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She Means Business: Christy Salafia’s Journey to il-LUMA-nate

For Christy Salafia, nursing was never just a career—it was a calling. With a deep-rooted belief in the power of compassion and human connection, she pursued a path in healthcare that led her to the fast-paced and high-pressure environment of the Cardiac Surgery ICU at Strong Memorial Hospital. As a new graduate RN, Christy faced immense challenges but embraced the opportunity to learn from top medical professionals, pushing herself to grow in a demanding field. Yet, despite the fulfillment she found in patient care, a deeper calling was waiting to be discovered.

The shift from traditional medicine to aesthetics wasn’t an easy one. Initially, Christy grappled with feelings of guilt, questioning whether she was leaving behind meaningful work for something less impactful. However, she soon realized that confidence and self-perception are integral to overall well-being.Continue reading

Arissa Johnson was raised in the heart of The Bronx, NY. I learned entrepreneurship from my parents and at six years old I was designing, creating and selling earrings. I loved the excitement I felt by earning money from my hobby. My parents and I would vend at different flea markets and events throughout New York City. As a pre-teen I modeled in several fashion and hair shows. This helped fuel my passion, increase my confidence and made me feel beautiful inside and out.Continue reading

BY HOLLY KATIE   PHOTOS BY CHARLENE MANN PHOTOGRAPHY

The photos here were taken in a shoot with Charlene Mann Ford that was won in a drawing at Rochester Woman Online’s Think Purple Domestic Violence Awareness Event last October.

Whether fate or mere coincidence, the lingerie shoot relates to the reasons I attended the event in the first place; as someone who lived through domestic violence, awareness and advocacy of resources for domestic violence survivors is a meaningful cause to me.Continue reading

PHOTOS BY CHARLENE MANN PHOTOGRAPHY

Titiana Bogar is a familiar face in Rochester Woman Online. We thought our readers should get to know her a little better, like we have had the pleasure of doing over the past year.

Like many, you’ve seen her on the runway with RWO, checked out her photos in our pages and even read some of her articles in “Something For the Sister’s”. But, that’s not all Titiana brings to the table.Continue reading

PHOTOS BY CHRIS CONLON

Shanna of SHERO – The Pop Sensation

Shanna Baccari, who prefers to be referred to simply as “Shanna”, is a Pop singer, dancer, and actress who was born and raised in the Greater Rochester Area. Shanna is a part of the singing duo, SHERO, with her duo partner, Meredith Doyle. If you have attended the Rochester Fringe Festival within the past few year years, you have more than likely seen Shanna in action with SHERO.Continue reading

Your struggles inspire your success

Dear Women,
Let me be frank. Growing up in a broken family sucks. Growing up with constant setbacks sucks. Feeling like you were given the short end of the stick, sucks. I’m sure a lot of you can relate. Whether you come from a broken family or just a broken past, this piece is for you.Continue reading

BY AMANDA FRANNIE

Notoriously difficult to define, even by those who wear is, street fashion since the 80’s has been an emerging and upcoming trend amongst youth culture, influencers, creatives, and artists. This grassroots fashion movement is inspired from what is happening on the streets and constantly evolving.Continue reading

What began as a one-time thing, turned into a permanent quest in the life of this amazingly beautiful and talented young lady. Amanda reflects on the day she and her Mom saw an ad in the local paper about entering a beauty pageant, “It looked like it would be fun”. 12 years later, Amanda knows on this day, her life was changed. Pageantry became a way of life.Continue reading