Welcome to the inaugural issue of Beyond The Story With Andrea.

This magazine was born from a very personal place in my heart, from my belief that every person has a story that deserves to be heard. Behind every title, accomplishment, smile, and carefully presented image, there is a human being who has experienced joy, disappointment, sacrifice, loss, faith, healing, and the courage to begin again.

​

At 50 years old, I understand that beginning again does not mean we have failed. Sometimes, it means we have finally gathered enough wisdom to choose the life that truly belongs to us. I have learned that healing is not about erasing the past. It is about honoring what we have survived while refusing to let it define where we are going.

​

My life has taken me through many seasons. I am a massage therapist, healer, entrepreneur, actress, model, writer, producer, director, and scriptwriter, but those titles are only small pieces of who I am. At the center of everything I do is a sincere desire to help people feel seen, valued, and reminded that their lives have purpose.

​

For nearly two decades, I have had the privilege of caring for others through therapeutic touch and wellness. As the owner of Lakeside Massage & Spa in downtown Kissimmee, Florida. Soon Celebrating or 12th anniversary, I have witnessed how deeply the body carries our stories. Sometimes people arrive seeking relief from physical pain, but what they truly need is a peaceful place to breathe, relax, and feel cared for. That sacred connection has taught me that healing often begins when someone feels safe enough to be honest about what hurts.

​

My writing and creative work have allowed me to carry that same purpose beyond the walls of my spa. My words and stories have reached readers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, India, and the Netherlands. Yet no matter how far my work travels, my purpose remains the same: to celebrate humanity and reveal the heart behind the story.

My greatest inspiration comes from my family. My daughter, Audrey, and my son, Dylan, have taught me to see the world with greater patience, compassion, and understanding. My grandson, Isaiah, reminds me of the beauty of innocence, possibility, and unconditional love. My mother, Laura, is one of the foundations of my strength, a woman whose courage and sacrifices helped shape the person I am today.

​

I am deeply grateful for my fiancé, Jared, whose love came into my life during a beautiful season of healing and renewal. With him, I have found a love that feels safe, genuine, and guided by God. Together, we are building a future rooted in faith, family, forgiveness, and purpose. Jared has reminded me that no matter our age or what we have endured, the heart can heal, begin again, and welcome the love it has always deserved.

​

Beyond The Story With Andrea is not simply a magazine. It is a home for real people and meaningful conversations. It is a place where success is not measured only by awards or recognition, but by the lives we touch, the obstacles we overcome, and the hope we leave behind.

​

Within these pages, you will meet extraordinary people who have faced grief, addiction, illness, rejection, uncertainty, and life-changing challenges. You will also discover stories of faith, resilience, wellness, transformation, community, culture, and love. I hope that somewhere within their journeys, you will recognize a piece of your own.

​

I will always be grateful to those who opened doors for me when I was beginning my journey as a writer: Micky Soler of Original Magazine, who gave me my very first opportunity; Stefano Piavani of Luxury Globe Magazine; Sudeep Ranjan Sarkar of ARTE Magazine; and Richard Simpson of EnRich Your Life Fashion & Lifestyle Magazine. Each of them believed in my voice and gave my words a place to be seen. I will never forget the opportunities they gave me. 

​

To every person who trusted me with their story, thank you. To everyone who encouraged this dream, stood beside me, prayed for me, and believed in what I was building, I carry your love with me. And to you, the reader, thank you for opening these pages and becoming part of this beginning.

​

May this magazine remind you that your story matters. May it permit you to heal, to dream again, and to believe that God can create something beautiful from every chapter of your life.

This is my new beginning. And perhaps, in some small way, it can become part of yours too.

​

With love and gratitude,

Andrea Benitez
Founder and Editor
Beyond The Story With Andrea

Lakeside Massage & Spa
231 Ruby Ave., Suite D
Kissimmee, Florida 34741
321-697-5000