The heart of our mission at VoyageHouston is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our city. In the recent weeks we’ve had the privilege to connect with some of the Houston’s finest artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with our city’s incredibly deep talent pool. Check out rising stars from Katy and surrounding areas below.
Rana Hodges
Hello, my name is Rana, and I’m 25 years old; I am a Navy veteran who proudly served for six years. Coming from Virginia Beach, VA, my journey into entrepreneurship has been an unexpected yet rewarding one. From a young age, I’ve been captivated by all things about beauty and fashion industry, from skincare to brows to hair. What began as a mere side hustle doing brows on a ship has blossomed into a legitimate business. Read More>>
Lunara
Lunara, an Alternative Rock band from Houston, TX, emerged from the local music scene in May 2023. Forged from a diverse musical background, including metal, rock, nu-metal, alternative country, and classical, comes a unique audio experience that appeals to any fan of music. Kat, a classically trained vocalist who traded in opera for a hard-hitting, powerful, soulful, and consistent vocal performance, is the former lead vocalist of band Para Bellum, who was featured on local Houston radio station 94.5 Read More>>
Kristina Lyann
My story is one many people know all too well because it is also their story. It’s a story of a lifetime of betrayal, confusion, and pain caused by the people who were supposed to love me the most but couldn’t. Luckily, this is not where it ended for me. I was able to find the strength and courage I needed and gain the knowledge and wherewithal necessary to dig myself out of the pit and claw my way to the freedom and peace I deserved all along. Read More>>
DaleLynn Settle
In January 2014, my life took a devastating turn when my 34-year-old sister tragically passed away from an aortic dissection. At the time, I was 302 pounds, unaware of how I had reached that point amidst life’s challenges. Losing Nikki was unimaginable, and for eight weeks, we grappled with the shock of her sudden departure. It wasn’t until the medical examiner’s call revealed that her high blood pressure had caused her aortic rupture, leading to her demise within seconds, that the reality truly sank in. Read More>>
Norma Ramirez
I’ve been in the hair industry since 2007 and have worked for my fair share for well-known corporations. Mostly in management, I’ve been promised many things by many companies and never could make ends meet. Being a single mom to 2 children, I always push my hardest to excel in everything I do. Read More>>
Mothers of Held Angels
Three moms, Brittany Kemp, Anna Noto, and Hollyn Keith, came together in fellowship to support one another through the loss of their babies, Eden Grace, Lillian Belle, and James ‘Carter.’ In sharing their babies’ stories, they realized that there was an obvious need for a special kind of bereavement care, one starting from the moment a woman finds out that she has lost her baby. Read More>>
Vanessa Ta
Ever since I was young, I loved to paint and do little designs on my nails. I have always wanted to be in the beauty industry because I love to make people feel beautiful. One day, while I was practicing doing my own nails in my backyard, my aunt came over and saw how well I was doing. Read More>>
Ira Giri
In 2001, after relocating to the United States from India, life took an unexpected turn for me. With a background in environmental sciences and a diploma from the National Institute of Information and Technology, I envisioned a career path that would blend my academic expertise with my innate creativity. However, the responsibilities of motherhood beckoned, putting my professional aspirations on hold. Read More>>
Cameron Merrill
My creative journey started as a child, sometime before my memory developed. I grew up tracing my father’s sketches and doing my own. My whole life has been spent refining my drawing skills completely on my own. After all that time, I am going to be a part of Insomnia Gallery’s “Punk Garage Sale,” vending art prints, original drawings, and stickers on April 21, 2024. It will be my first time vending my artwork in a market. Read More>>
Yamilee Jeanty
So, I (Yamilee) have been bartending for about 16 years now. I always did it part-time while in school and always as a side hustle! It was always a great way to make extra income. From small bars and private events, I learned a lot about the hospitality industry. Let’s fast forward to March 2020. Covid hit, everything shut down, and my now fiancé Terrell and I were both working from home. Of course, Covid was a difficult time for everyone to get used to. From when we met in 2019, we both had a love for tequila. Read More>>
J. Barrett
I am the author of the fantasy fiction series The Keepers of Imbria. I have always loved both reading and writing and when I was young, I was one of those awkward kids with big glasses whose nose was always stuck in a book. Life was not always easy for us. I grew up in a house where I was often afraid, and I used books to hide from the world and escape what was happening around me. Read More>>
Elizabeth Westbrook
I received my bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Kansas in 2010. After graduation, I worked in a PRTF (psychiatric residential treatment facility) until I gave birth to my oldest daughter. I found motherhood to be challenging early on after relocating away from family, so I devoted myself to raising my oldest three children for about 10 years. Read More>>
Khadijat Alabi
My name is Khadijat Alabi. I began my journey by earning a degree in Accounting (BSc.) with a Human Resources Management program MBA from Williams Paterson University of New Jersey. As an advocate for community healthcare development, I authored a journal article emphasizing the critical role of Strategic Human Resources Practices in Business Generation and Sustainability. Read More>>
