The Lakelander - Issue 90

#STYLISH LOCALS

SALON SPOTLIGHT

STUNNING WATCHES

Don’t let allergies, scrapes, colds, and sprains hold you back from splashing in the pool with the kids or grabbing dinner with friends.

At two convenient Urgent Care locations and no appointment needed, you can get back to your routine instead of being stuck inside with the sniffles.

Open Monday-Friday 8AM-8PM and Saturday-Sunday 8AM-5PM

So come on in, we’ll take care of the rest.

Visit myLRH.org/UrgentCare to learn more today.

Your Health. Our Promise.

TIME UNDISCOVERED

You can have the time of your life finding the perfect watches for your lifestyle without leaving town. See what you might be missing.

52 66

We’re

#STYLISH

We

PUBLISHER

Curt Patterson

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OPERATIONS

Jason Jacobs

EDITOR, CONTENT STRATEGIST

RJ Walters

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jonathan Sierra

VP, FINANCE

Deb Patterson

GENERAL COUNSEL

Ted W. Weeks IV

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Curt Patterson | 863.409.2449

ADVERTISING SALES

Isaac Vargas | 407.619.3508

Jason Jacobs | 863.606.8785

EDITORIAL

DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER

Jordan Randall

CONTRIBUTORS

Diego De Jesus

CREATIVE

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Briana Chenot

Sydney Silva

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jordan Randall

Dan Austin

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Jason Jacobs

DISTRIBUTION

David Heideman

'NACHO' AVERAGE DAD—OR AM I?

global or regional trends local. Others are trying new combinations or bringing back retro looks with modern flair. Some opt for more of a splash of color here and there.

This issue is built on locals who catch your eye with their outfits, but who more importantly are beautiful examples of the rich hand-knit fabric that weaves through our community.

have about 10 t-shirts hanging in a special section of my closet. They tell a story of years gone by, they symbolize a large part of my identity, and thankfully, as I near 40, they still fit.

My Dad Shirt collection is strong! From handprint patterns and oneof-a-kind creations to “Nacho Average Dad” and “Dadosaurus” cotton-polyester blends, my style is this: comfortable, relatable and willing to be made fun of. Such is life as a dad of six incredible children.

I am close to the back of the clearance rack when it comes to people you want to ask about style, but I also happen to live in a town where style (sometimes low key) is evolving and platforming an incredibly diverse set of people and personalities.

I don’t exert a whole lot of hubris myself when it comes to clothing, or hairstyle or accessories for that matter, but watch out, Lakelanders are sneaky stylish, and many of them are bringing

Some of them might style your neighbors hair, others might have helped one of your friends prepare for their wedding, and a handful of them might get a kick out of making you do a double take when you see them walk by wearing something electric.

What we all share in common though, is we hold titles like friend, co-worker, cousin, mom and dad. Forget how much or how little you care about your own personal style for a moment, acknowledge we all have it—whether or not we actually call it that—and enjoy exploring what makes Lakeland distinctive, and dare I say, stylish.

And feel free to mail me a Dad Shirt if you want to ensure I keep on making the same old fashion statement.

RJ Walters EDITOR

DR. FAEZA KAZMIER

When we look and feel our best, anything is possible. Watson Clinic Women's Center board-certified Plastic Surgeon provides a range of natural looking surgical and nonsurgical enhancement options when you're ready to embrace a more confident version of you.

• Facial Rejuvenation (Facelifts, Eyelifts and Minimally Invasive Browlifts)

• Breast enlargement, breast implant revision, lifts and reductions

• Drain free tummy tucks and liposuction

• DaxxifyTM, BOTOX®, Dysport®, Kybella® for unwanted fat, and fillers such as Restylane®, Juvéderm ®, Voluma® and RHA for the face and hands

Physician assistant Chalsey Lockhart, PA works alongside Dr. Kazmier to provide Clear + Brilliant® Touch Laser treatments, as well as Sciton® and Candela® Gentlemax Pro lasers for hair removal, and treatment of brown spots & spider veins. She also offers injectables including DaxxifyTM, BOTOX®, Dysport® and fillers.

THE BUZZ

COMMENTS FROM LAKELANDERS

We often get asked what sets us apart from companies in our industry, and one of the major differences is our people and how much they care about others. Our Lakeland Community Manager, Adriana, who has become known as the “COhatch Mom” in Florida, is a great example of that.

Learn more about Adriana's eagerness to help others and her Venezuelan heritage in this article from The Lakelander.

LinkedIn | COhatch

AT HOME

CONTRIBUTORS

SYDNEY SILVA

Sydney Silva was raised in Freeport, Maine and moved to Lakeland Florida to attend Florida Southern College. She is currently working to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts as a graphic design student. She is our design intern here at The Lakelander and is continuing to take classes over the summer. In her free time, when she's not designing or studying, she enjoys photography and painting as other creative outlets as well as hanging with her animals, Charlie and Henry, and hanging with friends.

@ssquid.ink

DIEGO DE JESUS

Diego graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from Florida Southern College and is currently a staff writer at The Lakelander. Originally from New York City, he came down to Lakeland for his education and has made his home here ever since.

He continues to pursue a career in journalism while producing creative prose pieces on the side. The friends and connections that he’s made in Lakeland have truly changed his life for the better, and he is forever grateful for the community accepting him.

DAN AUSTIN

Growing up in the Tampa Bay area, Dan was drawn to its thriving artistic culture, creative businesses, fashion and an appreciation for the arts. His style of photography tends to lean more on the fashion / editorial side. He has been shooting portraits since 2001. His style has evolved, but his focus remains the same; he strives to capture people in their essence, a candid moment, or in a light that brings out the best in someone.

As a local Florida business owner, he has had great opportunities to collaborate on dynamic editorial projects and advertising campaigns, and to photograph artists and clients—local and abroad.

CR E ATING A CLASS O F H I S OW N

very morning is reserved for prayer at High Class Barber Salon. After praying for the customers they will serve each day, Angel “JR” Maldonado tidies his chair and pumps it to just the right level. His staff does the same, putting the finishing touches on getting ready for the day. On his mirror are stickers with the initials PSE—symbolic of his home town and country— Ponce, Puerto Rico.

JR’s mother was a hair stylist and always cut his hair growing up. When he was 6 years old, his friends went to a barbershop to get the latest hairstyle, but his mom didn’t know how to cut quite like that. She would give him $1 every day for school, but instead of spending it, JR saved it for Friday when he and his friends visited the barbershop.

After watching barbers up close, like a local known as Keke, he decided he wanted to do it himself. Ultimately, he learned from Luis “Wiwi” Torres, one of the busiest barbers in town.

At age 13, JR started cutting his younger brother’s hair. At 18 years old, with a lot more hands-on experience, he began stylizing his friends’ hair and that was the catalyst for a career he has never left.

In 2016 he started building his own barbershop in Ponce, but its grand opening was greatly delayed due to Hurricane Maria, which ended up being a lifechanging event for him and his family. JR landed in the States at the Orlando International Airport on September 13, 2017 with $133 in his pocket. A

WRITTEN BY DIEGO DE JESUS PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY SYDNEY SILVA

week later, on September 20, Hurricane Maria swept across the island. As it was for many Boricuas, the entropic force of nature ensued a time of uncertainty for JR.

He struggled initially but was motivated to provide for his family, who were still living on the island. JR can still recall to a tee the day his wife, Enidza Santiago, landed in the States with their children—October 3, 2017. JR had his wife sell their home to build a solid foundation for their new lives. At the airport, he asked her if she closed on the house, and she responded that they had sold everything.

While JR worked on figuring out life in the States, his brother-in-law, Mario “Titito” Santiago, eventually opened and managed the barbershop in Ponce. JR handled the rest of the load by scheduling appointments via phone or video. After a year, he sold his shop in Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, here in Florida, JR’s brother opened up a room in his apartment in Orlando

“WE ACCEPT EVERYBODY HERE.

WE ALWAYS TRY TO WELCOME EVERYBODY, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE REVIEWS WHEN PEOPLE GET THE SERVICE.”

for him, Endiza and their three children. After a year of working at Fire Styles Barbershop, saving money and praying for better times, JR and his family purchased their home in Lakeland. On September 9, 2021, they opened High Class.

Nearly two years later High Class Barber Salon is a booming spot in the Dixieland area, and you can see JR is living out his dream when you walk in. JR is lively and full of energy, and treats his clients as friends, embracing them as soon as they enter.

“From the get-go, when people get here, they can feel the diff erence that we’re welcoming to people,” JR says. “We accept everybody here. We always try to welcome everybody, which is refl ected in the reviews when people get the service.”

JR shares it’s his goal to build positive relationships with his clientele, and he wants his barbershop to be a place where friends can gather and converse about

every facet of their lives, including the ups and downs.

“We’re not trying just to change the perspective of how you look, but also give you that push of motivation or therapy, if you can call it that, one way of changing your mindset to the perspective you got in life or what could you achieve in life,” JR says.

As a testament of his pursuit for excellence, with one Google search, you’ll fi nd 281 fi ve-star Google reviews with nothing but compliments on the barbershop and recommendations for others to get their next haircut there. JR is sanguine about his future pursuits and has many plans to expand the business.

“I see myself being an entrepreneur having a franchise organization seeing High Class in many diff erent cities, many diff erent states and hopefully worldwide,” JR says. “I think with the academy...we're trying to build the college for barbering. I think that's gonna be a very possible

achievement since we're gonna be creating the barbers ourselves.”

By the end of July, JR will be offi cially promoting HC Barber Academy which will include in-depth 30-week long barber training.

Th e pilot course will launch at the end of August or the beginning of September, JR remarks, with limited availability and the possibility of opening a second.

Angel "JR" Maldonado and his wife, Enidza Santiago, inside their barber salon.

ne of the “South’s Best BBQ Joints” and self-proclaimed “barbecue ministry” 4 Rivers

Smokehouse opened its South Lakeland location with a lot of hype and fanfare in late June.

The Florida-based family owned business is known for signature classics such as its 18-hour angus brisket and burnt ends, and homestyle sides like baked cheese grits and smokehouse corn. It even serves up several vegetarian options.

Sandwiches start at $7.59, platters of meat and side dishes range around $13-18 and 4 Rivers also offers family meals and party packs.

The restaurant is located at 4729 S. Florida Ave. in front of Publix Greenwise, and the spacious building features seating for 92 guests and includes large garage doors that open to provide fresh air for customers.

As is customary, according to company founder and CEO John Rivers, the store has distinctive local touches to match the personality of our community.

When you walk in the main entrance there is a custom sign that includes the outline of the Lakeland skyline along with a swan icon. To the left of the entrance is a wall height mural of the historic Polk Theatre.

“We’ve been looking at Lakeland for probably six years trying to find that perfect location,” Rivers said inside the new building on Thursday. “We’ve got a brand new team of 50 people we’ve hired from Lakeland and the manager (Johanna Annis) is from Lakeland as well. Couldn’t be more excited about it and the reception has just been tremendous so far.”

The Florida State alum had a distinguished 20year career in health care, but he always loved good barbecue and took detailed notes about the best meat he was served, whether it was in Texas, Missouri or Alabama. He is quick to give credit to people and restaurants who inspired 4 Rivers recipes, and he’s such an open book that he’s actually authored and published “The Southern Cowboy Cookbook.”

WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS

PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL

DESIGNED BY SYDNEY SILVA

FOOD PHOTOS COURTESY OF 4 RIVERS

“WE’VE BEEN LOOKING AT LAKELAND FOR PROBABLY SIX YEARS TRYING TO FIND THAT PERFECT LOCATION...COULDN’T BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT IT AND THE RECEPTION HAS JUST BEEN TREMENDOUS SO FAR.”

J O HN RIV E RS CEO

Th e “ministry” aspect of 4 Rivers relates to the company’s ongoing commitment to doing good in the communities his restaurant’s reside. In 2004, fi ve years before the fi rst 4 Rivers store was opened in Winter Park, John hosted a barbecue cookout fundraiser to support a family whose young daughter was battling cancer. Th e event was the catalyst for 4 Rivers ongoing support of local schools, churches and charitable organizations.

Rivers already spoke at a gathering of the local Rotary Club, and he said he’s thrilled to be part of a community where “people are genuinely friendly and honest.”

“One of the things we learned right away—and I wish I could say it was strategy but truth be told we didn’t have any money so we couldn't advertise back then. But we could go into the community and serve alongside the schools and churches and the people who needed it the most…and that

instilled in us a spirit of giving and reaching out to the community and keeping their needs fi rst,” he said. “Getting involved with the Chamber or the Rotary or the churches or schools, that is equally part of our mission as the business and the food we make.”

When asked what his favorite dishes are at the restaurant commonly referred to as “4R” for short, he made his way through nearly half the menu—and why wouldn’t the proud owner of a fl ourishing chain? But he made a point to stop on their dessert menu, which includes nearly 20 decadent options made in house by the 4R bakery team, and he joked that the summer they went full throttle to perfect that menu he gained nearly 20 pounds.

Open Monday - Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM

4729 Florida Ave South

“GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER OR THE ROTARY OR THE CHURCHES OR SCHOOLS, THAT IS EQUALLY PART OF OUR MISSION AS THE BUSINESS AND THE FOOD WE MAKE.”

ere are myriad reasons to still consider a classic watch in the technological age where smartwatches can do everything from play music to show you your vitals. A watch, with antique nuts and bolts of a watchmaker, can not only accompany your out t but accentuate your personality.

ere are countless varieties still in the market that o er an incredible mix of value and quality, many of which you can buy locally.

ere are a throng of jewelers in Lakeland that o er quality options at a wide range of price points that use materials from the nest sources and that don’t require the stress of driving along I-4 to get to Orlando or Tampa. ese jewelers are constantly keeping a keen eye on what’s trendy and visually appealing to ensure they have options that delight a large number of demographics.

“We care, as far as quality goes,” said Ryan McKellen, manager at International Diamond Center’s Lakeland location at Lakeside Village. “I've been in this industry for almost 15 years, and I've worked for everything from your big box stores, like a Jared or Kay (Jewelers), all the way up into high-end luxury retailers. is quality is second to none. IDC is an incredible mix of value and quality, unlike anyone I've ever seen.”

Seasoned jewelers and salespeople like McKellen will guide you to the watch that will perfectly t for your style, personality and price range. Check out some of the local treasures we unearthed.

WRITTEN BY DIEGO DE JESUS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JORDAN RANDALL & JON SIERRA

DESIGNED BY SYDNEY SILVA

Smartwatches make sure you don't miss a thing, but these watches you can purchase in Lakeland make sure you don't miss becoming the most stylish version of yourself

The Rolex Stainless Steel Submariner Rolex Submariner w/ Date

Model # 126610LN

Black Dial

Oyster Bracelet International Diamond Center $18,150

Theriskiest financialmove isdoingnothing.

Yourwealthplanshouldkeepupwiththechanging circumstancesofyourlife,aswellaswiththecyclesinthe financialmarkets.Anewcareer,anewgrandchild,anew business,asignificantshiftinyourportfolio—anyofthese eventscouldnecessitateafreshlookatyourstrategy.

AsaMorganStanleyFinancialAdvisor,Icanworkwithyouto developastrategyandthenhelpyoumanageyourinvestments andassetsthroughlife'schanges.Calltodaytoarrangean appointment.We'llworktogethertoplanforwhatmaycome.

JeffreyClementsCFP®

PortfolioManager SeniorVicePresident

FinancialAdvisor

225E.LemonSt. Lakeland,FL33801 +1863499-1521

Jeffrey.Clements@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/ the-griffith-clements-group

dobjectives.

Theappropriatenessofaparticularinvestmentorstrategywilldependonaninvestor"sindividualcircumstancesandobjectives. CFPBoardownsthemarksCFP®,CERTIFIEDFINANCIALPLANNER™,andCFP®(withplaquedesign)intheUS. ©2021MorganStanleySmithBarneyLLC.MemberSIPC.MAR014CRC323461801/21CS995921602/21

Lune Gold Natural

36mm

Italian leather band

Scratch-resistant hardened mineral glass

Nacre

$170

Mini Lune Rose Gold

36mm

Soft white pearlized dial Rose gold mesh band

Nacre $170

Tag Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5

Model WAY201A

Munchel's Fine Jewelry $2,475

Citizen Eco-drive Dress Watch

37mm Stainless Steel Rose White Crystal Bezel and Dial Munchel's Fine Jewelry

$375

Gents Stainless Rolex Datejust with custom Tiffany Blue Baguette Diamond Dial Engine turned Bezel and Jubilee Bracelet Model 16220

Munchel's Fine Jewelry

$7,295

Ladies Rose Gold Rolex Datejust

26mm Two Tone Stainless Steel and Rose Gold with Factory Jubilee Diamond Dial, Smooth Bezel and Oyster Bracelet Model 179161

Munchel's Fine Jewelry

$8,995

Citizen Promaster Eco-drive Dive Watch

45mm Stainless Steel Munchel's Fine Jewelry $525

MAX JEWELERS

1553 Town Center Dr. 863-688-3795

maxjewelers.com

Tissot PRX

T1374103302100

Stainless steel with yellow gold PVD coating

Quartz movement

Water resistant up to 100m

Max Jewelers $395

Tissot PRX in mint

T1374101109101

Quartz movement

Quick release steel bracelet

Water resistant up to 100m

Max Jewelers

$375

spotliht saLon

LOCAL SPOTS

STYLED WITH THE HOTTEST TRENDS

WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAN AUSTIN

DESIGNED BY BRIANA CHENOT

MAKEUP BY BELINDA NICOLE @beautiesbybelinda JACKIE EDWARDS @jackie_venuesalon

spotliht on

racy specializes in balayage, creating vibrant customized colors and short textured haircuts for women that flatter every face shape. Her work has been featured in AVEDA’s Global Color Guide and several of her customers have been featured on AVEDA’s digital platforms.

For this shoot, she used goth edgy inspired vivid color with v-bangs, and the haircut was a modern take on the shag. The cut was performed with both shears and razors to allow the haircut more texture and movement.

Her favorite product is Botanical Repair Styling Cream. When she's not doing hair, she loves going for walks with her three pups at Bonnet Springs Park.

enue

SALON

Hair cut, colored and styled by Tracy Clark

TRACY CLARK -STYLIST

STYLE | ISSUE 90

enue is an AVEDA Concept Co-Brand salon that believes safety is the new luxury and physical and mental health is the new wealth.

Th e talented team of professionals focuses on helping customers reach their personal beauty goals by listening to them and fi nding out what inspires them. Th ey are so driven to provide a distinctive experience to each person that new customers can fi nd out who their "stylist soulmate" is through a simple online questionnaire.

Since 2009, Amy has been helping clients fi nd styles that work with their lifestyle and hair texture. She absolutely loves doing bobs and dimensional color.

Her featured cut displays heavy face framing layers with a curtain bang. Customized foil placement for her highlights off er dimension to Jessica's curated rich copper color, with a focus on brightness toward the front.

When she isn’t in the salon helping her clients love their hair again, you will fi nd her exploring the local parks and fi nding the best hidden gems to eat at.

AMY LEWIS -

Hair cut, colored and styled by Amy Lewis

Mid Fade w/ Pompadour by JR

Messy Look w/ Mid Drop Fade by JR

ngel "JR" Maldonado Jr. is a US Army veteran whose passion for cutting and styling hair dates back to his early years as a pre-teen living in Puerto Rico.

He loves Jesus and loves people. He sees his work as impacting lives one haircut at a time.

His featured cuts are trending styles for boys and men. He chose them because they're a clash of classic with a modern style. The blonde model (top left) is showing off a mid fade with a pompadour and the black hair model (bottom left) is rocking a messy look with a mid drop fade.

JR always recommends products depending on customer preferences. For example, if they like wet looks, he uses hair wax, and if someone goes for a more natural look, he uses styling powder.

Get to know JR even more by checking out the Metro section, on page 22.

Sheena Barber has been dedicated to offering amazing results to Central Florida customers for nearly two decades.

She said after graduating from Traviss Technical College she began building her clientele at Salon 04 and Co. in Winter Haven, under the tutelage of owner Maryan Mathes. Barber says she is her "hair mom" and the now-retired Mathes made a lasting impact by pouring in to her when she was new to the trade.

Now an experienced stylist, Barber made the move to Lakeland with a group at The Heights Salon. She specializes in color and highlights and loves making people look and feel their best.

She chose the high definition Red-Violet color for The Lakelander shoot because it's a "vibrant and very fiery fun feel."

Some of her favorite products are Pravanna Nevo to keep hair feeling hydrated and Kenra Platinum Blow dry spray that she says "cuts blowout time in half."

SHEENA BARBER -STYLIST

Tiff any has been making customers feel good about themselves since graduating from cosmetology school in 2006. She stared as an assistant before moving into a management position and then fi nally working behind the chair in 2017.

For Th e Lakelander shoot she called upon her faithful customer Willmarie— whose hair she has styled for more than 10 years. Coutu said she put together a look that refl ects her client's spicy personality.

To make the look pop she styled her hair with REDKEN acidic bonding concentrate leave-in treatment, Moroccan oil hydrating styling cream and Kenra thermal spray for heat protection.

BOOK

TIFFANY COUTU -STYLIST

Lived in Blonde by Alyssa Angulo

TrueMedSpa is a full-service salon, spa and medical facility with an extensive list of offerings to suit anyone’s beauty, health and wellness needs.

Th e goal is for customers to be pampered by professional aesthetic physicians and practitioners in a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere.

Hairstylist Alyssa Angulo—a George Jenkins High School grad who attended Traviss Technical College—loves making locals feel self confident.

She has worked for major product companies like SexyHair and RUSK. She is also certified in 5 BellamiPro extension methods, Habit Hair hand-tied weft extensions and Brazilian Blowout Smoothing Treatment.

Alyssa chose to create a “lived in blonde” look for her model for The Lakelander shoot. This look allows the model’s hair to be more low maintenance while still appearing trendy and fresh.

Alyssa's go-to products are Kevin Murphy Touchable Spray Wax and Eleven Australia Smooth and Shine Serum. In her downtime, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her Dobermans, reading, traveling and playing disc golf and pickleball. She is also currently learning French.

SALON AND SPA

ALYSSA ANGULO -STYLIST

Clique

Clique Salon and Med Spa is a sophisticated space where clients receive personalized, high quality treatments. Owner Brandie Goleno has been in the industry for more than a decade, and she is passionate about providing exceptional services and providing a space for her stylists to build great personal brands.

Clique continues to grow and has gained a loyal clientele, thanks to its top-notch team of professional colorists, estheticians and health care providers.

HANNAH SALVADORSTYL

Hannah Salvador is a dedicated hairstylist at Clique Salon and Med Spa who specializes in blonding and extensions. She crafts personalized styles that exceed her clients' expectations. She has done her job if you leave you feeling confi dent and beautiful.

For Th e Lakelander shoot she wanted to create long soft layers and bright blonde "beachy, kind of surfer" vibes for her model. She absolutely loves Kenra Blow Dry Spray and REDKEN One United Multi-Benefi t Treatment Spray.

SALON AND MED SPA

Bright Beachy Blonde by Hannah Salvador

BRANDIE GOLENOOWNER

Lucille, known by many customers

as "Lucille the Hair Witch" has been styling and coloring hair for more than 22 years. She hails from "the beautiful island of Puerto Rico." For this shoot she choose to feature what she calls "Midnight Rose." Th e intensity of this color enhances her clients' skin tone and brings out her facial features in a beautiful way. Lucille's go-to products are the "Defy Damage" Shampoo and Conditioner and "Heat Hero" heat protectant, both by Joico.

Midnight Rose by Lucille Banchs

(follow us at @lakelandermag) to tag the most stylish locals they knew. Nearly 500 comments, with loads of fire emojis, flooded in. Here's a taste of just of some of Lakeland's social media fashion influencers.

veryone’s defi nition of “cool” is subjective, but sometimes you just have to respect someone’s game because of the caliber of other people who clearly are.

do choreography for Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Ronde Barber’s retirement party at Raymond James Stadium. The Hall of Famer liked their vibe and energy so much that he made sure they were able to stay the entire evening by covering their flight expenses to their next work gig—where April was doing makeup for the WWE show Total Divas in New Orleans.

In 2014, Nova and April Jaquez were hired to is old

Fast forward nearly a decade and the Lakeland couple is no longer jetting across the country. Their focus centers on their almost 2 year old son, Warrior, the crown jewel of their family after nearly eight years of struggling to have a child.

Th eir style though? It’s not your typical “mom and dad” wardrobe.

April, a 2006 graduate of Lakeland High School, says she “played it safe” with her style for many years, but as the world opened up for her as a professional dancer—including a stint with the Orlando Magic—she started trying new things, and found joy in re-mixing outfi ts.

RJ WALTERS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JORDAN RANDALL & JON SIERRA DESIGNED BY

During her shoot with Th e Lakelander she proudly showed off her Dollar Tree sunglasses and expressed that style is about far more than recognizable logos and hefty shopping budgets.

She said Nova’s style is “defi nitely free spirited,” and he jokes that he learned from his mother and two sisters that women’s clothing sections usually have more and better options.

“If you have the confi dence to rock it, why not?” he said.

Nova grew up in New York, the son of Dominican parents. He brought his fashion flair to Central Florida, and it’s normal for people to take a long gaze at what he’s wearing.

“Th e question we most often get is, ‘Where are you going?’ and I’m like, ‘Umm, I’m going to the mailbox to get the mail.’”

Th eir passion for style over the years led to them starting their business Crossbreed (@wearecrossbreed on IG) where the couple off ers everything from hair and makeup to professional choreography to photography and videography.

@novajaycrossbreed

@aprilmichellejaquez

hen Marjan Conklin isn’t dressed in medical garb, focused on saving lives as an ER nurse at Lakeland Regional Health, she lets her hair down and her selfproclaimed effortless style comes to life.

The half Persian, half Filipino Conklin loves neutral shades that have a pop of color, and she draws inspiration from model Gigi Hadid.

The Lake Gibson High School graduate is well traveled, including being born in Kuwait and living in New York for a year when she was younger. She says her style often ties in colors and designs that remind her of places like Italy, France and Greece. her Italy,

In her “free” time she leans into her creative side by doing interior design for a local builder. She also has fun on her @marjanslookbook Instagram account, showing off her style as well as life as a #boymom. When she was on set with The Lakelander she shouted out Alexandria Lissett (@ lissettluxemakeup on IG) for getting her ready for the shoot, and Conklin said ZARA and REVOLVE are two of her go-to companies to buy clothes from. She loves fashion and has high hopes of growing her interior design business, but at heart, she says she is first a mom and a wife.

@marjanslookbook

MESSIEH ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC

MESSIEH ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC

Leader in anterior hip replacement in Central Florida since 1991

Less-invasive surgery for the active patient looking for a quick recovery and a quicker return to work

Leader in anterior hip replacement in Central Florida since 1991

Less-invasive surgery for the active patient looking for a quick recovery and a quicker return to work.

Two Locations 1601 Sixth Street SE Winter Haven, FL 33880 863.419.9301

3200 Physicians Way Sebring, FL 33880 863.471.9700

hen Ciara Liebl walks into a room—or into the sanctuary of Family Worship Center, her home church for several decades—she radiates a bright cheer with outfi ts that match her motto, “Less is never more!”

The professional makeup artist and 2011 Lakeland High School graduate says she loves dressing up, but as a busy mother of two (soon to be three) girls, Sundays are the only consistent day she gets dressed to the nines.

Growing up, Ciara’s mom wasn’t into fashion but she supported her daughter’s love for it, and Ciara recalls playing with lipstick at just 2 years old. Her love for style continued to blossom through high school, when she had a realization after doing her friend’s makeup for a wedding.

“When I was finished, she gave me a tip, and I looked at it and it was like a lightbulb went off in my head that I could make money doing makeup,” she said. For the past decade, she has been doing just that. Th rough her business Ci.Beauty (cibeauty.co) Ciara off ers makeup for brides and bridal parties and she does makeup and hair for commercial photoshoots for companies that include Spectrum, Publix and Indie Atlantic.

She describes her personal style as funky, colorful and cheerful. She proudly rocked a pair of bold Zenni Optical glasses during her shoot, and her favorite dress—the sand-colored lipstick dress that is featured—is from the Lakeland boutique Monkee’s.

On Sunday’s, her daughters, Lilly and Lucy, follow their mom’s lead, but Ciara jokes that her days of picking out their outfi ts has sadly come to a close.

@ciaraliebl

hen Taylor Ard arrived on set she was donning a lkld girl shirt—a design popularized by her accessory and apparel company East of These. She then confidently strutted in front of the camera in a chic southern boho dress, changed into a rocker t-shirt that she cloaked in a formal black jacket, and by the time she walked out the door she was sporting a Lil’ Wayne shirt.

Such is life for a mom of three boys who admits many days she resorts to the “yoga pants and t-shirt" look, but who is also the face of a company known for beautiful fabrics and classy designs.

She said growing up her family didn’t have a lot of resources and she spent a lot of time shuffl ing the racks at Goodwill. Th at experience taught her how to identify diamonds in the rough and piece outfi ts together.

She was raised in Charleston, S.C. so it makes sense that she loves boots, and she also leans into “classic things” and 70s fashion. Since the offi cial launch of East of Th ese in 2020, Taylor’s local profi le has continued to grow, and you will often fi nd her at Catapult and Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market. But if you ask Taylor what it’s like to be seen as a local infl uencer, she will tell you she’s still getting used to it.”

“It’s very humbling to think people view me as a style trendsetter.”

@eastofthese

bdiel Gonzalez still remembers getting weird looks walking around the Florida Southern College campus in the early 2000s. He was in fact wearing skinny jeans, a trend that had not quite landed in Lakeland that Abdiel was an early adopter on. “I remember people

Two decades later, people might still be asking that question, but with a tone of admiration and curiosity for the Hawaiian born Lakelander who calls his fashion sense relaxed and resort inspired.

Gonzalez is the business development and marketing manager for Haus 820, and he is no stranger to branding and storytelling.

As a youngster he was immersed in commercial dance and theater, and he even made an appearance in Disney commercials.

He also knows the retail industry inside and out, having worked for Hollister, Urban Outfi tters, and most recently, online eyewear giant Warby Parker.

His extensive experience and network has drawn the interest of apparel brands over the past year-and-a-half, and he is starting to work more intentionally on his Instagram account, @abdielgonzalez.

Before a recent trip to the Dominican Republic with his wife, Kristy Scott, and friends, he bought a statement-making stallion emblazoned set of pyjamas (the photos say it all) from UK brand Desmond & Dempsey, whose slogan is ”from bed to barbecue.”

drawn apparel photos whose and things interesting.

Gonzalez said he is drawn to light fabrics, and he likes to play with volume and diff erent width tops and bottoms to keep @abdielgonzalez

1940-1960

Courtesy of Lakeland Public Library

Th e Fashion Shop located at 816-818 North Florida Avenue in Lakeland off ered clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children.