our duo officially began three years ago during a performance at Google. We collaborated on a piece featuring the erhu and pipa, and it was a great success, receiving a very warm response from the audience. After that, we created many videos together, and it naturally became a tradition to release a new work each year. Read more>>
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>>
