Maria Orellana

For more than 20 years, Maria Orellana has dedicated her life to helping others feel confident and beautiful through her work as a hairstylist. Before opening her own salon, Maria spent years renting a chair and building loyal relationships with clients, all while carrying a dream of one day creating something of her own. That dream became even more meaningful when her daughter shared that she hoped to follow in her footsteps and become a hairstylist too. Inspired by the possibility of building a legacy for her family, Maria took a leap of faith and opened Mariana Salon. Recently celebrating five years in business, her salon stands as a reflection of perseverance, sacrifice, and love for her craft.

Opening a business during uncertain times came with challenges Maria never expected. The COVID-19 pandemic tested small businesses everywhere. Through closures and instability, Maria remained hopeful. She believes one of the biggest reasons she survived was simple but powerful: communication. By staying connected with her clients and nurturing those relationships, she maintained trust and support during one of the most difficult periods for small business owners. Her resilience carried her through the pandemic, but new obstacles soon emerged with the construction of the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail along Van Nuys Boulevard, impacting visibility and access for many local businesses.