Botanique’s Brand Ambassador

Antiguan born Iza Goodwin-Michael is a wife and a mother of 2 boys, and currently resides at Buckleys Extension, Antigua. Iza is a creative: she loves beauty, nature and life itself.

Iza grew up in a large family with her parents and 8 sisters. Throughout her childhood she was surrounded by art, design and creativity. Her father’s paintings hung throughout the house, and she often closely observed his various creative pursuits, the most memorable being, textile design with painting, tie-dye and batik and straw work and bag making. Her mother as a designer and seamstress was always surrounded by fabrics and threads, busy sketching, cutting and sewing. It is therefore no surprise that Iza herself grew up with a love for beauty and art, becoming a self-proclaimed artist. She not only developed her talents drawing, painting, pursuing various crafts and needlework, but as a teenager, she designed and sold beaded jewelry.

Iza has since channeled her love for art and design into a career in architecture. After many years of study, Iza became a registered architect in 2012. She leads her own architectural firm - Studio GM Architecture renowned locally and regionally for it’s design projects including hotels, schools and residencies. Iza’s most memorable projects includes being part of the design team for the Sir Novelle Richards Academy and the design team for the restoration of the West Wing of the Government House of Antigua and Barbuda.

Outside the scope of architecture, Iza’s other passions include karate. Iza is an avid karateka and has been active in this sport since 1995. Karate has introduced Iza to many people and cultures and different countries around the world. Iza has traveled the world for tournaments and training camps, managing to win a few medals, her most outstanding being the capture of the gold in women’s kumite (fighting) during the Caribbean Karate Championships in 2001. Iza is also a karate instructor and has been teaching karate to people of all ages since 2001. The discipline and focus developed through karate is carried over to all aspects of Iza’s life.

Iza tries to make the best of every opportunity life has to offer, she is a well-rounded individual who believes that through dedication, integrity and hard work, all goals can be reached.