Michelle Hanabusa is a multi-talented entrepreneur who has made a name for herself in the fashion and social activism industries. Born into a fourth-generation Japanese American family, Michelle was forced to end her career in professional figure skating due to an injury. However, she did not let this setback hold her back and delved into the world of design and contemporary fashion. Her passion for social justice led her to pioneer the community-driven streetwear brand, WEAREUPRISERS, in 2019.

As a creative director, Michelle works closely with her team to release drops in response to community issues, providing meaningful educational content to accompany each release. UPRISERS has supported campaigns such as #HATEISAVIRUS, #MagandangMorenx, and #SomebodysBeloved. The brand is committed to amplifying the stories of underrepresented individuals and advancing social change. Additionally, she co-founded Hate Is A Virus - a non-profit and community of mobilizers and amplifiers committed to eradicating hate and racism. Her combined efforts in fashion and activism have gained her recognition as a leading Asian American woman-owned small business.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis on Graphic Design and Advertising from the University of Southern California. She has previously worked as a Creative Designer at AEG, Digital Advertising Intern at the Walt Disney Studios, Freelance Designer at Academy Bus, Creative Intern at Bcbgmaxazriagroup, and Graphic Designer at Vibrancy Studios.