From the Editor

BY CHANELLE HAYES-SESSIONS

Welcome to the summer 2025 edition of Chic Compass.

This one feels extra special because, as of this season, we’re officially entering our eighth year. And that’s a milestone that makes us stop and take a breath.

When Ann Parenti, publisher, and Carolyn Muse Grant, then editor-in-chief, launched Chic Compass in August 2018, there wasn’t a detailed plan. It was just a small team with a big dream. The two, along with the writers and others who contributed to its success—from graphic designer Jake Naylor to fashion and creative director David Tupaz—all shared a belief in the power of meaningful storytelling. They wanted to create something beautiful and soulful, with a strong focus on art, fashion, food, design, travel, culture and, most of all, the people who bring those things to life.

That original spirit—from the very first cover featuring Cristina Pajara Clarke, a nurse practitioner here in Las Vegas whose compassion and quiet strength have made a lasting impact on so many families, to this edition’s cover star, Tiffany Chang, a thoughtful, trailblazing leader who’s using empathy, innovation and service to redefine what leadership looks like—still lives on today.

Between those covers are hundreds of stories we hope you’ll never forget. From soulful jazz legends and bold visual artists to entrepreneurs and changemakers, Chic Compass has had the honor of spotlighting people who live with passion, purpose and creativity. With each issue, we’ve also aimed to take you on a journey into inspiring spaces, meaningful moments and new ways of seeing the world—whether just down the street or across the globe.

There have been many milestones over the years—including launching the “Chic Compass Connection” podcast (which you can find at chiccompass.com), expanding into digital storytelling, evolving through the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and forming Chic Compass LLC in January 2023 with the help of the magazine’s group publishing directors: Robert Dolan, who serves as senior vice president, and Joseph Amato, vice president of sales and marketing strategy. Not to mention our quarterly luxury launch parties, where individuals featured in each issue gather to be celebrated and recognized beyond our glossy pages.

As we turn the page into a new season, we’re more grateful than ever. This issue is full of everything you’ve come to love about Chic Compass.

Whether you’ve been a day-one supporter or just now discovered Chic Compass, thank you for being part of this journey. We wouldn’t be here without you.

Here’s to eight years of storytelling, style and soul—and to whatever beautiful moments come next.