8. Steve McRoyal

8. Steve McRoyal

Between finance and drug issues, Steve’s family dynamic was less than stable until his teenage years, which is also when he met the love of his life, Kimberly. Although the couple bonded early on, his going away to college put a strain on the relationship, as did an unplanned pregnancy. Steve faced trials and tribulations with the loss of his younger brother, on top of the stress of having a new family. With everything going on, failure was not an option. As life got more complicated, the couple drifted. Eventually, a deep heart-to-heart turned their interpersonal and economic life around, and @millennialmarried was born.  Through the good, the bad, and the heartbreaking, the couple grew separately and together, sharing their lessons to an audience of over 400K. This is Steve’s story. Produced by Willa Written by: Steve McRoyal Executive producers: Magnus Ohman & Jeanette Ohman ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

7. Kimberly McRoyal

From an early age, Kimberly knew that she did not want to copy her parents’ relationship—between economic hardships, gambling issues, and plenty of chaos, she wanted something different: an equal partnership. In spite of her best efforts to focus on school and create the future she wanted, she met someone, fell in love, and got pregnant just before graduation. However, this did not stop her ambition. With a growing family, plenty of ups and downs, and major relationship setbacks, Kimberly and her now-husband Steve, turned their experience into @millennialmarried—an account that’s all about relationship lessons, community, and marriage. The couple struggled separately and together, but through it all, they found a love that worked for them, and that inspires so many others. This is Kim’s story. Produced by Willa Written by: Kimberly McRoyal Executive producers: Magnus Ohman & Jeanette Ohman ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

6. Tracey Ellison

Tracey never imagined that life would take her from her home country of South Africa to the United States, and that she would leave the world of business to run an Instagram account about the world’s most exclusive jewelry, but that’s just what happened. From seemingly having it all in her early 20s and still shaking up her life, to once again getting a reality check about what really matters in her 50s, Tracey shares the unique trajectory that brought her to create @thediamondsgirl, and the lessons she learned along the way.  This is her story. Produced by Willa Written by: Tracey Ellison Executive producers: Magnus Ohman & Jeanette Ohman ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

5. Lena

Lena’s life has been ridden with challenges—from growing up under the Communist regime in Ukraine, where she trained to be an Olympic gymnast and suffered side effects from the radioactive Chernobyl blast, to living with two chronic illnesses. In spite of the many struggles she encountered, she never gave up and continued to move through the world with almost superhuman perseverance. Along the way, Lena found love, solace in fashion, and grew her Instagram account (@panthere_instyle [https://www.instagram.com/panthere_instyle/]), which started out as an escape, to over 4 million followers.  Today, she is an advocate for those with hidden illnesses and an inspiration for living fully, even when the journey gets tough. This is her story. Produced by Willa Written by: Lena Executive producers: Magnus Ohman & Jeanette Ohman ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

4. Oscar Salinas

Though his early years were spent in a trailer park in a Minnesota town of just 500 people, Oscar always had big dreams. A creator at heart, he explored comic books as a kid, and from there, fell for the tech side of art. Yet it wasn’t until he stumbled upon a camera in college that his calling manifested. With no experience, Oscar set out to recreate the professional photos he was drawn to on Instagram. Self-taught via YouTube, he collaborated with fellow creators on portrait photography, through which he would eventually go on to travel the country, shooting along the way. His passion and career came together in one, yet Oscar’s love for the craft is what drives him. “Make sure you're happy with your work, and you're doing it for yourself,” he says with an earnest smile. This is his story. Follow Oscar on social media under @sotahboy Produced by Willa Written by: Oscar Salinas Executive producers: Magnus Ohman & Jeanette Ohman ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.