Portrait of a woman with long dark hair, blue eyes, and a slight smile, wearing a white blouse, against a dark background.

About the Founder

Larissa, the founder of The Velvet Hour, is a woman of resilience, balance, and quiet elegance.

Originally from Eastern Europe, she arrived in the United States thirty years ago with limited resources, no family, and no English. Through determination and vision, she built a new life and a legacy. She is a devoted mother to her son, now a successful young man, whom she raised with strong values, discipline, and compassion. Her journey reflects independence, perseverance, and grace.

For nearly a decade, Larissa has successfully operated her own wellness center, drawing on close to twenty years of experience in health, fitness, and nutrition. She has also studied personal growth and spirituality with mentors such as Tony Robbins and Dr. Joe Dispenza, carrying those lessons into both her personal and professional life. She lives by a philosophy of strengthening body and mind, and encouraging others to do the same.

Larissa believes that life is a journey with its natural ups and downs, and that attitude is the key to how we experience it. She chooses to stay positive in the face of adversity, practicing daily gratitude as a way of finding joy and meaning. To her, happiness is a choice — to be grateful for the experience rather than bitter about the challenge.

Her European upbringing instilled in her an early appreciation for refinement, elegance, and curiosity — qualities she continues to carry throughout her life. Sophisticated and well-rounded, Larissa enjoys yoga, cycling, rollerblading, working out, and skiing, along with intellectual and artistic pursuits such as reading, the symphony, and the performing arts. She is equally drawn to adventure, whether white-water rafting, skydiving, or seeking new experiences that bring excitement and growth. A passionate traveler, she finds joy in exploring the world and expanding her perspective. She is also an avid listener of podcasts, always eager to learn and grow.

Warm and authentic, Larissa has cultivated a presence that is both grounding and inspiring. Through her journey as a mother, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner, she has developed a natural gift for making others feel at ease — allowing them to relax into genuine conversation and shared laughter. At The Velvet Hour, she offers not just her time, but her warmth, depth, and sincerity — an invitation to experience authenticity as the truest luxury.