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 Plano’s gems below.
Laurel Uko
Growing up, I enjoyed playing in makeup a lot. There were times when I would play in my mom’s make up, mainly her lipstick because I wanted my lips to look nice and red like hers. Aside from playing in her makeup, I enjoyed braiding every last hair on all the heads of my barbies. By the time I turned 12, I was playing heavily in makeup, thanks to me being on the dance team at my middle school. Read more>>
India Monee
My story starts with my passion for storytelling as a child. Whether it’s writing, being on camera, or being on air, I’ve always been a media maven. I attended the best HBCU in the land, Prairie View A&M University and when I was there, I was able to explore, learn who I am, and what I want to do in the industry. After graduating, I moved to the DMV area with my best friend and I was able to do so much growing there. I explored so much with myself and my career, I think it was the turning point in my life. Read more>>
Tiffany Clarkson
I became well known in the Collin County area for growing women’s hair by using hair extensions. It was great! But I wanted more! I knew that I could increase the hair growth my 50% if the clients had a product to use at home or on the go. It would be a solution to the common concerns and complaints that I would get while the client wore the hair extensions. I needed to make sure it would grow and sustain hair growth on a cellular level. Read more>>
Mayura Kulkarni
In August of 2018, I decided to start a blog page on Instagram to document my journey as a nurse and through nurse practitioner school. I remember being a nursing student back in 2016 and experiencing “mean older nurses” in clinical who would never want to help or serve as a mentor. I knew from those moments that I wanted to be the nurse that students could come to with questions or for advice. Read more>>
Jake Dixon, Sarah Chen and Abbi Muyco
My parents were both in rock bands throughout my childhood, and their stage presence was always a huge inspiration to me. In my freshman year of high-school, Abbi and I started writing songs together, and when Sarah and I became friends, we started to send music recommendations to each other. Our similar tastes were apparent, so I was ecstatic when we decided to form a band together! From that point on, it was a usually slow process of writing. Read more>>
Dana Morales
One of my favorite passions is to find new and exciting things around town. I always keep a list for my husband and I regarding what new restaurants we should explore in the future. Even if we missed an event due to no knowledge of it, I write it down and say next year we are going to attend. Chanel Connect happened without me recognizing it was turning into a business. It started with me finding a few local events and inviting friends. Read more>>
Stacy Hilliard
My business actually started by accident. I had never had a desire to bake or decorate cakes and honestly didn’t even know much about baking. I had a friend who was making a cake and couldn’t figure out how to do zebra print. She was new to fondant and pretty stumped. I told her I could swing by and try to help. I went, we knocked out the cake, posted it on Facebook, and that was how I received my first order. Read more>>
