In Their Words: The Belle Curve Storytellers of 2024

We have been inspired and motivated by each and every one of our 2024 Belle Curve Storytellers and it has been our honor to share their stories of bravery, resilience, creativity, and growth with you. We love that our platform has become a trusted space for women to share their journeys, as well as a space for us to allow our readers to “see what’s possible.”

We hope that you will take this opportunity to catch up on any stories you may have missed and perhaps to also re-read and share stories that you’ve enjoyed.

We also want to thank you once again for supporting our work by reading and subscribing. We couldn’t (and wouldn’t) do it without you!

2024 Recap

Erika Boyle: Building a Community of Hope
Twenty years after her husband’s catastrophic stroke, Erika founded the Aphasia Community Center, turning personal challenges into a mission to help others. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of purpose. Read Erika’s story here.

Olga Brown: On Lifelong Learning & Living With Purpose
At 82 years young, Olga practices law full-time, plays tennis, leads a book club, and does her best to live life to the fullest. She shows us what can happen when you stay mentally and physically active and embrace the philosophy that things happen for the best. Read Olga's story here.

Tamara Weber: Feeding Families
Tamara saw a problem and changed course to create the solution, taking the skills she learned in the corporate world and using them to build a thriving not for profit dedicated to feeding families in need and reclaiming food waste. Read Tamara’s story here.

Fay Balk: Re-igniting Her Creative Spark In Glass, Travel & Nature
While working as an HR executive and organizational design expert for the nation’s largest creative company, Fay found her own artistic talent, which led her down a new path of self-discovery and professional satisfaction. Read Fay’s story here.

Andi Ruhl: Shaping Lives & Building Community Through Art
Andi’s passion for clay and art therapy led her to establish Thrown Elements Pottery. She cultivated a space where art and community flourish together, continuing to nurture and grow her business while overcoming health challenges and other setbacks. Read Andi’s story here.

Gina Hansen: A Breast Cancer Warrior’s Journey of Strength and Resilience
Gina shares her story of overcoming stage two ER-positive breast cancer while raising four teenagers as a single mom. Read Gina’s story here.

Beth Prewitt: On Finding Peace in the Middle of A Storm
Homeschooler, pastor's wife, content creator, and mom of teens, Beth talks about her personal growth and the newfound meaning and purpose she gained through her experience with breast cancer. Read Beth’s story here.

Roseann O'Keefe: Finds New Strength & Recognizes the Value of Self Care
Top-producing realtor and mom of two sons, Roseann talks about her back-to-back battles with breast cancer and thyroid cancer and stresses the importance of self-care. Read Roseann’s story here.

Susan Leach: Exploring New Horizons
As a former fortune 500 executive turned travel advisor, Susan shares insights from her extensive journeys, both personal and professional. She talks about how early lessons in empathy and curiosity have led her to where she is today. Read Susan’s story here.

Ellen Sharpe: Art, Soul, & Pinball
A lifelong artist, Ellen, now 83, opened Monart Drawing Studio in her 50s and runs it to this day. She talks about how she is still overcoming fears, finding courage, and nurturing her spirit by connecting with people and passions. Read Ellen’s story here.

Diana Adachi: Applying Traditional Values to Modern Challenges
A daughter of entrepreneurial Japanese immigrants and survivors of WWII internment camps, Diana has never forgotten her roots. Her family’s legacy of experience and example guides her in her work to use technology and empathy to empower the unbanked and underserved. Read Diana’s story here.

Dawn Vaslow: Finding Her Strength and Hitting Her Stride
Dawn’s journey emphasized the importance of resilience and community in overcoming personal challenges and embracing opportunities. After working for many years in corporate education and process improvement, she shifted gears and translated her gifts as a natural educator, her passion for fitness, and her love for animals, into two thriving businesses. Read Dawn’s story here.

Michele Saletros, VMD: Following Her Heart & Making Her Dreams Reality
Although she knew she wanted to work with animals, Michele didn’t heed her true calling until age 30. Now she’s following her heart down a new path. Read Michele’s story here.

Jennifer Falat: Focusing on Family and Photography
Jen says you are beautiful, and she can prove it. She also wants you to know that you matter, and your life should be documented. Read Jennifer’s story here.

Nia Asimis: Serves Up Mediterranean Fare with a Side Helping of Kindness & Empathy
Nia says running a restaurant is like riding a roller coaster. It’s up and down all the time. You have to roll with it. Life is like that too. She talks about her experience being an entrepreneur while overcoming personal health challenges and other setbacks. Read Nia's story here.

Jill Kottmeier: Grief Isn't Sexy, But It Touches Everyone
When she was a teen, Jill witnessed a close friend lose her baby. This and other heartbreaking experiences of loss propelled her 20+ year journey of providing support to hundreds of families and physicians in a leading healthcare network. Read Jill’s story here.

Patricia Vlamis, 60, Is Just Getting Started
Patricia reflects on her diverse career path, from photography to social media marketing, and her recent venture into teaching art and self-publishing a coloring book with a special purpose. Read Patricia’s story here.

Luminita Ispas: Changing the World, One Four-Flat At A Time
Single mom, immigrant, realtor, investor, and educator, Lumi believes financial literacy can change the world for the better. She's putting her money where her mouth is. She demonstrates how shifting her perspective has helped her navigate challenges and embrace new opportunities in real estate and beyond. Read Luminita’s story here.

Christina Teo: A Third Lease On Life
After early successes as a technology sector executive, Christina retired young, reinvented herself, and found new love and new purpose. Read Christina’s story here.

Sheryl Kraft: Writing Her Next Chapter
Sheryl earned her MFA at age 50. Twenty years later, she is still going strong as an independent publisher and an accomplished freelance writer specializing in health topics. Read Sheryl’s story here.

De Anna Guerreiro, Sports Entrepreneur & Innovator, Sets New Path Following Old Footsteps
As an advocate for legacy wealth building and financial literacy, De Anna combines private equity investing acumen and entrepreneurial vision with her passion for helping athletes. Read De Anna’s story here.

Gwendolyn Devoe: Hitting Her Stride in Her Third Act
Gwen reflects on her modeling career, embracing her gray hair, challenging industry standards, and serving as a role model. Read Gwendolyn’s story here.

Yeulanda Degala: Accidental Philanthropist, Leading Through Action & Example
Yeulanda's grassroots nonprofit, Good Neighbors Network, started as a small gesture of goodwill and now helps to fill in the gaps for hundreds of students and families in Chicago's northwest suburbs. Read the full story here.

Marcella Regniault: Finding A New Path
At a crossroads in life, Marcella set off on an epic adventure. After a long career as a sports marketing executive for major brands, she did the Camino de Santiago and confirmed her belief that she can do difficult things. She found new friends, beautiful scenery, and time for introspection along the way. Read Marcella’s story here.

Vicki Sasso: Blazing A New Trail
After suffering personal and professional setbacks, Vicki has made a strong comeback. This seasoned agency pro encourages mature models to “Embrace Your Age” and use their experience to their advantage. She is following her own advice. Read Vicki’s story here.

Donna Crews: Living Her Values At Home and At Work
Donna, a Retired Air National Guardsman, works to promote health and wellness in her current role as vice president of behavioral health services delivery and is continuing to do so as she builds an independent health and wellness coaching practice. She puts family first at home and at work and recognizes that her success falls at the feet of the women who mentored her along the way. Read Donna’s story here.

Karen Emanuelson: Artist & Entrepreneur, Spreading Joy & Love Through Art & Food
Karen, a former corporate meeting planner shifts direction, finding new meaning, healing, and growth in two enduring passions: painting and providing hospitality. Read Karen’s story here.

Georgette Appiano: Achieving Dreams
Businesswoman, mother, grandmother, domestic violence survivor, and modern-day Cinderella, Georgette makes her own magic and follows her heart. She reflects on her journey of achieving personal and professional dreams, offering insights into perseverance and goal setting. Read Georgette’s story here.

Diane Petan: Empowering Women Through Fashion
Diane, a wealth management executive, weaves business acumen with entrepreneurial passion to create a line of sustainable, affordable apparel and solve a problem women face every day. Read Diane’s story here.

Robyn Williams: Wealth Management Pro By Day; Counselor and Author By Night and On Weekends
What started as a part-time job to earn extra money has become a vocation and a labor of love for Robyn, a gifted researcher, author, counselor and life-long learner. Read Robyn’s story here.

Stephanie Linden: Revealing Possibilities With Light & Color
After working for many years as a family physician, Stephanie transitions to her second act as professional artist. Read Stephanie’s story here.

Florence Clifford: Baking with Love
Florence shares her passion for baking, turning a hobby into a business, and the joy it brings her. Read Florence’s story here.

Dorothy Foster: Serving Up Competition & Community
Former attorney, SAHM, community leader, and now “next gen” sports entrepreneur, Dorothy starts an indoor pickleball club in a Chicago suburb. Read Dorothy’s story here.

Tanya Ralph, LMSW: Shaping Lives With Compassion
Tanya discusses her work as a social worker, the challenges she faces, and her dedication to shaping better futures for herself and her clients. Read Tanya’s story here.

Natalie Griffin: Changing Lives One Cup at a Time
Natalie, a former special education teacher, partners with a local restaurateur to open a café employing adults with disabilities in Chicago suburb. Read Natalie’s story here.

Special Editions and Highlights

• Mothers and Daughters Snapshot Album: A heartfelt collection celebrating the unique bonds between mothers and daughters. Read more here.

• Thanksgiving Reflection: Giving thanks and giving back, a tribute to the season. Read more here.

• First Ladies Audio Tribute: An audio collection celebrating the wisdom and grace of America’s First Ladies. Listen here.

The Year Ahead

As we look to 2025, Belle Curve Stories remains committed to amplifying the voices of women who inspire, lead, and break boundaries. We’re excited to bring you more stories, more connections, and more reasons to celebrate the power of women. If you have a story to share or know someone whose journey belongs on our platform, we want to hear from you.

Thank you for being part of our community this year. Here’s to another year of empowering stories and the incredible women behind them.