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.
Dr Earnestine Hunt
Our strategy is to hold teas to match women. Some wonderful success stories have followed. I met my very first Soul Sister at her garage sale, which is a story within itself. But our story has expanded to over 23 years. She became my first ministry partner for Soul Sisters. We later changed the name to Soul Sister’s International. Together, we have traveled through many journeys, Read more>>
Tawauna Stafford
As a child, my fairytale story was to just be a mom and wife. I never really thought about having a career. While others shared their desires to become lawyers, teachers, business owners and etc; mine was set on being a great wife and mother of 10. I grew up in a home with my grandmother, uncle, mom, and siblings. I became a mother at the age of 17. After birthing two children I eventually married my childhood sweetheart. It seemed my fairytale life was coming true. I received devastating news from my doctor that I would not be able to successfully birth anymore children. Read more>>
Sam Sikes
At 14 and 15 years old, after working landscaping jobs and a local farm in Byhalia, MS, I decided it was time to invest in the thing I loved most. I bought my first camera. Every spare second I had was spent photographing, filming, and learning to edit. I wanted to tell stories that moved people. Read more>>
Nicole Moore
Since then, I’ve had the honor of planning weddings and events across Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, and what keeps me inspired is knowing that no two celebrations or couples are the same. My business has grown through word-of-mouth, relationship building, and a commitment to being an advocate for my clients from our first conversation through the last dance. Today, I see myself not just as a wedding and event planner but as a partner in helping people tell their story in a way that feels authentic to them. Read more>>
A.C. Bullard
I grew up in a family that documented everything – and I mean everything, from weddings and funerals to birthdays, even random Tuesdays. I think something about that constant picture-taking stuck with me from a young age, and I was always trying to get my hands on a camera. I was in an environment that truly believed every moment was “picture worthy,” and that taught me a lot about the act of documenting, and not just as an act of remembering but as an act of preservation. It showed me the power in having physical records of your origins, of where we come from, who we come from, how we love, and how we exist. Read more>>
Jerome Ewing
, Bobby Brown, Boyz LL Men , Guy , and New Edition to name a few , my career had took off, I was in the right place at the right time, from homeless to the top of the mountain in two years, than in 1991 I got married, had a son in 1993 , that had to be the peak of my life , before I left Atlanta and moved back to Memphis, I was giving my biggest gift, hired by Jermaine Dupri for his 4 day birthday celebration in 1999, as head photographer, I had to cover a lot of ground by myself, but what a historic event, here are some of the stars that was there, Jay Z , P Diddy, Ice Cube, Usher , Lisa Raye , Da Brat , TLC , Nelly , T. I. Alicia keys and so many more. Read more>>
Whitney Cates
As a military spouse, my journey came with constant change. Each new duty station meant uprooting my life and starting from scratch—rebuilding a clientele, adapting to different communities, and learning how to grow no matter where I was planted. It wasn’t easy, but it shaped me. Every challenge taught me resilience. Every new client taught me something different. And over time, I didn’t just become a better stylist—I became a mentor, a leader, and someone who knows how to build connection and trust wherever I go. Read more>>
Courtney Kelly
Sonder, co-owned by Courtney Kelly and Brittney Hart since 2021, was born from a post-lockdown vision in 2020 to create a supportive, affordable space for creatives and small business owners. During that uncertain time, we imagined a place where entrepreneurs could grow their businesses without the burden of full-scale leases. When we found the space beneath the Citizen apartments, we knew it was the perfect fit for our mission to empower others to thrive independently. Read more>>
Molly And Sharita Weddle And Cole
We started doing party setups for family, for over 2 years now. Mo was hesitant and was wanting to it just as she had done it. But we all have that wild card friend that pushes you out of the box and Ri did just that! Last year we made it official by obtaining our business license and owning what we do. Creating creations for events and seeing the wow factor on the faces of those we served, was and is all the push we needed to make Mo and Ri Creations a reality. Read more>>
Alexis Cole
As beauty queen, she placed in the Top 15 and won Most Photogenic in the Miss Tennessee USA Pageant brought to you by the Miss Universe Organization in October 2017. Alexis is also the reigning Miss Black Tennessee USA 2019. As the reigning state title holder, she received The Community Ambassador Award and placed 3rd Runner Up in the National Miss Black USA Pageant Competition. She also won the title of Elite Miss Tennessee Earth 2020 and placed 3rd Runner-Up in the Elite Miss Earth USA in 2021. As a business professional, Ms. Cole a Manager of Environmental Services at St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis,TN. She believes that with pray, hard work, and dedication anything is possible Read more>>
Alex Upton
I am a saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and educator that specializes in jazz and contemporary improvisation. I was raised in Lexington, North Carolina in a family of musicians both professional and amateur. I started playing saxophone at the age of 11 and, while I showed early promise in that outlet, I frequently entertained the idea of pursuing other creative vocations such as creative nonfiction, filmmaking, graphic design, etc. I didn’t start to strongly consider music as a professional path until about age 16 or so. By that point, I had enrolled with a private lessons instructor that was jazz specific and had begun to develop my voice as an improvisor. Read more>>
LaTwan Woods
We even had a van with the character on it that we drove around town playing the songs and even got one of them played on a local radio station. I started animating and created cartoons that we sold around town on DVD. We eventually signed a deal with a local network and created a new theme song and music video but the company didn’t last very long. I began freelance work doing animations for a few rap music videos, a pilot for a show called Candy girls, and a few episodes for a show by a radio host called Sin City. As well as some drawings on a few different projects here and there as I continued to make my own stuff. Now I am getting ready to launch a new cartoon and some other projects that I’ve been working on soon. Read more>>
Meaghan
One year later, she built a clientele over 500 and was ready to expand. She opened her first store front location in Southaven, MS (2020) in the middle of a pandemic. She now growing into a full staff and her salon accommodates over 1,500 women and men in the community. Over the years she has inspired millions via her social media platforms, thousands at live speaking events, and hundreds with her one on one coaching calls. Her passion is educating the masses, and she has done so by also offering one on one in person trainings for waxing and eyelash extensions, as well as single and group classes. Read more>>
Joelle Scholl
About a year and a half into it, I realized that consigned gowns were a tougher sale since they had been worn or altered and started looking into business models that sold overstock and discontinued items. Like TJ Maxx or Marshalls. I knew that there had to be overstock of wedding gowns and spent the next year hustling designers, manufacturers and bridal boutiques for their overstock and discontinued gowns which gave us the opp to sell brand new gowns at priced up to 80% off to brides! Read more>>
Celia Newman
I am a former college athlete and I started She Got Game League because I saw the void in women’s sports in the city of Memphis, TN and across other major cities. There was not a space for women to continue to pursue their professional dreams of playing pro in a supportive environment, nor exposure of women’s basketball. The women who participate in our league are moms, wives, and everyday workers who deserve a space to enjoy and excel in sports. I wanted to offer support and resources to help them overcome barriers and achieve success. She Got Game League is my purpose and passion and I truly wanted to give back to our community and be a changemaker in women’s sports and inspire young girls and women everywhere. Read more>>
Max Ward
For nearly 2 decades, I was co-owner and CEO of an animation and interactive company (The Danse) that primarily serves medical device companies. Our clients came to us for help developing really cool cutting edge visuals (3D animation, virtual reality programs, augmented reality experiences, etc..). About 4 years ago, I had this burning desire to create a place for people to have a safe 3rd space (outside of traditional churches, schools, and coffee shops) AND to combine excellent fitness coaching with technology to help people achieve their health and fitness goals. Read more>>
Chris Milam
Music has taken me from my hometown of Memphis, to Nashville, to NYC, Memphis again, and touring all across America for fifteen years. I’ve released three albums–Kids These Days (2017), Meanwhile (2020), Orchid South (2024)–and been lucky enough to meet, perform with, and collaborate with some of my heroes. Read more>>
Emily Forman
So naturally I got my degree in interior design! I then interned in Los Angeles under Philip Nimmo, a well known residential designer. Once I moved back to the South I worked at an architecture firm doing commercial design. I longed for residential work so I founded Moda in 2009 where I began doing interior design in my home town of New Albany, MS! In 2023 my business partner, Tabatha Coker, and I opened our second location in Southaven to be closer to our growing Memphis clientele. Read more>>
Alana Dent
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—but every challenge along the way helped shape the woman and titleholder I am today. I’ve been told multiple times that if I just covered my tattoos—especially my full arm sleeve—I’d have a better chance at winning. I don’t look like the “typical” pageant queen, and for a while, I questioned if I even belonged. But that changed when my mom, the Miss Memphis Organization, and some incredibly supportive women in the Miss Tennessee and Miss America family told me the exact opposite: “Keep your tattoos. Keep your curly hair. Keep being you.” Read more>>
Timia Washington
It wasn’t until high school that I realized I could turn this passion into something more. I started doing makeup for prom and creating YouTube videos, and that’s when my family encouraged me to take it seriously. From that point on, I knew I had found something I was truly passionate about—and I’ve stuck with it ever since. Read more>>
Michael BROWN
I’m not originally from Memphis but from a small town in Arkansas on the river about an hour and a half away. I was raised by my grandmother who brought us shopping and visiting relatives in Memphis. At around 12 years old two callings entered my heart. One was a call to the ministry and the other was the call to be a police officer. The call to the ministry came through dreams and visions but the call to law enforcement came when I saw for the first time an Arkansas State Trooper in uniform. Something said to me, that is what you will be someday. Both calls were strong, but I ran from one and ran to the other. Read more>>
Rage Harajuku
My father was a drummer in a band so I was exposed to the music scene pretty early. He would even sneak me into clubs with him for his gigs, while my mother and granny were apart of the music/club scene. My parents and grandmother listened to nearly all genres and that inspired me from a young age. I was also a Tomboy with influences from cartoons, wrestling, anime, music etc. Along with that, my trials and tribulations along this molded me into the person I am today. Without the character development from pain and life itself i wouldn’t be as passionate about music, I wouldn’t be Rage. Read more>>
Child King
I would waiver between taking it seriously and not while going to school, working, etc. but it never left the picture. I started teaching myself audio production, learned a bit about theory, songwriting, how to harness my voice, etc. I experimented with all kinds of different sounds and genres. I have just had this long love affair with music and it brings me so much joy. Even if no one hears my songs, I will still make them. Read more>>
Melissa Meadows
After being an “okay” runner for 15ish years, I found yoga. I thought this new discipline would save my knees and keep me in shape, but I found myself staying for the mental benefits. In late 2016, my friend dragged me into a heated power flow class at Hot Yoga Plus. I fell in LOVE..hard..and the rest is history. Nearly nine years later, over 500 hours of teacher training, and over three thousand classes taught, I have gained the best circle of friends, teachers, and yogis. The Memphis Yoga Community rocks! I feel so fortunate to be teaching the connection between mind, body, and spirit through the practice of yoga. Read more>>
