Winning comes in so many different forms that it’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it. The CanvasRebel community is filled with so many incredible folks who have overcome long odds, challenged the status quo and won. Below, you’ll find stories of these winners along with much of the accumulated wisdom on what it takes to succeed.

Keira Curtis

Not sure where to start because it’s been a long journey to get where I am now, so I’ll start with when I started my business itself. Shortly before I’d started my business, I had been working a the local county jail before this as a correctional officer, but decided it was not for me. My roommates encouraged me to pursue my art since that’s what I had wanted to do to begin with. So, I used the money I had saved to invest in my business. This was both good and bad for a number of reasons, but you live and you learn! Going in, I thought I’d be able to make enough to both support myself, and fund my business, but that was not the case. However, it did give me the time necessary to create the body of work necessary to get started and create a firm foundation. Read more>>

I got started professionally singing just barely 2 years ago. I’ve always been in love with the music but never knew how to make that my career. After a really confusing transition from student-athlete to college dropout to exhausted Vegas dayclub server, I sat down with myself and really looked in the mirror and asked who I was at the core. Not who I was expected to be, not who I thought could make the quickest money, but who was Kendall to the core and why am I masking any of myself? Fast forward through the shadow work and self rediscovery, I am everything all at once. Read more>>

Katie Keridan

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer. I made my first books by stapling paper booklets together and writing about the animals on the ranch where I grew up in Texas. I also did all my own illustrations, which mostly consisted of stick-figure animals and flowers. I was the first person in my family to attend college. Growing up, I can remember my dad talking about the importance of having a “necessary” job, by which he meant something that would always be in demand and would always provide a paycheck. I couldn’t imagine making any money as a writer, so I decided to pursue a career as a doctor where there were opportunities for writing through medical research without writing being the main focus and the one thing a paycheck depended on. Read more>>

Ken Forbes

For most of my life, I actually couldn’t draw to save my life. I’ve lived a lot of lives – assistant chef, helped open a couple restaurants, stock broker and financial advisor, model and award winning actor, writer – and painter was really only one of the more recent ones. I took freshman art my senior year of high school. My class was just me and a bunch of guys in gangs. At the beginning of the day, I would go to my art teacher and ask him, ‘Do you need me around today?’ He’d usually reply, ‘No it’s okay.’ And I’d go home and play Xbox. Needless to say, my art skills didn’t really develop then. Read more>>

Shawndrika Cook

This is a great question. I think how I got here is GOD 1000%. I know that is a real general statement, but absolutely true. When I think about my journey I realize in the midst of self-proclaim decision making, it all led up to GOD moments. My mother told me that my being here is based on her reading the story of Hannah. She told me that the story of Hannah’s desperation to birth something into the earth that brought GOD glory was why she prayed for me. However, unlike Hannah, my mom did not have any more children. LOL! Literally, everything about my life has yielded the fruit of GOD’s hand even when He and I were not in a relationship or even on good terms. Read more>>

Lucie Bulois

Photography has always been a cornerstone in my life, and I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in cameras; I went from using disposable film cameras as a child, to digital point and shoots as a teenager, to buying my first DSLR as a young adult. Living in NYC, I thought everything was captivating around me and I would spend all my free time capturing the city and its people. Street photography really is the art of noticing and it taught me a lot. Read more>>

Brittani Starr

My story has always been deeply tied to creativity and the desire to explore the unknown. I grew up with a love for nature, magic, and the power of storytelling, and over time, that evolved into something much bigger. I started as a writer, diving into personal development books, but soon I found myself creating The Gnosis of Zarlequan, a fantasy world that reflected my own journey of self-discovery. Read more>>

Eveljne Turco

From an early age, I was drawn to the world of art, spending hours sketching and honing my craft. This passion led me to attend an artistic school, where I cultivated my skills and deepened my understanding of creativity. Eager to channel this energy into a career, I pursued an apprenticeship at a tattoo shop in Italy, learning the intricate art of tattooing under the guidance of experienced professionals. Read more>>

Liubov Trif

My name is Liubov and I’m a makeup artist and hair stylist.
It’s my pleasure to tell you a little bit about myself. I come from a beautiful small town of Reni, Ukraine.
I have a little son, who is 5 years old, and a beloved husband. We moved to America 2.5 years ago from Ukraine.
I have been in the beauty field for almost 10 years. I love my profession very much and give myself completely to it. I never thought that I would be in this field, but God has his own plans and he is never wrong. I always wanted to be a teacher of physical education, but it so happened that for health reasons I could not get to the entrance practical exam. So I decided to enter the beauty field and I liked it very much. And as I said, I have been here for 10 years and I have never regretted it. Read more>>

Ebony Kunkle

My story is a winding journey of acceptance and self-love. I haven’t always had the support system that I have now and even still, there are times I find it tough to accept I now have people there when I need them. The constant theme of my life has always been, I can only depend on myself and no one will care as much about my goals as I do. Thankfully, I have arrived at a space where I know that is no longer true. The friends I have made along the way have truly shaped my story and allowed me to develop and evolve into the person who is sitting here today. Read more>>

Marta Luvian

After several years in corporate marketing and going up the ladder, I had an experience with a local marketing agency that showed me a different opportunity. While transitioning into a new role as Digital Marketing Manager for a multi-state car chain company, I met with the marketing agency that that company was outsourcing their digital marketing to (until I stepped into that role). I quickly realized that the agency was overcharging for work that was mostly not being completed consistently. Also, when I asked simple questions, they did not know how to answer them. Read more>>

Curtis Hall

I began mentoring as a sophomore in college however the impetus of my journey began at the age of 14 when I encountered my first mentor. I was raised by my mother & grandmother, and this was the first time a man made a genuine attempt to be in my life expecting nothing in return but for me to do my best in school, sports and develop as a healthy productive man. Fast forward I gravitated towards opportunities to serve others through volunteer opportunities in college and this carried forward into my adult life. I founded Nu Collar Solutions in 2018 as a means to serve and empower young men of color between ages 12-19 by addressing their needs through holistic enrichment. Read more>>

Mrs. Inyang (N-Yon) Telfair

siblings and me, causing me to grow up as an only child. Detroit, MI in the mid-late 80s and 90s was rough. My Mamma worked two jobs my entire life, modeling hard work, endurance, and strength. She kept me busy with college preparatory programs, music lessons, ministry work, and family travel to keep me off the streets. My Mamma also taught me that the best place to be is in the will of Yahweh. I got to where I am today because it all started with Yahweh’s grace, mercy, and my Mamma’s prayers! Read more>>

YuJei Yen

I am a New York-based textile artist and an MFA Textiles graduate from Parsons at The New School. My passion for crafting began in childhood, sitting beside my mother as she taught me crochet. I vividly remember the soothing rhythm of her hands, the room filled with quiet focus as each stitch came to life. That simple joy has stayed with me ever since, leading me to explore textiles more deeply through both my studies and my career. Read more>>

Ferrai Pickett

My name is Ferrai Pickett, and I began my journey as a nanny ten years ago, nurturing and caring for children while fostering a sense of community. Unfortunately, I experienced a deeply distressing racist incident that underscored the urgent need for change and awareness in our society. In response to this, I helped to create an inclusive event called “Stand Up Hate,” which aimed to raise awareness and promote unity against discrimination. This experience not only shaped my perspective but also ignited my passion for advocacy and community engagement, leading me to continue working towards a more inclusive and just society. Read more>>

Amanda Centeno

I am a theatre actor who got my start in middle school musicals, as many of us do. I was accepted into Tisch as an actor, but rejected from the musical theatre program. I was placed in an interdisciplinary acting studio, which ended up being the right place for me to grow my artistry. I learned that I wasn’t just a performer; I wanted an artistic career where I could perform, create, and be a generative source in any room I found myself in. From there, I discovered that new work was my passion. I have dedicated much of my career towards new plays and film, both as an actor, and lately as a writer. Read more>>

Rachel Grant

I have been blessed with many horrible experiences that have shaped who I am and have made me better for it. Kind of a wild statement right?! Read more>>

Lillian Liang Emlet

I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, the eldest daughter of immigrants from Taiwan. We didn’t have much and lived simply. My upbringing was typical hard work ethic instilled in myself and my sisters. After graduating early from high school at 16 because I was motivated to leave the small rural town and experience the world, I went to Penn State University and discovered the joys of volunteering, service, creativity, and friendships in the Asian American community and Residence Life communities. I then went on to graduate school because I wanted to be independent financially from my parents, and ended up tutoring for Kaplan for the MCAT and proceeded to go to medical school. Read more>>

Shiloh Wilde

When I first started to explore my creative side, I messed up a TON. Part of me wanted to give up and find a different hobby, but deep down I felt like I needed to keep going. Today, 9 years later, I own a successful small business where I make and sell
things that I love and that customers love all the same. Read more>>

Jamie Maher

Hey! My name is Jamie Maher, I’m a pastry chef and small business owner in the Pensacola, Fl area. I’ve been baking since I was 14. After getting an associates degree in Baking and Patisserie from the Le Cordon Bleu I started my own business in 2017. I’ve worked for every different type of restaurant/bakery setting before deciding custom event baking was what I wanted. Large events and show stopping cakes are what I eventually want the business to grow into and I’m slowly making it happen. Read more>>

Jude Berman

This past year, I had two books published—The Die is speculative fiction and The Vow is historical fiction. The future and the past. Another book is coming out next summer, and I’m in the midst of writing a fourth, which is a sequel to the first. I feel comfortable describing myself as a published author. But it was a long and winding road to get to this point. Read more>>

Dustin Parro

As long as I can remember and have been told, I have high functioning autism with a learning disability. I couldn’t talk until I was 5 years old. I graduated at west valley community college in the spring of 2014, transfered to San Jose State University in the Fall of 2014, and graduated at SJSU spring 2017. When I went to these colleges, there were some subjects/topics/lectures I could relate to. Such as film history, video editing, researching movie/tv series facts, etc. I love getting lost in the story direction of movies/shows without immersion breaking from real life issues of today. Read more>>

Karen Laos

In July of 2020 I quit my corporate leadership job to focus on my mission: to eradicate self-doubt in 10 million women in 10 years. Too many women are paralyzed with doubt, and my goal is to give them strategies to speak up and ask for what they want. Read more>>

Eddie Francis

If you had asked me, years ago, if I thought I would be running my own business, I would’ve asked you in what universe that would be happening. When I was in high school, I saw myself becoming a working actor. But my college internship was in radio and I loved it…until I went one too many years with that *ahem* wonderful radio paycheck and no confidence that it would get any better. So, I had to figure out what else was out there that would fill my spirit while putting more digits in my bank account. Read more>>

Frank Song

I spent most of my life playing music. I was expected to pursue academics, and took that all the way through medical school, residency, and a full time practicing physician. However, after residency and covid, I realized I needed to pursue my dreams and true passions. So I left my full time practice, and am now a full time musician in Brooklyn! My journey has also been informed by my identity has a queer man and my Chinese-American heritage. It feels like I’ve been spending most of life trying to decipher where I fit within society and what makes me, ME. Read more>>

Flora Montes

My journey with Bronx Fashion Week began as more than just an idea—it was a personal mission, a fight for representation, and a testament to resilience. It was born from struggle, fueled by transformation, and driven by an unshakable desire to leave a legacy after a lifetime of pain. Read more>>

In a world where many people die with their dreams or leave without achieving them, Francis Abalo took matters into his own hands. From a young age, he had always dreamed of succeeding, of becoming a soccer icon, of serving his community, and of making history. Read more>>

Eleana

I have always been artistic and creative as a child. I performed in theatre and did modeling. Even in my teen years, I’ve always expressed my artistic and creative side. Unfortunately, my parents couldn’t afford to place me in a performing arts school or provide me the tools necessary in order to grow. As I got older and entered adulthood, I experienced life; college, relationship, working full-time, etc. My creativity was on pause. During my sophomore year in college, I ended a relationship. Read more>>

Erica Faye

My journey into theater began in a rather unconventional way. After transferring from a traditional high school to an alternative one, I found myself in a unique situation. At the alternative school, theater was the only class left available that I needed to take in order to graduate. Initially, it wasn’t a subject I had planned on pursuing, but little did I know that this serendipitous turn of events would shape the course of my future. It was a class that would not only fulfill my graduation requirements but also spark a deep passion for the art of performance and storytelling. Read more>>

GAYLE M. IRWIN

I began writing when I was a teenager, poetry and short stories. I continued my interest in writing while attending college, working on the student newspaper and the creative writing journal. My second job after I obtained my bachelor’s degree was as a reporter for a small town in Montana, and, a few years later, I became the editor and reporter for another Montana small town newspaper, this one next to Yellowstone National Park, where I wrote many stories about wildlife, conservation, tourism, and small businesses. I moved to Wyoming about three years later, again serving as a reporter. Read more>>

Gehrig Kniffen

Hip-hop has always had a special place in my heart. Growing up, I was constantly immersed in the genre, and as I got older, I started experimenting with rapping. In high school, I’d freestyle with friends, but it wasn’t until I left for college that I really began making music “ironically” on SoundCloud under the name Gehrighashellabars. I’d find random YouTube beats, blast them through my car speakers, and record my verses on my phone’s voice memo app. The quality wasn’t great, but I was having a blast with it. Read more>>

Gregory Leon

I was born in Tulsa and raised in Venezuela, where my love for food first took shape. Cooking has always been about more than just making meals—it’s about storytelling, culture, and bringing people together. My path to becoming a chef wasn’t traditional, but every experience, from working in kitchens in San Francisco to eventually landing in Milwaukee, shaped the way I cook and lead. Read more>>

Etsperal

I’ve had a strong passion for music from a young age, beginning my journey with classical training in piano and trumpet. My parents recognized my talent early on and encouraged my musical growth, providing the support I needed to develop my skills. Over the years, I’ve undergone extensive classical training and my skills span a wide range of instruments, including piano, trumpet, mellophone, and French horn, along with several secondary instruments. This versatility has allowed me to explore diverse styles, from classical and jazz to experimental media compositions. Read more>>

I’m Ginny, and I have always been passionate about technology, design, and creating more intuitive digital experiences. With over 12 years of experience in the marketing industry and a background as a developer, designer, and UX researcher, I have identified a significant gap in traditional marketing: it often neglects user experience (UX). Many marketing strategies focus solely on delivering catchy messages with strong CTAs (Calls to Action) instead of researching and understanding how users actually engage with the marketing content. Read more>>

Ed Freedman

When I was in high school, I was voted “most likely to succeed” in the senior yearbook because I’d started a boat cleaning business a few years before. I told people my plan was to meet interesting clients and see where those relationships took me. It worked out in ways I couldn’t have predicted—but I can’t complain about it. Read more>>

Fauzia Davis

Rokar World began with a deep passion for creating unforgettable experiences. From the very start, I (Fauzia) have been drawn to the art of bringing people together in beautifully designed, seamless events. What started as a personal love for event planning quickly evolved into a professional journey, where I realized the true magic lies in the details thoughtful coordination, elegant design, and capturing the essence of every special moment. Read more>>

Felicity Scott

My journey started when I was young, watching my mom turn everything into a production. The amazingly creative Mrs. Dannette Scott has a way of making ordinary moments feel extraordinary. She doesn’t just plan events—she creates experiences. One of my favorite memories is when she put together a tea party for the youth at church. And when I say tea party—I mean an experience. Pastel colors, elegant tea cups, flowers everywhere, a massive centerpiece with finger foods—it was like something straight out of a movie. She poured so much love and intentionality into it, making sure every detail felt special. Watching her bring a vision to life sparked something in me and showed me the power of creativity and storytelling. Read more>>

Hailey Way

My story isn’t linear. Like many others, I moved out of my small island town in search of opportunities in the big, daunting city. As I continued to follow my heart, I found myself years later in a new city, in a new state. This happened more than once. The thing is, no matter where you go, there you are. You’re always faced with yourself, and whatever you’re chasing has been within you all along. Read more>>

Francine Apy

I’m Francine Apy, author, coach, speaker, and founder of SoulFilling. I’m passionate about helping spark more modern, honest, and balanced adoption conversations, rooted in truth, compassion, and connection.Read more>>

P. Falasha Harrison

Born in Boston, raised in Jamaica, traveled to Boston from Jamaica every summer, privileged to be raised in my foundational years by both my paternal grandparents and maternal grandmother who had what resembled joint custody, Read more>>