Women Who Shine

Annette Addo-Yobo

Currently Reigning Miss Texas

From Miss Southlake to Miss Texas, this native of Ghana in West Africa, next has her sights on the title of Miss America. Annette Addo-Yobo is the first immigrant to win Miss Texas. She migrated for her father’s job to Maryland, then Canada, before moving to Texas where she graduated from high school. She became an American citizen just two years ago, has a master’s in business administration, and is a student from Lamar University’s College of Business. Her platform underscores the importance of autism safety in the context of autism awareness after an incident involving her nonverbal, autistic 23-year-old brother. 

She travels the country and has been a community and legislative advocate for nationally recognized organizations including Autism Speaks, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Organization for Autism Research, and the Autism CARES Act and the Autism Family Caregivers Act. In fact, her passion for advocating for this cause inspired her selected talent for the Miss Texas pageant competition. She used the spoken word in a monologue to inspire more assistance for autistic individuals.

Annette will vye for the Miss America title in January. 

Instagram: @annetteaddoyobo

Meet Dr. Sara Mahmood D D S | M S | F A G D | F I D I A

Entrepreneur, Mentor, Thought Leader

Dr. Sara Mahmood is the Founder and sole Owner of brush365, a dental company with four locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, known for its commitment to "Dentistry with Integrity." Dr. Sara holds advanced certifications in orthodontics, clear aligners, oral plastic surgery, and implantology. She is also a soon to be Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, a distinction only 2% of dentists ever achieve in their career, and a Fellow in the International Dental Implant Association.

Also a passionate leader and mentor, Dr. Sara contributes to the dental community as a speaker and educator. She founded the SureSmile DFW Study Club which serves as a Global Clinical Partner for SureSmile, and she has presented at international conferences in Las Vegas and Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

A key opinion leader and advocate for innovative dental technologies through the world’s largest dental company for supplies and equipment, Dr. Sara has developed curriculum for clear aligners and has educated dentists nationally. 

Her accolades include the Dallas Business Journal and Incisal Edge Magazine Top 40 Under 40. She is currently pursuing a Surgical Leadership Program at Harvard Medical School and is a member of the current cohort for the D CEO Emerging Women’s Leadership Network to further expand her impact as a global leader. 

As a wife and mom, Dr. Sara understands firsthand the challenges that come with striking harmony between all of the hats women wear in their personal and professional lives. She serves as a mentor to young and aspiring female leaders, and her mission is to elevate the standard of dental care through innovation, education, and integrity and inspiring and supporting women leaders. 

Dr. Sara is married to her college sweetheart, and they have 3 children under six, and she finds time to compete as an avid tennis player through USTA and the Tennis Competitors of Dallas.

Instagram:  @saramahmood.dds

Esé Azénabor Grembowski 

Owner, Creative Director, Designer

This owner, creative director, and head designer of her namesake bridal brand, draws inspiration from art, culture, and her faith in God. Esé Azénabor Grembowski’s designs are renowned for their intricate hand-beading, featuring the finest crystals, stones, pearls, and hand embroidery on luxurious fabrics.

Since its inception, the Esé Azénabor brand has produced 24 collections, specializing in bridal and evening wear. With flagship locations in Dallas, TX; New York, NY; and Southampton, NY, Esé has become one of the world’s most sought-after bridal designers. Brides from across the world seek her bespoke gowns, which have graced national and international stars such as Tyra Banks, Taraji P. Henson, Little Big Town, Kelsea Ballerini, and Vivica A. Fox. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, People, Brides, WWD, and Modern Luxury, among others.

Beyond her career, Esé is a wife and mother, with a mission to empower women through the transformative art of fashion.

Instagram: @esegrembowski and @eseazenabor (business)

Natalie Woods Stanyer

TV Personality, Producer, former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader

You might recognize Natalie from the number one new home television show, Hot On! Homes in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Colorado Springs.  Before joining the Hot On! family, Natalie was a reporter for KVUE-TV, ABC in Austin and also worked for WFAA - TV Channel 8 in Dallas where she researched and wrote for ABC’s top-rated investigative team. 

In addition to her professional television career, Natalie’s love for the Dallas Cowboys drove her to represent America’s Team as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader in 2007-2008. Natalie was a producer for the hit CMT show Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Making the Team. She currently works with the NFL producing the NFL Draft, Pro Bowl as well as other exciting events. Her passion for performance also paved the way to New York where she sang at Carnegie Hall.  

Natalie graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University and is a happily married, proud Mom.

Instagram: @nataliewoods22

Carla Pellegrino

Executive Chef, Restaurateur

A dynamic culinary presence, with a proven track record of success with restaurants from New York City to Las Vegas, Chef Carla Pellegrino is a vibrant star on the epicurean landscape of Las Vegas and beyond. Formally trained at the French Culinary Institute, Chef Carla has  been serving up her dazzling dishes at renowned restaurants for more than a decade, combining award-winning cuisine with a magnetic personality that has made her a favorite with food critics, restaurant patrons and the media alike. 

From high-end to high-volume, with traditional and progressive Italian cuisine and extensive experience in venues  at high-profile Strip properties such as Caesars Palace and Tropicana, Chef Carla is a versatile culinary talent. 

As Carla Pellegrino, once Carla Madeira, was born in Rio de Janeiro to a Portuguese father and a second generation Italian mother. As early as age 10, Pellegrino was cooking daily for her family and helping run her mother’s catering business, which educated her in the preparation of traditional Brazilian, Italian and Portuguese cuisine. At age 16, she moved to Liguria, Italy, where she owned a small store  where her passion for cooking inspired her to conduct daily cooking demonstrations. In 1997, travels brought her to the United States, where she attended the French Culinary Institute in NYC and ultimately graduated with honors. In May 2000, she and Frank Pellegrino Jr opened and successfully established Baldoria Restaurant on 8th Avenue and  Broadway at the heart of NYC’s theater district. At the end of 2006, a dream became a reality and Pellegrino led the culinary team as the executive chef to open Rao’s Las Vegas.

Pellegrino has won dozens of culinary awards over the years and has been featured on Top Chef, Today Show, CBS Morning Show, Fox News National, Throwdown with Bobby Flay (which she won), Food & Wine, Bon Appetit and multiple other national and local news outlets. One of the 75 Countries’ Top Chefs chosen by cookbook writer, Maria Isabella tester for America’s Test Kitchen and Bon Appetit, in hers Master Piece Cookbook CHEFS & COMPANY, where Chef Carla Pellegrino is featured.

She has been the Executive Chef/Owner to multiple ventures over the years in Las Vegas and New York City. She speaks Italian, Portuguese, English and Spanish and is a beautiful, powerful female figure in a field that is largely male dominated. 

Instagram: @cpellegrino1

Kari Seher

Entrepreneur/Adventurer

Kari Crowe Seher made her splash in 2014 with her ice cream shop MELT ice creams, where the mission is to give you the best five minutes of your day. Seeing a need for a local ice cream parlor, Kari set out to open the world’s happiest ice cream shop using premium ingredients while making small batches of artisan ice cream. MELT opened in April of 2014 and has since grown to five scoop shops, a production kitchen, a catering department of trucks and carts, national shipping, and grocery distribution. MELT makes all-natural ice cream flavors in small batches. MELT has a inspiring menu of flavors with classics and creative concoctions like lavender honey crunch, and dulce de leche strawberry pistachio, but there are always plant-based flavors with coconut milk!

Kari is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program and was
selected as one of twenty women entrepreneurs for the 2018 James Beard Women’s Entrepreneur leadership program. Kari has served on the advisory committee for the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival and actively serves with local non-profits The Birthday Party Project. When she isn’t running her business or serving in the community, she’s literally just running. An ultra runner who chooses to go after grueling mountain races, she puts her mind and body to the test by running races up to 100 miles or more in a single day. She lives in the heart of Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband, Mark and best friend dog, Milford.

Instagram:  @karicrowe and @melticecreams

Yvette Lopez

Bridge Builder/Problem Solver

Yvette Lopez is a dynamic leader with expertise in organizational change, leadership development, and process optimization. With over 20 years of experience in program management and operational excellence, she has consistently driven impactful results by reducing inefficiencies and maximizing resources.
 
As Chief Empowerment Officer of Development Culture, LLC and President of Dev Culture, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating, uplifting, and empowering underrepresented communities—particularly women, youth, and Latino immigrants—Yvette champions meaningful change. She spearheaded the first-ever Hispanic Heritage festival in Grapevine, Texas, Celebra Grapevine, fostering cultural celebration and community unity.
 
Yvette's career includes prominent roles in international affairs, such as Director of International Projects at Daytona State College and Liaison Officer for the U.S. Department of Defense at USSOUTHCOM. She also served as an Advisor to the President of the Dominican Republic for a decade, during which she developed the community college project that has since graduated over 20,000 students, transforming lives and expanding access to education.
 
A Florida Bar member and certified mediator, Yvette holds degrees and certifications in Criminology, Law, Lean Six Sigma, and Strategic Planning. Her unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and empowering individuals has left a lasting legacy of growth, opportunity, and meaningful transformation in every community and organization she serves.

Instagram: @yvettelopezchapman