Meg McClenahan 
Northern New Jersey Locals are constantly looking for new beginnings. The Montclair Girl is highlighting five of these amazing individuals who are spearheading their own starts. Read more to learn about what locals are up to this October in Montclair and beyond.
Jessica Elizabeth | Founder + Lead Artist at King Elizabeth Makeup Artistry
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Jessica Elizabeth is the founder and lead artist of King Elizabeth Makeup Artistry. King Elizabeth Makeup Artistry was founded in 2012 and is a beauty brand that specializes in makeup for all skin tones and age groups. The brand has a strong focus on celebrating natural beauty and highlighting individuality in order to build confidence. Jessica told The Montclair Girl that “Over the years, I’ve had the honor of working on a wide range of television productions and with iconic figures such as Whoopi Goldberg, Phylicia Rashad, and Rosie Perez. Whether I’m on set or working with everyday clients, my mission is always the same: to empower people through artistry and help them feel seen, celebrated, and confident in their own skin.”
Jessica’s mission takes form in community engagement as well. By mentoring young artists, Jessica builds confidence in mentees, creating opportunities for underrepresented voices within the beauty industry. She provides workshops, collaboration, and mentorship in order to be a resource for those looking to step into the beauty world. Jessica’s goal is to advocate for her clients by making them feel seen and building their confidence through her expertise. Jessica’s expertise in makeup isn’t designed to change the client but to highlight their natural beauty and strength, building confidence.
Jessica says that “If I could inspire people in one way through my work at King Elizabeth Makeup Artistry, it would be by reminding them that beauty has no boundaries not in age, skin tone, or background.” Jessica is proud to be able to work with all skin tones and age groups, she is not a “one-size-fits-all” artist, instead she works with clients to showcase their natural strength. “I believe makeup is more than just a service, it’s a powerful form of self-expression, healing, and self-love.”
Jessica’s favorite local spots: Mercado, Faubourg, Beyond the Boogie
Local businesses Jessica looks up to: Tiffany and Nikita of Beyond the Boogie in Upper Montclair
Keep up with Jessica and King Elizabeth Beauty on her website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Read More: 5 Montclair Locals to Watch This September
Deborah Wang + Kevin Zaballero | Owners of Banh Voyage
Photo Credit: Deborah Wang + Kevin Zaballero
Kevin and Deborah are both residents of Montclair — and Montclair is their favorite thing about North Jersey. Kevin Zaballero is the owner of Local Coffee in Watchung Plaza, and Deborah has been a barista there for five years. Deborah and Kevin decided to team up to create Banh Voyage not too far from Local Coffee in Watchung Plaza. They are grateful for the friendships they have formed from their time at Local Coffee and were inspired by the community’s support to bring Banh Voyage to Montclair. Banh Voyage is a Vietnamese cafe attached to Watchung Booksellers serving up banh mi and Vietnamese iced coffee.
Deborah and Kevin look fondly upon their Montclair community and told The Montclair Girl “The relationships we’ve built and the people we get to meet on a daily basis have truly inspired what we do. One of our favorite Local Coffee regulars reminded us of the famous Sheryl Sandberg quote, ‘What would you do if you weren’t afraid’” And for us, the answer was simple. We would take the leap and go out and open the Vietnamese cafe we’ve been wanting to see in Montclair.” Deborah and Kevin appeal to their community and pass along this advice, hoping to inspire others to take that leap of faith and start a new business.
They are thankful for their community members and Montclair’s abundance of new things to try from hobbies to cuisine. Check out their new spot in Montclair in order to take part in that same community they rave about.
Deborah and Kevin’s favorite local spots: “Deborah is a burger fan, and you can often find her at Dan and Day’s, Diesel and Duke, or even Tierney’s for a weekly burger. She is also frequently browsing at Almost Ready Records as well as Houss Freya Apothecary, and you can find her every Thursday at Pineapple Express for BBQ and weekly trivia. Kevin enjoys having a bourbon at Egan and Sons as well as Tierney’s, and will often be out with his wife and daughter at Watchung Booksellers. Kevin also enjoys grabbing dinner at Sushi Koshi and Koreander in Watchung Plaza.”
Local businesses Deborah and Kevin look up to: Dave from Diesel and Duke, and Jonathan and Melissa from Paper Plane Coffee
Keep up With Deborah and Kevin on their website and Instagram.
Jenya + Leese Katsnelson | Founders of Rebel Aid LLC
Photo Credit: Jenya Katsnelson
Sisters Jenya and Leese Katsnelson co-founded Rebel Aid, a clean electrolyte drink powder. Jenya Katsnelson is a Verona resident with a background in investment management and as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. When the sisters looked at the existing market they realized there was a place for clean electrolyte drinks. Leese “had always wanted to launch a clean product, I was obsessed with ingredients and wellness, and we both believed kids, teens, and families deserved better options. So we created Rebel Aid — a drink with no shortcuts, total transparency, and a taste kids actually love,” Jenya told The Montclair Girl.
Rebel Aid’s goal is to normalize clean hydration. If the goal of electrolyte based drinks is to heal and recover, Jenya wants to make sure that her drink helps people succeed and be their best in a clean and honest way. Jenya hopes to inspire others to look towards alternative paths, even if the new path was not the original plan. She encourages people to read ingredients and remember that “our bodies are a gift, and what we put inside truly matters. The choices we make today will shape how we feel tomorrow.” Jenya loves the community Montclair brings from the Montclair Farmers’ Market to soccer games she appreciates the people and sense of belonging the community brings. Jenya told The Montclair Girl “There’s always something happening! Add in the beautiful parks, the proximity to nature, and all the amazing local restaurants, and it feels like the perfect mix of small-town charm and big flavor.”
Jenya’s favorite local spots: “I love the atmosphere at Though in Motion Waterbar — they infuse your drink with intention: how do you want to feel — inspired, healthy, abundant? After camp or on special occasions, I love treating my son to something sweet from Jayce Baudry French Pastry. The Montclair Farmers Market is a weekend ritual, and I can never resist browsing at Watchung Booksellers. For a clean wine to bring to one of the many BYOB spots in town, I head to Amanti Vino — their selection of mostly organic and biodynamic wines is the best — and Meet Me at Madison’s is my go-to for a delicious lunch or dinner.”
Local businesses Jenya looks up to: “I really look up to Lynne DiGiacomo, who runs Pickleball Alley. She’s created such a fun and welcoming space for the community to come together, play pickleball, and connect. Her weekly Round Robins at Brookdale Park are one of my favorite activities — I’ve met so many great people there. I also admire the owners of Thought in Motion — they’ve built such a unique, intentional space that inspires wellness, creativity, and mindfulness. It’s more than just a waterbar — it’s an experience that invites people to slow down and connect with themselves.”
Keep up with Jenya and Rebel Aid on her website, Instagram, and TikTok.
Kalyna De Angelo | Founder of Kalyna Fragrances
Photo Credit: Kalyna De Angelo
Kalyna De Angelo lives in North Jersey and works as a health coach along with being the founder of Kalyna Fragrances. Kalyna used her background in wellness, creativity, and marketing into the creation of Kalyna Fragrances which focuses on sustainability, health, and making women feel empowered. Kalyna Fragrances is a non-toxic perfume brand that is kind to the body and planet. Kalyna knows that scent and memory are deeply connected, this is why she is focused on creating scents that exude powerful confidence that are capable of changing the way you feel about yourself. Kalyna is Ukrainian and is honoring her heritage through the story of the Kalyna flower. The Kalyna flower is a Ukrainian symbol of beauty, resilience, and strength and Kalyna aims to tie this message into her fragrance as she helps women amplify their existing power through scent. Kalyna Fragrances are not meant to cover up but are meant to emphasize the power that exists.
Kalyna creates community through events and her overall message of strength and confidence. She loves living in North Jersey and told The Montclair Girl “I’ve been here for 28 years and I think its a great place to live! I love that in North Jersey, you get the best of both worlds! You’re close to New York City and can get that city energy vibe, but you also have quieter spaces to slow down and ground yourself. I love nature, trees, flowers, so that balance is important to me.”
Kalyna’s favorite local spots: “My favorite spots are the little coffee shops like Paper Plane Coffee in Montclair.”
Local businesses Kalyna looks up to: “I admire the small boutique owners, wellness practitioners, and creatives in North Jersey who put so much heart into what they do. Lisa Annese in Wyckoff has an amazing sound bowl studio that has changed my life! Also Kristen at The Skin Tune in Ramsey is amazing if you want a good facial!”
Keep up with Kalyna and Kalyna Fragrances on her website, Instagram and TikTok.
Angela Beth | Founder of Angela Beth Studio
Photo Credit: Angela Spazianto
Angela Spazianto is a newborn and family photographer based in Northern New Jersey. Angela is a photographer who has been featured in ABC7NY, NorthJersey.com, MSN, and Yahoo!Life, and was honored as a Story Worthy Photographer by Feels Like Family Magazine. Angela is a strong supporter of stories of motherhood and family and an advocate for mental health. She champions these causes by hosting charity events that give back to the women and children in the community.
Angela told The Montclair Girl “I create natural, emotive imagery that celebrates presence over perfection. I draw inspiration from the women I photograph and from the sisterhood that forms when we share our stories and show up for one another. Connection, mental health advocacy, and community are at the heart of my work. If my photography could inspire anything, it would be for people to feel seen and supported, to know they are not alone, and to embrace presence over perfection in their own stories.” This message is apparent in Angela’s business because her business gives back to the community around her. Her goal is to create meaningful imagery around motherhood and family while supporting causes that champion these groups.
Angela’s favorite thing about living in North Jersey is the doubleness in experience you get from city to city. You can have both worlds, a small town one day and a vibrant city the next. And within these places are communities with opportunity for connection.
Angela’s favorite local spots: “I love escaping to Van Vleck House + Gardens; it’s so peaceful and beautiful, and I find it really inspiring creatively. I also love the rose garden at Brookdale Park, especially when it’s in full bloom.”
Local businesses Angela looks up to: “Most of the business owners I look up to are photographers whose work inspires me, but locally I really admire the many women-owned businesses in our area. From doulas and maternal wellness professionals to mommy meet-up organizers and small boutique owners, I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some of them and am always inspired by the heart and creativity they bring to serving families.”
Keep up with Angela and Angela Beth Studio on her website and Instagram.
See More: 10 Hoboken + Jersey City Locals to Watch in October 2025
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