Photographer: Cindy Dong · @thatcindyshot
How their shared vision is creating community in Orlando
On friendship, cultural identity, and the beauty of bringing people together. Some of the most meaningful things begin with a simple introduction.
For Orlando creatives Miriam and Maxine, that introduction became a friendship, and eventually, an idea: bringing Asian American women together in a space where they could connect, celebrate their culture, and simply enjoy being in one another's company. The result was the AAPI Women's Soirée, an intimate gathering at Orlando's Citrus Club during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Miriam, the creative behind Miriam Inspired and Club Inspired, has a background in interior design and a love for creating beautiful, meaningful experiences. Maxine, founder of Celebrate Lunar, is a passionate community builder dedicated to creating spaces where Asian American women feel seen and celebrated. Together, they brought their shared vision to life through an evening of thoughtful design, cultural celebration, and genuine connection.
I spoke with Miriam and Maxine about the friendship that started it all, the traditions that shaped them, and what they hope to create next.
By Monika Bobby
I. The Women Behind the Event
CTLG: Tell us a little about yourselves. How would you introduce yourselves to someone meeting you for the first time?
Miriam: I’m Miriam, a visionary, designer, storyteller, and creative at heart, with a deep appreciation for beautiful spaces, meaningful experiences, and the little details that make life feel special."
Miriam Inspired grew organically from that same philosophy. It’s my way of sharing the places, experiences, rituals, and ideas that inspire me, while encouraging others to find beauty and inspiration in their own everyday lives.
Maxine: I’m Maxine, a visionary, creative, and community builder. I’m married to my amazing, innovative husband, David, and we are blessed with two incredible sons and a daughter.
My heart is deeply dedicated to empowering and lifting up the Asian American community by designing spaces where authentic connection can truly flourish.
CTLG: What are you currently obsessed with that creatively inspires you?
Miriam: Lately I’ve been drawn to the art of gathering. As much as I love a great theme and dreaming up the experience, what inspires me most is the connection that happens within it: the conversations, unexpected friendships, and seeing people find their community.
Maxine: I’m currently captivated by the art of designing intimate, intentional spaces. I love creating environments that strip away noise and invite people into new experiences centered on genuine connection.
CTLG: What are you personally building toward right now?
Miriam: Through Club Inspired, I’m creating a community centered around meaningful experiences, conversations, and bringing people together in real life. And there may be something a little bigger in the works behind the scenes, something I’ve been dreaming about for quite some time and hope to share by the end of the year.
Maxine: I’m building toward a stronger, more connected tomorrow for the next generation. It starts with us choosing to step outside our comfort zones today—paving the path so young leaders can see what’s possible, stand on our shoulders, and grow up with meaningful representation.
II. The Origin
CTLG: What was the spark that led to this event to be curated and what inspired the visual direction?
Miriam: The spark really began with a friendship. Maxine and I were introduced through Monika, the owner of this magazine, and from the first time we met, we immediately connected.
Maxine, who is also the founder of Celebrate Lunar and deeply connected to Orlando’s Asian American community, approached me with the idea of creating an event for our AAPI community. I immediately said yes, and from that conversation, the soirée came to life.
Visually, I wanted the evening to feel like a reflection of that same sense of connection: soft, elevated, intimate, and timeless.
Maxine: The spark was a deeply felt need to gather like-minded Asian American female entrepreneurs and leaders—giving them a dedicated space to pause, decompress, and simply be celebrated. Miriam brought an extraordinary visual vision to the table and venue, and together with our vendors, we brought it to life exactly as dreamed.
CTLG: Why did you select The Citrus Club for this special event?
Miriam: The Citrus Club felt like the perfect setting because it holds such a special place within Orlando. I’ve collaborated with them several times and have also had the pleasure of knowing their GM, James Gelfand, so there was already a genuine relationship and trust there.
With our Cloud Dancer-inspired vision, the idea of celebrating close to the clouds felt especially fitting.
Maxine: The Citrus Club offered the ideal backdrop for an intimate, elevated gathering, paired with an unbelievable spirit of partnership. Their culinary team collaborated with us seamlessly, crafting a menu that honored Asian American Heritage Month through exquisite presentation and flavor.
Maxine:
Community.
Connection.
Culture.”
CTLG: How would you describe the evening in three words?
Miriam: Intimate. Ethereal. Connected.
Maxine: Community, Connection, and Culture.
CTLG: Were there any specific artists, designers, films, books, or cultural references that influenced the experience?
Miriam: There wasn’t one specific artist, film, or book that influenced the evening. In many ways, the biggest inspiration was our own experience as Asian American women in Orlando and the desire to create something that felt both familiar and new, a space where our culture and community could be celebrated in a way that felt elevated, chic, and distinctly our own.
Maxine: The primary influence was a shared heart for Asian American women leaders, who are so often the last to slow down or care for themselves. We wanted an experience free of formal agendas, presentations, or pitch decks—just a luxurious space where they could be spoiled and surrounded by community.
CTLG: What details were most important to get right?
Miriam: The tablescape, with calla lilies, candles, and ivory silk napkins, was designed to feel soft and timeless.
But more than anything, I wanted the women in the room to feel seen and welcomed. Every design decision was really in service of creating an atmosphere where people could relax, have meaningful conversations, meet someone new, and feel a genuine sense of belonging.
Maxine: The ambiance, the location, a thoughtfully curated menu, meaningful conversation starters, and mastering the subtle art of gathering.
CTLG: What element of the evening are you most excited for people to experience?
Miriam: More than any single element, I was most excited for people to experience the feeling of belonging. I wanted every woman to walk into the room and feel, even for one evening, that she was surrounded by people who understood her, shared pieces of her story, or could become part of her own community.
Maxine: The stunning beauty of the atmosphere paired with the rare opportunity to connect outside of our high-demand daily roles.
III. The Art of Gathering
CTLG: Why do you think people are craving intimate gatherings right now?
Miriam: I think people are craving intimate gatherings because we want to feel something real, beyond the screen. Especially in this day and age, when so much of life can be experienced or accomplished through our phones, there’s something irreplaceable about being in a room together.
Maxine: We are living in a post-pandemic season where people are profoundly hungry for authentic presence. We were created for connection; people want to step out of isolation and feel a true sense of belonging and visibility.
CTLG: What do you believe people are really searching for when they attend gatherings like this?
Miriam: I think, ultimately, people are searching for a sense of belonging. They want to feel seen, understood, and reminded that they’re not navigating life alone.
Maxine: They are searching for true resonance. C.S. Lewis famously said, 'Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.' I build events to cultivate those exact moments of recognition and lasting impact.
CTLG: What do you hope guests carry home with them after the evening ends?
Miriam: I hope they carry home a feeling more than anything else: a feeling of being seen, welcomed, connected, and inspired.
Maxine: I hope they carry home deep joy, warmth, and the feeling of being genuinely seen. My prayer is that relationships spark here that extend far beyond tonight—turning into coffee dates, collaborations, and lifelong friendships.
IV. Asian American Identity & Culture
CTLG: Why was it important for this gathering to center Asian American women?
Miriam: It felt important to create a space that intentionally celebrated Asian American women during AAPI Heritage Month, not just our cultures and backgrounds but the women themselves.
Maxine: Asian American women carry so much—often balancing deep cultural expectations, family care, and business leadership—yet their unique stories are rarely given center stage.
CTLG: What conversations were you hoping to create through this event?
Miriam: I wanted to create the space for genuine conversations to unfold naturally, may they be about experiences as Asian American women, our cultures, our journeys, our work, and the things we’re building for ourselves.
Maxine: I wanted to invite conversations that go beyond professional achievements—discussions around legacy, mental well-being, the beauty and complexity of our cultural heritage, and how we can champion one another across industries.
CTLG: How has your cultural background shaped the way you gather, host, create, or connect with others?
Miriam: I’m Filipino, and I grew up in a family that truly loves to gather. Weekend family get-togethers, holiday celebrations, or even a simple visit from a friend would somehow always turn into something more.
I have such vivid memories of my grandparents bringing out their beautiful chinaware and silverware for these occasions. Looking back, I realize those details were never just about making a table beautiful, they were part of how our family celebrated and showed love.
Maxine: Growing up Chinese-American, born from my parents who immigrated over to the US in 1970, I often felt displaced, navigating spaces where I didn't see myself reflected or fully understood.
I host and curate events to create the very safe spaces I wished for growing up—environments where people can arrive as their full, authentic selves without reservation.
CTLG: What aspects of Asian culture do you feel deserve more attention or appreciation?
Miriam: I’d also love to see more attention given to Asian fashion, design, and creative expression. I’ve seen how beautifully other cultures celebrate these aspects of their heritage, and I think there’s so much talent and beauty within our own community that deserves that same visibility.
Maxine: The incredible diversity of our stories, our rich traditions of hospitality, and the multi-generational wisdom embedded in our heritage. Asian culture is often viewed through a monolith, but its nuances, creative contributions, and historical depth deserve to be fully honored.
CTLG: What does community mean to you?
Miriam: To me, community means knowing you don’t have to do life alone. It’s having people you can celebrate with, learn from, lean on, and grow alongside."
Maxine: Community means a safe harbor where you are known, valued, and held. It’s a dynamic network of mutual support where we celebrate each other's wins, carry each other through challenges, and actively build a better future together.
CTLG: What does modern Asian American womanhood mean to you today?
Miriam: To me, it means embracing all the different parts of who we are without feeling like we have to choose between them. We can honor our culture, traditions, and the values we grew up with while also carving our own path, pursuing our ambitions, and defining what success and fulfillment look like for us.
Maxine: It means honoring our roots while boldly defining our own paths. Modern AAPI womanhood is about stepping out of the shadows, breaking down silent expectations, leading with heart and power, and lifting up others as we rise.
CTLG: What do you hope everyone takes away from events like this?
Miriam: Most of all, I hope gatherings like this remind us that we have the power to create the community we want to be part of. Sometimes all it takes is one person to dream up the gathering, open the door, and bring people together.. and from there, something much bigger can grow.
Maxine: The conviction and inspiration that together, we have the power to pave the way and build a better tomorrow. A better community that lives in peace and harmony.
V. Orlando & The Future
“…suddenly you find yourself introduced to an entire network of artists, designers, entrepreneurs, chefs, and storytellers.”
Miriam
CTLG: What makes Orlando's creative community unique?
Miriam: To me, Orlando is like a teenager: full of potential, constantly growing, changing, and figuring out who she wants to become.
I also think there’s a genuine openness here. People are willing to connect, collaborate, and support one another, and you can meet someone through one connection and suddenly find yourself introduced to an entire network of artists, designers, entrepreneurs, chefs, and storytellers.
Maxine: Orlando’s creative community is incredibly warm, resilient, and collaborative. Because we are a rapidly evolving city, there is a vibrant energy here—creatives aren't just fitting into existing molds; they are actively shaping the culture of our region.
CTLG: What do you think is missing from Orlando's cultural landscape?
Miriam: I think Orlando has so much already happening, but there’s still an opportunity for more spaces and experiences that celebrate the diversity of the communities who call this city home not just through food, but through art, fashion, design, music, storytelling, and the people behind them.
Maxine: More dedicated, elevated spaces for cross-cultural connection and curated experiences that champion diverse heritage outside of commercialized platforms.
CTLG: Is this intended as a one-time gathering or the beginning of something larger?
Miriam: Definitely the beginning of something larger. The soirée was really a beautiful first expression of what I hope to continue creating through Club Inspired: meaningful experiences that bring people together, spark conversations, and create a genuine sense of community.
Maxine: This is definitively the beginning of something much larger and I am excited to curate with like minded businesses like Club Inspired.
CTLG: What kinds of conversations would you love to see happen next?
Miriam: I’d also love for the conversation to move beyond simply talking about community and into actually building it: who can we collaborate with, what can we create together, and how can we open doors for the next generation?
Maxine: I want to see deeper dialogues on how we can collectively invest in our city—bridging resources, mentoring youth leaders, and building a stronger, unified civic community together.
CTLG: Five years from now, what do you hope people remember about this evening?
Miriam: I hope they remember how it felt; to be surrounded by women who made them feel seen, connected, and inspired. And perhaps they’ll look back and remember it as the evening where a few meaningful connections sparked something much bigger.
Maxine: I hope they remember feeling so genuinely loved, honored, connected, belonging and recharged that it sparked a ripple effect in how they lead, love, and build community in their own lives.
CTLG: Finish this sentence: We created AAPI Women's Soirée because...
Miriam: We created AAPI Women’s Soirée because we wanted Asian American women to find their people, feel empowered by one another, and leave inspired by the community we’re building together.
Maxine: We created AAPI Spring Soiree because we want the AAPI women to feel deeply seen, unconditionally celebrated, and empowered to lead the way into tomorrow.
For Miriam and Maxine, what began with a friendship has become a shared effort to create more meaningful opportunities for connection in Orlando.
Their soirée was a celebration of culture, creativity, and the women who make up their community.
But perhaps its greatest significance lies in what happens afterward: the friendships that continue, the collaborations that emerge, and the possibility that one gathering might inspire another.
Because sometimes building community begins with something as simple as opening the door.
EVENT CREDITS
Hosts: Made With Max / Maxstar @maxstar
· Miriam Inspired / Club Inspired @miriaminspired
Venue & Culinary: Citrus Club Orlando | website
Photography: Cindy Dong · @thatcindyshot
Decor Rentals: Everglow Events | website
Floral Supplier: Amoremio | website
Floral Artist: Flower Bar Club · @flowerbarclub
Guest Gifts: Zenlux | website
Location: Orlando, FL
