Meet Our Founder

Hi, I’m Danyell — founder of LA Hiking Baddies.

I’m a native Angeleno who grew up exploring the beauty of Los Angeles County — its mountains, coastlines, and hidden trails. The outdoors has always been my sanctuary. Nature gave me clarity during challenging seasons and strength during uncertain ones. Hiking wasn’t just movement for me — it was healing and empowerment.

My life has been shaped by both deep love and profound loss. I was adopted and raised by my biological grandmother, and I was blessed to grow up with two adoptive parents who loved me wholeheartedly. Their unwavering support built the foundation of who I am. A few years before I started this community, I lost my entire immediate family — both of my adoptive parents — within nine months. While the grief was immense, I remain deeply grateful for the love I was given — and that love continues to guide how I show up for others. It’s made me more committed than ever to create spaces of connection, encouragement, and strength for women.

In February 2022, I invited a small group of women to hike with me. That invitation became LA Hiking Baddies — a women’s outdoor and wellness community that has grown into thousands of empowered women connected through shared experience, accountability, and sisterhood.

As featured in the article “Mother nature doesn’t judge you,” says L.A. Hiking Baddies, our mission is simple but powerful: create a space where women feel safe to be themselves, challenge themselves, and grow.

📰 ⏩ CLICK TO READ KNX NEWS ARTICLE

We’ve watched women:
• Hike their first summit
• Overcome fears they never thought they could conquer
• Build meaningful friendships in a city that can feel isolating
• Strengthen both their physical and mental well-being

This community is changing lives — because it’s rooted in belonging. It’s about women stepping outside their comfort zones and realizing they are capable of more than they imagined.

Beyond this community, I’ve been honored to be crowned Ms. Long Beach 2026, reflecting my commitment to leadership, service, and positive impact.

Professionally, I’ve been working for myself as a serial entrepreneur since early 2018. I hold a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from California State University, Fullerton. My background blends strategy, finance, creativity, and execution.

Through consulting, I’ve helped small businesses and entrepreneurs grow revenue, improve profitability, and optimize operations. With formal training in coding and graphic design, I’ve built and launched Shopify e-commerce platforms, designed custom websites, developed brand identities, and executed digital marketing strategies that drive measurable growth. I combine analytical rigor with hands-on building — not just advising, but implementing solutions that create lasting impact.

Since 2016, I’ve proudly volunteered with the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles as a mentor and Gold Award Committee member. In that role, I guide young women as they design and execute large-scale community impact projects, helping them step into leadership, confidence, and purpose. Representation matters — and I’m intentional about being a visible example of resilience, entrepreneurship, and service so girls can see what’s possible for themselves.

That same commitment to empowerment flows directly into LA Hiking Baddies.

This community isn’t just about hiking — it’s about visibility.

It’s about creating spaces where women of all backgrounds feel strong, welcomed, and capable. It’s about normalizing women taking up space on trails, in leadership, and in life.

What started as a few women saying yes to one hike has grown — organically, powerfully, and beautifully — into something none of us could have scripted. It grew because women needed it. It spread because women felt it. It exploded because authentic community is magnetic.

LA Hiking Baddies is a blessing — not just to me, but to every woman who has found connection, courage, and confidence here.

We’re not just climbing mountains.
We’re building confidence.
We’re forming lifelong sisterhood.
We’re expanding what’s possible for women in the outdoors.

And the most powerful part?

We’re doing it together.