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IF YOU DREAM IT, YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT. NATURAL HAIRSTYLIST, SALEM BERHANE IS ALL ABOUT GOING AFTER WHAT YOU'RE MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT READ ABOUT OUR FEATURED WONDER WOMAN ON PG 14
SINGER AND SONGWRITING MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DUO HEIDI RICHARDS AND JOSIE ELYSIA BOTH HAVE EXPRESSED THAT MUSIC CONNECTS THEM TO WHO THEY ARE READ MORE ABOUT THEIR MUSIC JOURNEY TOGETHER PG 36
FOR REALTOR AND SALES REPRESENTATIVE, KORY BRUCE, HIM AND HIS BUSINESS PARTNER, ARE BOTH DEDICATED TO DRIVING AWARENESS TO THE HOME OWNERSHIP AND SELLING PROCESS,
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Check out her website: http://bozenazag.com/bio/
For Fitness and International Fashion Model, Bozena Mailloux, her advice for anyone interested in getting involved in the model industry is to keep pushing and trying, especially if it’s what you want for yourself.
After starting her fitness career at the age of 18, Mailloux got her start in the industry when she started working as a Sales and Personal Trainer for a women’s fitness club for a few years.
“I love the fitness industry. And I love getting clients to where they need to be. Training them and guiding them with nutrition was so motivating to me. Made them so happy,” she shares. “Working is a huge passion for me. I always feel better when I’m done and seeing my results.”
Ever since she was a child, Mailloux loved being on the runway and even started taking modeling classes and courses. “So 20 years later I was going through a separation and had a friend who was a photographer and said, “I think I should shoot you and you should go on a modeling website” so I did,” she explains. And baby steps since then, as I slowly got into it on my own at a late age.”
Being featured in many magazines like Viva Glam, In Style, Alegria, Off Town, Vigour, INSC, Pump, Malvie, Socks and Pizza, Maxi, Fuse, Volant, Luxia, and QP Magazine, Mailloux works as an international fashion model but also works as a Sales Consultant for Rafih Auto Group.
“Because I’m European, I am able to travel all around the world and that’s what I decided to do,” she says. “I tried out lingerie modeling and it’s something I ended up loving. I was nervous for the first few shots but then I got very comfortable in front of the camera quickly. I love classy and tasteful lingerie but sexy at the same time.”
Describing herself as humble, down to earth, and always there for someone, Mailloux shares that what empowers her daily is the love she has for what she is doing.
“And my kids of course. Showing my kids that whatever there is you crave for, to do it in your own life and follow your passion and dreams,” she states. “I started my career at such a late age, so showing them that you can at this age while juggling family at the same time and hurdles, this empowers me.”
Just like anyone else, I have been through my fair share of trauma and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. I have learned to cope. I have learned to shove things down- painful memories, sad memories, scary memories, my own shortcomings, in order to survive. We have all learned to cope in our own ways.
For the longest time, I put off going to therapy. The excuses were endless.
“I don’t need therapy, I just have small issues, not big ones.”
“Therapy is for people who are really truly suffering from something traumatic.”
“Therapy is only for people with mental disorders or illnesses.”
Years and years of telling myself that I didn’t need therapy and I always had a reason, but the biggest reason was because I wasn’t ready to face my pain yet. Over years of practice, I have conditioned myself not to feel emotional pain or negative feelings. I have gotten very good at not getting hurt. But the longer I went without getting help for myself the worse it got.
I used to think therapy or counseling was only for people with mental illnesses, traumatic events happening in life, or some sort of addiction. But the truth is, therapy is for us all.
Therapy is for the person seeking to become more selfaware, emotionally healthy, and quit coping their way through life. Honestly, therapy is pretty damn cool.
“Therapy is not for weak people.”
“Therapy is for those who want to live in their strength and true potential.”
“Therapy is not for broken people.”
“Therapy is for those who want to live healed and whole.”
“Therapy is for sick people.”
“Therapy is for people who value their health and want to see change.”
Truthfully, therapy is there to help you learn a better way to cope and to move forward some of the things that are holding you back. It truly is for everyone. It is for humans. Normal people, if there is such a thing. The playing field is level. And we all have hurt. We all have needs. No one is exempt from pain on their journey. So, don’t walk it alone. Why not just give therapy a try?
Website:
https://www.boltsafety.org/
Through her role as Co-Founder and the Operations Director of BOLT Safety Society, Shreyanshi Vala is dedicated to educating her community about the increased stigma surrounding personal safety and wants to change the status quo.
As one of the co-founders, Vala and her team work to create safer communities to end abuse, violence, and harassment, with their overall end goal to live in a world with zero violence.
“In 2021, 81,000 women and girls were killed, this means that every 11 minutes, 1 woman or girl was killed.
Personal safety is an issue that affects everyone, whether directly or not. It is a fundamental right that is compromised every single day,” she explains. “If even one person is unsafe, that should be reason enough to act. The team at BOLT Safety Society sincerely believes in this cause, and finds it crucial to collectively work on a solution.”
Their team started working in Vancouver, British Columbia and since then, has expanded their programming nationally with their Safe Buddies program.
“The Safe Buddies program, The Hub (a database of resources), and our most recent program, Project LyghtNyng, went international and is presented to girls and women in Rajasthan, India, in collaboration with the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation,” she says.
“Furthermore, we are grateful to have received support from media organizations, partners, and advisors, who all continue to contribute to our common vision.” When asked what empowers her daily, Vala shares her personal goals and BOLT Safety’s vision.
“My personal goals, BOLT Safety’s vision, and community all inspire and motivate me to strive for the best. I’m truly grateful for all of the support from friends, family, partners, and many more!”
A lot of people have creativity inside of them. Whether through writing, painting, drawing, or music, most of us have a creative outlet to express ourselves and unwind. Being creative can help relieve stress, improve our moods, and boost our self-esteem.
However, many people think they are not creative because they don’t consider themselves “artistic.” On the contrary, it is about using our imaginations to develop new ideas and ways of doing things. We can be creative in everything we do, from decorating our homes to parenting our children. Pursuing our creativity can also help us connect with others with similar interests.
Pursuing our creativity can also help us to express ourselves in new and unique ways. It can be a fun and rewarding experience to explore our creative side.
However, many people never pursue their creativity because they fear failure. They think that if they can’t do something perfectly, they shouldn’t bother trying at all. But the truth is failure is a part of the creative process. If we never try new things or take risks, we will never be able to create anything new or exciting. So when it comes to becoming more creative in your everyday life, you need to be open to failure and be willing to experiment.
Another reason why people might not pursue their creativity is because they are afraid of what others will think. They might worry that their friends and family will not approve or believe it’s something they will never make enough money at.
Some people make money by pursuing a creative career, but we shouldn’t look at creativity as only a way to make money. Instead, we should look at creativity as a way to express our true selves and have fun.
If you are creative, your creative energy should flow out of you to decompress after a stressful day and be part of your self-care routine. Allow yourself to daydream. Allow yourself to paint and doodle on a piece of paper. Don’t hold back, and have fun with it.
Even if you don’t work in a creative field, you can still incorporate some creative decision-making into your everyday life by brainstorming or thinking up new ideas or solutions to your everyday problems at work.
Creativity is not something you are born with; it is something you can develop. So if you want to be more creative, it is essential to give yourself time and space to explore new ideas.
For Registered Nurse and Private Label Designer, Angela Henry, she feels blessed that she has found her calling in life to make a difference, and that difference is to improve the lives of others.
For 25 years, Henry has been in the nursing field serving her community and helping others. Following a career change from working in the fashion industry in Toronto for eight years, Henry enjoyed working in private label design. However, the industry was changing as more domestic production moved overseas.
While facing a layoff from her previous job, she knew that it was the time to make a career change, since she felt like she needed to feel more relevance and purpose in her life.
“I took advantage of all opportunities in nursing starting out in neurosurgery and trauma. That led to working at Sunnybrook Hospital for seven years upon graduating from George Brown College, in Toronto,” she explains. “I left Toronto needing a life change at 40 years old and worked as a critical care travel nurse in San Diego for a year. I lived a dream being in California with perfect weather, sand and margaritas. I think it’s amazing to watch someone start their day surfing then going to work.”
Sharing that her career has brought her great joy to see success in healing and improvements to an individual quality of life, at the same time, she has also seen great tragedy and death that makes you reevaluate life and its purpose.
When asked what empowers her daily, Henry shares that her faith in God, her mother and practicing what she preaches are just a few of the things that keep her moving forward.
“I power through the disappointments but have to keep focused and moving forward. This life is too short to dwell in negativity, or what drains your energy,” she shares. “Overcome the obstacles by prioritizing and saying to yourself, is it really worth it? Pick your battles and move past them.”
“Keep growing. Keep evolving. Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. Take chances. Things may not always work out the first time but if you believe in yourself, it eventually happens.”
Angela Henry
For CEO and Founder of IncluSVBeauty, Salem Berhane’s vision and passion is to support those who want to learn how to embrace their natural hair with confidence. When she opened her salon in August 2020, Berhane gave the public a one-stop-shop to get all your hair needs, products and services under one roof.
What has been a passion of hers for a long time, she knew she wanted to satisfy her clients’ needs, which enriched her with the desire to help people who might not know how to manage their hair. As she describes the hair on your head as “a crown,” Berhane is all about protecting that crown with love.
“My success in Windsor did not come overnight. Through hard work and dedication, I was able to perfect my craft that met the needs
of the Windsorites I serve and surrounding areas. I have had clients drive from as far as Ottawa and New York to be serviced by me,” she shares. “ Aside from my social media and word of mouth, the uniqueness of my business is that all my clients become walking advertisements.”
But that’s not all that Berhane offers to the community, she is also a huge advocate for change and equality.
Berhane was born in Eritrea in 1983, fled to Sudan with her family at the age of 2 due to a war and came to Canada at the age of 5.
“I moved to Windsor in 2007 to study Psychology and Dramatic arts at the University of Windsor. I wanted to become a child therapist. Through my volunteer work, I gained a love for wanting to assist youth with their future plans,” she says. After moving here, I immediately seeked out for the Eritrean Community of Windsor. I was disappointed to hear that there was not one, but that gave me the opportunity to start one.”
Berhane and a few other members started The Eritrean Canadian Community of Windsor, which is a non-political, non-religious organization to gather Eritreans in many avenues.
“Amongst many objectives that we had, my focus was on assisting the youth with direction and opportunity to brighten their future.
Photographed at:
In 2019, 2 phenomenal women and I co-founded an organization called Family Fuse,” she explains. “We offer support in the education system for Black Canadian parents, guardians and caregivers across Windsor and Essex County.”
“If you can dream it you can achieve it. You have to believe that whatever you want to pursue is the best thing that is out there. You need to be able to convince people why your product or service is like no other.”
Describing herself as phenomenal, determined and adventurous, Berhane’s advice to anyone that has a dream is it’s better to try and fail than to not try at all.
To learn more about IncluSV Beauty, check out their website: www.inclusvbeauty.com
There’s been a debate surrounding transgender athletes recently due to Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, winning this year’s NCAA women’s swimming championship.
Lia Thomas won the “Ivy 2022 Champion” in swimming - celebrating victory in the 500-yard freestyle and the 200yard freestyle.
Lia’s participation and eventual win sparked controversy and criticism about whether it’s “fair” for someone assigned male at birth with a male muscle structure to participate in a swimming category with female-born swimmers.
She currently ranks #44 among US female swimmers and #31 among female college swimmers, which means there are still female swimmers with a faster time than Lia, despite the “advantages” she’s being criticized for having.
Lia has built her skills as a swimmer for years as she’s been an avid swimmer since age 5, training and setting new records for herself. Unfortunately, her skills and accomplishments as a swimmer have been eclipsed by discussions of her gender.
It’s because of that reason why Lia kept her identity a secret because she didn’t want to risk losing her swimming career.
CNN reported that she started hormone replacement therapy in May 2019 and came out as trans that fall, yet she still had to compete on the men’s team. She said it was awkward and uncomfortable, and her speed suffered as her muscles weakened from hormone therapy.
As a result, her times were even slower than they were after she transitioned, which is what many trans athletes go through. It’s not uncommon for trans women to find a slight decrease in performance overall because of hormone therapy.
The NCAA requires that transgender athletes have one year of hormone replacement therapy to be cleared to participate, which Lia did.
There’s already a stigma against the trans community, and trans people already have a hard time finding safe spaces. Trans people enjoy sports just as much as cisgender people. Should they be taken out of sports because of how they identify?
Regarding athletes, they only have a short window to participate in their sport. Many athletes retire before they turn 40 to avoid permanent physical injuries.
For example, fellow swimmer Michael Phelps retired from competitive swimming at the age of 31. It’s also not uncommon for professional football players and hockey players to quit before they hit their mid 30’s.
As of May 2022, 18 US states have banned or limited the participation of trans athletes in schools.
With this short window for an athlete’s career, these sports bans stop their athletic career before it begins and holds them back from playing the sports they love.
With these changing times, discussions need to take place between trans individuals and sport organizers to discuss these concerns and to better understand what would make for a fair competition.
More conversations and research will equal better policies.
If an athlete, whether trans or not, has the skills and is ready to rise to the occasion, they should be able to participate.
To even the playing field, men’s and women’s sports have always been kept separate, but there are examples of women beating men when challenged based on having superior skills.
For example, Billie Jean King famously beat Bobby Riggs in a 1973 match dubbed “The Battle of the Sexes.”
And in 2006, Michaela Hutchison made history by winning the 103-pound title at the 2006 state wrestling championships to become the nation’s first girl to win a state high school championship against boys.
Lia Thomas and other transgender women like her should be allowed to swim equally with the gender they identify. Believing her muscle mass to be the problem because she got it before transitioning and not “naturally” from her assigned birth sex does not automatically make her a better swimmer.
Scientifically, there is not an unfair advantage to transgender women, and the argument of “fairness” forgets the mental anguish of not being affirmed.
Let transgender women play sports and be on the team that matches their gender identity.
For one of the co-founders of the community organization, Beauty is Me, Princess Small is dedicated to encouraging young Black and Biracial children to embrace their natural hair and beauty.
Feeling that there was a need in the Windsor-Essex community to support both parents and their Black and Biracial children in regard to their hair, Small joined Beauty is Me, where she is able to interact directly with Black and Biracial children and see the impact on their confidence when they are told how beautiful their natural hair is.
“Within every culture, hair is linked to beauty. Black hair historically has been considered ugly, unkempt, bad hair, etc.” shares Small.
“Many times, these negativities are expressed to children in their homes, through the media and at schools. This affects their self-esteem and confidence in themselves that leaves them not feeling pretty.”
Using their workshops as a tool to reinforce young girls of their natural beauty and self-image, Small says she understands that how we perceive ourselves is an ongoing process which is guided by both internal and external factors.
“I want to be that positive external factor that helps to change how Black and Biracial children see themselves. I want to be that ray of hope that demonstrates and says that you are perfectly you when every other thing is saying that you need to alter yourself in some way in order to fit in,” Small says. “I want Black and Biracial kids to understand their journeys are theirs and they should feel comfortable in their own person when pursuing whichever route.”
Describing herself as determined, innovative and stubborn, when asked what her advice is to any young girl who is not feeling her most confident, she shares…
To learn more about Beauty is Me, check out their website below or follow them on their social media platforms!
www.beautyisme.ca
Facebook:www.facebook.com/beautyisme.ca
Instagram: www.instagram.com/beautyisme.ca
“Inner peace can only come when you realize that you only have 1 life to live. That life can only be affected by your decisions so you can choose to love yourself.”
Capturing a moment is important, which is why passionate photographers are essential to capturing those moments. Fashion and Beauty United recently got a chance to sit down and talk to Freelance Photographer Carl Harris from CJHarris Photography to discuss everything from his passion for photography, his creative process and the personal fulfillment he gets when he takes a perfect picture.
Tell us about your love for photography. What made you fall in love with it?
“Honestly, I fell in love with it by accident. I wanted to be an animator, so I was taking graphic design classes in high school, and they happened to have photography as part of the curriculum, and that’s when I first got a hint that I was good at it...so I started to pick it up on the side as a hobby. Then I wanted to be a poet, so I took the Journalism program in college to try and pick up the writing habit, and that course also happened to have the photography program. Through that class, I was able to understand how much I actually loved photography. It gave me a sense of fulfillment that I had never felt before; it felt like something I was meant to be doing and it kind of just snowballed from there.”
What is your main goal when it comes to digital photography? Do you have an outcome for your clients?
even though I didn’t know what I wanted to do for the longest time, I knew that whatever I did, I just wanted it to make people smile. Seeing the joy on people’s faces when I shoot with them, either when I show them a preview or get them the final product, brings me the fulfillment I’ve always wanted to have in a career.”
Do you have any short and long-term goals?
“Short-term, I definitely want to put myself and my business out a lot more. I have major self-confidence issues, so I want to work towards getting over them and push myself to show confidence in my abilities and my work. Long-term, I want my business to grow to the point where I am able to rely on it as a career.”
What services do you offer for your photography for anyone looking for a photographer for their event?
I offer photoshoots for just about any situation; I’ll shoot just about anything. Weddings, couples, single portraits, models, cars, maternity, product, real estate, landscape/scenery, just about anything you can think of. I’m just down to learn new photographic styles and love the experience of shooting new things.
You can visit CJHarris Photography on his website
“My goal with digital photography is just to make people happy with the outcome. That’s always been my goal. Ever since I began thinking about what I wanted to do with my life,
cjharrisphotography.ca, And you can follow him on Instagram
@cjharrisphotography
www.facebook.com/ineedtheorganizer
ineedtheorganizer@outlook.com
For Mandy Beemer, owner of local business, The Organizer, she is not only the queen of organization but also focuses on mindset, habit building, and improving her clients’ skills.
When she started her business in September of last year, after months of living through the pandemic and being told who was and wasn’t essential, Beemer was considered an essential worker while working her job as a local industrial parts distributor.
“To me, this was crazy because the only people I was actually essential to were the shareholders of the corporation I worked for,” she shares.
“I wanted to redefine “essential” in my mind and transform my career into something that I find to be essential, which is to focus on wellness, bringing serenity and peace of mind to others that are struggling in ways that I used to. I want to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Offering various services for her community, her most popular services are her two transformation packages.
“I offer a six-week package and a ten-week package. My transformation packages not only focus on a handful of key spaces in the home and their physical state, but they also include some coaching, habit-building exercises and mindset shift work to ensure that my clients have the skills and mental clarity needed to ensure long-term results,” she explains.
“Sure, I can organize pretty much any space, but the mindset shifts, setting boundaries, expectations, and habits, that’s where the lasting change happens. I do offer one-time jobs, with half-day or full-day options.”
Before starting her own business, Beemer had several random jobs while still learning who she was and what she enjoyed.
“From McDonald’s to retail, being a disc jockey to being a housekeeper, I learned the ins and outs of several entry-level positions in many different industries. I graduated from Human Resource Management in 2011 and have been working in the industrial/construction supply industry for the past ten years,” she says.
“I started in this industry after graduation as a delivery driver, working my way through the sales and operations positions in a couple of different companies before starting The Organizer.
I am currently still working in distribution part-time for a company located in Oldcastle while building my organizing business on the side. Because of this experience, I have developed a skill set that will help me with the business management side of being an entrepreneur. Add that to my passion for organizing and creating spaces full of structure and serenity, and here we are!”
Describing herself as driven, passionate, and enthusiastic, Beemer shares what empowers her daily: her son, her family, and their future.
For Head Trainer and Owner of She’s Hercules Women’s Wellness Center, Sarah Paquet, she believes that physical fitness is important, but so much more goes into physical fitness than people realize.
After starting her business in 2019 in a one-car garage, Paquet started slowly by training friends and family, and then it grew into women who could not afford big box gym training but still needed the help.
“While working at a big box gym, only those who could afford help would receive help,” she explains. “I could not proceed with training or a boot camp unless they could afford the personal or group packages. I wanted to help all women in need of physical fitness.”
Located on 125 Wyandotte Street West in Downtown Windsor, Paquet’s gym offers many services, including personal training, partner training, boot camps and classes such as boxing, HIIT, Zumba, morning madness, and ‘Butts and Guts’.
“I believe physical fitness is important but so much more goes into physical fitness without realizing it,” she shares. “When you feel good, you will look good too! There are so many people that base their happiness off an appearance. When you take time to care for your mind and body, you become a better version of yourself without even realizing it.”
Describing herself as resourceful, motivational, and a hard worker, Paquet works alongside a group of incredible women, including Personal Trainer Sara Mauldin, Office Manager Shelby Marshal, and Instructor and Champion Deneige Chaffey.
“I get to get up every day and make a difference. I want to make a positive one,” she says. “I stay motivated because everyone needs someone to be their cheerleader to be in their corner. I am that someone, and so are my staff.”
Paquet’s advice to anyone looking into getting into fitness is to talk to people in the business.
“Everyone started somewhere and probably didn’t know as much as they do now. Don’t be shy to put yourself out there.”
For 25-year-old Artist, Audio Engineer and Producer, Brett Blake, what inspires him to continue down his journey of music is the inspiration he gets from other artists that he aspires to be like one day.
At the age of eight, Blake became indulged with music after staying home sick from school one day with his brother.
“My brother showed me a concert video of The Blue Man Group and I saw them making these really cool sounds on tubes, and other various objects and that kind of expanded what I originally thought music was,” shares Blake. “Then I got a bit older and heard the song Around The World by Daft Punk and realized that you don’t just have to bang and strum on objects, but you could also make a new song by tweaking around tonal properties on synthesizers and make music through electronics. The weirder the process, the better the music.”
“One thing I heard a lot growing up was “The worst someone can say to you is ‘no’.” but when you have ADHD, that “no” can be crippling.”
After being involved with music for some time, Blake is currently working on the idea to create the platform, S|H|A|P|E Entertainment. where artists can put out all their work, no matter what their medium is and get paid for their work.
“I use Ableton Live which is such a good tool to just put ideas down but a lot of them go unfinished and go into an idea graveyard called my hard drive. There’s really no rhyme or reason, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” Blake explains. “But the thing about making music is that you have to chase it. There’s no sitting down and waiting for that inspiration to come to you in a dream.”
Sharing that he has ADHD, it can make it hard for him to really think in a typical way, which makes it either really easy to come up with ideas or really hard for him.
“Sometimes thinking of the ideas is easy and trying to articulate them is the hard part. And then there’s an ADHD term called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, and that causes a lot of anxiety to actually putting yourself out there,” he explains. “
Describing himself as hilarious, awesome and humble, Blake shares nothing really empowers him or keeps him motivated, because it’s all about the kind of work you gotta put in yourself.
“Sometimes life hits you hard and you get rocked and you gotta take a rest and take a step back from what you do, but rest and recreation is a part of the grind and loving what you do is also a huge motivator,” Blake says.
To learn more about S|H|A|P|E Entertainment and to listen to some of Brett’s creations, click the links below:
https://bit.ly/3DS2b2G
For Realtor and Sales Representative, Kory Bruce, him and his business partner, are both dedicated to driving awareness to the home ownership and selling process to inspire change in the Real Estate industry.
Being in sales for the majority of his adult life, Bruce felt it was time to jump into something bigger than what he was currently doing.
“I’ve always been passionate about making a difference in people’s lives, so I figured, why not help people with the biggest purchase of their life?” says Bruce. “I started my Real Estate career roughly two years ago, as a part-time agent. In April of this year, I decided to devote all my time to Real Estate and made the transition to fulltime.”
After joining the Unreal Estate Team roughly six months ago, with like-minded Realtor and Broker, Kim Zdunich, he knew he wanted to be a part of the journey to become an advocate of change with the knowledge and understanding that when it comes to purchasing or selling a home, every individual should have the tools available to them to make their own informed decisions, and Bruce strives to provide as much of that information as possible.
“Housing is a human right and should be treated as such. I think we far too often look at it as an investment instead of a basic human necessity. First-time home buyers and millennials are especially feeling that burden,” shares Bruce. “The dream of owning a home has been placed just out of reach for most. For previous generations, a full-time job on a single income was enough to make this dream a reality, but the same cannot be said for the current younger generations. I want to see the day that my little sister can afford a home of her own. I want her to have the same opportunity that I had. Once we understand the systemic issues underlying housing affordability, we can then move to overcome them.”
Describing himself as empathetic, passionate and caring shares that it’s important for him to make a difference in the ever changing world we live in.
“I don’t want to go through life just living in the motions. I want to be able to look back and realize that I truly made a difference in people’s lives,” shares Bruce.
“I’m a firm believer that money doesn’t buy happiness, but it does buy security. The security to own a home, raise a family, go on vacation, and not have to worry about having enough money to pay for groceries.
If I can help someone out of that situation, I can go to sleep with a smile on my face, and that’s what truly motivates me. “
www.vrsuccesspath.com
VR Studios: https://bit.ly/3jju10k
Victoria Rubio Success Educator: www.facebook.com/successpathcoach
Owner and Operator of VR Success ServicesCareer & Business Advancement, VR Studios and Success and Leadership Educator, Victoria Rubio, believes that every day is an opportunity to be who we truly desire.
Born in El Salvador, Central America, Rubio’s family was forced to leave there when she was 3 years old due to the dangers following the war.
“My dad left first to set up a home for us in Mexico, and my mom, younger brother, and I followed a few months later. I was 3 years old. We lived in Mexico for 6 years and then moved to the USA. We lived in Detroit for a few months before making the move to Windsor, Ontario. I was 9 years old when I arrived in Windsor and have been here ever since.”
After coming to Canada, she learned to speak English in about 6 months and quickly became a top student in her classes.
“My dream from early on was to be a child psychologist. I wanted to help children who struggled with issues they couldn’t talk about. I came close to it, becoming a social worker…and although I worked with many children, I also learned that most adults were also hurt children inside because they never healed from past traumas, so they needed lots of extra support as adults,” she explains. “In one way or another, I wanted to help people achieve their highest potential by helping them shine their greatness to the world.”
That is when the idea of starting her business, Victoria Rubio – Success and Leadership Educator, and one year later, VR Success Services - Career & Business Advancement came to life.
“I took all my knowledge, expertise, and passion for helping others and decided to do more than I had ever done before, on my own terms.
“I wanted to prove that I didn’t have to follow someone else’s rules to get ahead and created my own lane to start growing my business,” she shares. “I am thankful every day for deciding to take that path because it has opened more opportunities than I had ever imagined; both for me, and for my clients!” When asked what she would tell other individuals interested in entrepreneurship, Rubio shares…
“Go for it. If it’s in your heart and mind, it’s meant to be. The burning desires within don’t go away when they’re part of your purpose. The reason you keep having that gnawing feeling like something is missing or daydreaming about having your own business is because you are supposed to fulfill it,” she says.” Entrepreneurship is not easy, but it is absolutely worth it. You have to keep going, and keep focused on what you want to accomplish and the reasons you started. There will be many times you may feel like giving up because the path is winding with many unknowns and surprises when you are just getting started, but you have what it takes to get through all of it.”
As a single mother of 7, there is nothing standing in Rubio’s way.
“Time is limited. Every day is an opportunity, and we decide what to do with it. I really cherish the time I have here on Earth,” she says. “I know one day I won’t be here anymore, and I want all the seeds I’m planting and growing today to become great forests for all the generations that come after me to enjoy, appreciate, and build their foundation on.”
Singer and songwriting mother and daughter duo Heidi Richards and Josie Elysia both have expressed that music connects them to who they are. Through their music, they hope to help individuals feel and connect with themselves on a deeper level.
Heidi, during high school, became a member of a competitive Jazz Choir and was immersed in extensive vocal jazz training. While there, she developed a vocal range spanning baritone to mezzo-soprano. Being in this group solidified her passion for singing and ignited her passion for performance. As a result, she competed across Canada and performed at the 18th Annual IAJE Conference held in Washington, DC.
“Music has always been something that we have enjoyed together. It was a way to push boundaries and step outside of our comfort zones,” shares Heidi.
“As singer-songwriters, music has become a medium that has allowed for our expressions of vulnerability in a safe way. Music has become a tool to process our most intimate thoughts and feelings, resulting in the creation of raw, exposed and relatable lyrics.”
Classically trained as both a pianist and a vocalist, Josie prefers to create melodies using her acoustic guitar. Her sound is heavily influenced by the emo/pop-punk scene of the early 2000s.
“A few years ago, my grandfather wanted to learn how to play the guitar. It was something that interested him that he never had time to pursue,” explains Josie. “I had just bought a new guitar, so I gifted my grandpa my first guitar. Unfortunately, his hands were no longer as dexterous as they once were, so he wasn’t able to use it to learn. In the summer of 2021, my grandfather passed on, and that memory has stuck with me.”
As singers and songwriters, music is something both Heidi and Josie see as a way to express their innermost thoughts and feelings.
“We also have very complementary voices, so when we duet, it sounds amazing! Generally, I’ll take the higher soprano parts, and she will do the alto parts because she’s got this crazy Tracy Chapman-esque baritone range,” says Josie.
To listen to both Josie and Heidi’s music, click the links below:
You can follow Josie at @Josie_ely on Instagram, @JosieElysiaMusic on Facebook or Josie Elysia on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp or Reverbnation.
Follow Heidi at: @Heidiofficialmusic on Instagram & Facebook or Heidi Richards on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp and Reverbnation.
For head chef at The Twisted Apron, Charbel Boutros hopes his passion and love for cooking can be tasted in every bite of food he serves.
Boutros, who studied culinary management at St. Clair College, began cooking as a kid, learning traditional Lebanese cuisine from his mom, but lost interest after a while.
“I wanted to go into computer science before landing my first job as a prep cook at Grill-55,” he explains. “I fell in love with the fast-paced, intense kitchen world I was in. Everyone was expecting perfection. I had no idea what I was doing...I remember telling myself, ‘I’m way in over my head’, but there was something about it that just kept me coming back. I realized then that this was what I wanted to do.”
Being the head chef at The Twisted Apron, Boutros states that the position comes with many responsibilities, including kitchen prep and making sure orders are placed and going out perfectly.
“I have a high standard for myself and the restaurant, so it is my job to ensure everything is kept to that standard,” he says. “It’s one thing to know how to cook; it’s a whole other thing to know how to lead a kitchen.”
When discussing his role as head chef, Boutros mentioned that he’s living out his dream.
“We won the best brunch for the last few years in a row! We’re just celebrating our recent win from Best of Windsor-Essex for best brunch. It’s truly an honour to be a part of this restaurant and lead it forward. This is only the start for Twisted Apron, as I plan on bringing a lot more creativity and fun brunch dishes to the menu!”
Describing himself as passionate, intense, and hungry, Boutros explains that people’s reaction to his food fuels him.
“Have you ever had a meal that, after the first bite, your eyes light up, you can’t even speak, and all you can think of is how delicious this meal is? That is what motivates me,” he says.
Boutros is also available for private catering and meal prep for an interactive experience.
If interested, you can contact Charbel at (226) 246-8179 or find him on Instagram @chefcharbs
“Have you ever had a meal that, after the first bite, your eyes light up, you can’t even speak, and all you can think of is how delicious this meal is? That is what motivates me,” he says.
For Business Owner and Artist of Ozel Bijoux, Jazmine Browning, what makes her business stand out compared to others is that she is aligned with giving people the power, tools, words, and support self-heal and self-love.
After starting her handmade healing jewellery business in January 2021, Browning began making bracelets for herself and her son, who was seven months old.
“All of my jewellery is made with genuine Crystals, Stones and Gems; my process starts there. Finding the most beautiful, genuine beads to work with,” she shares. “I use my experience in makeup (understanding the relationship and scheme of colours, how they complement and blend together) and most importantly, my clientele. The connections I make give me the most inspiration for my jewellery!
Whether it’s their own ideas/visions blended with mine, or customers’ personalities and style help me create the most exclusive healing jewellery!”
Sharing that she uses art to express herself every day, one of her friends inspired her to do art by making her own jewellery.
“What makes my business stand out to others is the amount of time and love put into creating the pieces I made. I could type out each card, but I know people love the feeling of getting a handwritten letter with their jewellery,” she explains. “The thank you and healing properties are all handwritten, and I’m complimented constantly on my penmanship and the card wording. When receiving your order, you can feel that it’s something rare, unique and created with so much love because of the little details in the packing and card.”
Describing herself as loving, enthusiastic and understanding, Browning shares that what empowers her daily is the support she gets from others.
“A message, a like, or a comment tells me I’m doing something you liked, so it empowers me to create,” she says. “My son empowers me. I want him to know his Mom as someone who is creative, kind and successful and motivates him to put himself out there when he discovers his talent.”
