The editorial team has a special attachment to our new series, The Trailblazers: Rewriting the Narrative, because so many of us feel that media portrayals of women have been too one dimensional. Today, women are doing incredible things in all fields – from science and technology to finance, law, business, athletics and more. With the Trailblazers series, we hope to highlight and celebrate female role models, encourage more equal and just representation in the media, and help foster a more tight-knit community locally helping women find mentors, business partners, friends and more.
Below, you’ll find some incredible trailblazers from in and around East Dallas that we hope you will check out, follow and support.
Jamie Simpson
I’ve always been interested in real estate, but my passion was for teaching, so naturally, I became a teacher. After six years as a teacher and two years in administration, though, I realized the K-12 educational environment was not for me. I knew that I could use my teaching background in other ways, I just had to figure out what that looked like. Read more>>
Diane Cozart
I grew up in a stable, two kid, predictable-lifestyle home in the L Streets of Lake Highlands, living in the same house until graduating from Lake Highlands High School in the early 1970s. Predictable, meaning my dad came home at exactly the same time each day from work, followed by dinner, always at 5:30 pm. I always knew what to expect. My sister and I were raised to be cautious, frugal and responsible, and to do our best. Read more>>
Kathleen Frank
A few years back, I was living in Florida, teaching middle school, and working as a professional photographer with a growing business when my life took a bit of a turn. I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, and within a few years, I had to leave both teaching and my photography business behind. Read more>>
Nyssa Kantorek
For as long as I could remember, I’ve wanted to pursue a career in medicine. That ambition drove me through high school and allowed me to work hard enough to enter Vanderbilt University as a Neuroscience major with a Psychology minor. My high school experience was mostly focused on getting into a college that will prepare me properly for medical school, my residency, and eventually my career. Read more>>
Kailee Fodge
About a year ago I was blogging and posting on Instagram with very little direction with my brand. I was actually branded under another name. I wasn’t getting anywhere or gaining any traction. I didn’t feel like I was even posting content that was true to myself. Posting and writing content didn’t feel genuine. Read more>>
Caitlin Doyle
I have moved around a lot in my eighteen years of life. In that time, I have learned the importance of keeping up a lifestyle that you love and surrounding yourself with people who build you up and give off positive vibes. When I moved to Rockwall, Texas, I got introduced to the company Racquet and Jog. Read more>>
Anne Worth
A traumatic childhood and adolescence sent me in search of peace-always longing for someone or something to make me feel worthy. While making many mistakes and wrong turns in my search, I became a psychologist specializing in childhood trauma. Through my own therapy and recovery, I kept getting more and more of a handle on human behavior, relationships and addiction. Read more>>
Molly Tranchin
I never planned on making a living as an “influencer”! But when I went vegan five years ago, I was mostly daunted by what I was going to wear. So, I started an Instagram account and a blog, really to just keep track of the vegan, cruelty-free, eco-friendly, and non-toxic things I would find. I was surprised when people actually started following my account. Read more>>
Alondra Islas
I had always been into doing hair since I was young. I didn’t realize I wanted to actually do this as a career until I was about a Junior in high school. Once I graduate high school back in 2014, I went straight to Beauty School and graduated in 2015. I ended up getting my license until 2016. The moment I received it. Read more>>
Grace Vroom
About five years ago, I woke up in my Boston apartment with nasty hangover, a mountain of shame, and a deep desire to finally cut alcohol out of my life. I had used booze for years as a way to self-medicate through my parents’ divorce, the death of my grandparents, multiple breakups, and ultimately life in general. Read more>>
Gina Avila
I started this love for photography in my sophomore year of Highschool. I had a teacher, “Mrs.Portnoy” who taught us how to use our manual SLR cameras. Nothing was digital those days so we learned how to shoot, develop our own film, and process our images in a dark room. Read More>>
Kelly McElveen
Many years ago, when I was about seven years old. My mom decided to go back to school to become a Licensed Massage Therapist. I watched her help hundreds of people the last two decades. She was so inspiring that I wanted to continue to carry on the legacy of helping people with my hands. Read more>>
