Photography by Marci Lambert
We love discovering kids around our region who are doing big things. So, in celebration of our 25th anniversary, we thought we’d bring you an update on some of the Can-do and Cover Kids we’ve featured over the years, kids whose stars continue to shine.
We’ll be starting out this month with the three tweens and teens featured on our cover, and we’ll continue with updates through 2016. I think you’ll be impressed by what this next generation of Memphians is up to. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store — for these kids and yours! — Jane Schneider
Do you have a Can-do Kid?
WRITE: Put CAN-DO in the subject line SHARE: Tell us cool stuff about your kid SEND: Email janes@memphisparent.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Logan Guleff’s interest in cooking began early, when he helped his mom in the kitchen at age 5. As his passion grew, it led to the creation of his cooking blog, Order Up! With Logan. From there, Logan’s creative cuisine quickly began winning national food contests; one even took him to the White House for a luncheon with First Lady Michelle Obama when he was 10.
But it was his win on MasterChef Jr. (Season 2) that was the real game changer, opening doors to some pretty amazing offers. Since then, he’s judged BBQ contests and is now developing appetizers for Olive Garden. Catch him on MasterChef Jr. this winter, and you can vote on the appetizer you like best.
Logan regularly posts how-to videos on Facebook and YouTube, he even did a video with Stuart Edge! What amazes his mom is how her son’s popularity spans the globe. “His fans write from Indonesia, Vietnam, Argentina, it’s crazy,” says Kim. Logan is the top-rated kid chef on social media with more than 60,000 followers. Locally, you can hear him on WAAM 990 Talk Radio each Monday. Logan’s next big thing? Hosting his own cooking show some day.
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Did you see Moziah Bridges in TIME magazine’s 30 Most Influential Teens for 2015? The announcement came last month, surprising Mo when a reporter from WREG-TV called for comment. “We didn’t even know!” says Tramica, Mo’s mom. But they were thrilled.
Mo is the CEO of Mo’s Bows, a line of handmade bow ties. Mo’s grandmother taught him how to sew using vintage fabrics she had on-hand as a seamstress. He launched his business at age 9, selling ties locally and online. Five years later, his $200,000 venture employs seven people, including his mom and grandma.
We met Mo after Oprah’s O magazine shout-out in August 2011. “I thought it would be like a lemonade stand,” says Tramica, “and he’d sell his bow ties for a couple of bucks.” Instead, Mo’s entrepreneurial spirit and winning smile has taken them on an incredible journey: At age 11, he was the youngest entrepreneur to appear on Shark Tank, his bows are carried by Neiman Marcus, he’s given fashion tips to NBA draftees on ESPN, and he’s even presented President Obama with a handsome blue bow tie.
“I was trying to take a selfie but I was so nervous,” Mo says with his characteristic grin.
Now 14, Mo is being mentored by Shark Tank investor Daymond John and does motivational speaking at schools and business events nationally. He’s still charming and a fashion maven at heart, so watch out for his next big idea: a line of skinny ties.
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We first met Kathryn in 2009 as a Cover Kid entrant. Her interest and talent for modeling led us to use her in a number of magazine spreads, showing off everything from back-to-school fashion to fun Halloween costumes where she dressed as a hippy.
But among our favorites is the picture of her as a fairy, taken when she was 5, for our Garden Fairies spread.
Kathryn is now 11 and a sixth grader who does competitive dance at her middle school. Her team will be competing at nationals next spring in Orlando.