React, Relax, Repeat: React Miami 2025 Recap

There’s just something magical about coding with a view, and React Miami fully leaned into that vibe. Set in sunny Miami, FL, this conference felt less like work and more like a developer’s daydream: palm trees, sunshine, and some of the brightest minds in frontend all in one place.

From connecting over cocktails on beautiful rooftops to speaking at the conference and watching a stellar panel that included the creator of React.js, Jordan Walke, React Miami was the spring break trip I needed as a developer.

In this recap, I’m sharing all the highlights from my favorite tech talks to behind-the-scenes moments you didn’t see on stage, and why I think you should come and code in paradise next year.

🌴 React Miami: Spring Break for Developers

React Miami is a two-day web development conference focused on React.js, hosted in the gorgeous city of Miami, Florida. The conference brings together developers of all levels through a mix of sessions, panels, and interactive game shows. It’s a single-track conference that ensures excitement with each new speaker, sponsor, and evening event.

I attended React Miami for the first time last year, and seeing it grow into a sold-out event this year was such a full-circle moment. The venue was nestled right on the Miami River, so while most tech folks are told to “go touch grass,” I was outside watching yachts float by between sessions.

The magic of React Miami isn’t just the sunshine. It’s the heart behind it. Co-organizers Michelle Bakels and Gabe Greenberg crafted a lineup and experience that wasn’t just educational, but deeply community-driven. I spoke with tons of attendees, some at their first React Miami, and others at their first-ever tech conference, and the consensus was clear: we’re already counting down to next year*.*

🎤 Styled, SASSy, and On Stage

At React Miami, I had the opportunity to deliver my talk, "Styled & SASSy: Choosing the Right Styling Solution," live and in person, and it was just as exciting the second time around. With React 19 on the horizon, Tailwind v4 freshly released, and Styled Components officially shifting to maintenance mode, the timing couldn’t have been better to explore the current state of styling in React.

I first debuted this talk a few months ago at Commit Your Code, but these recent shifts in the ecosystem gave me a reason to dig even deeper and refresh everything with the most up-to-date info I could find.

Between working on large enterprise apps, maintaining a design system, and experimenting with my own projects, I know how overwhelming choosing a styling approach can be. This talk stemmed from that exact feeling of being stuck in decision paralysis, but it evolved into something much more: a guide to help others confidently choose what works best for their app. It’s easily one of my favorite talks I’ve ever given, and twenty-two minutes barely scratched the surface.

Missed it? You can check out my slides and dive into the GitHub repo I created to compare CSS Modules, Tailwind, and Styled Components. (I’ll update this post once the video goes live!)

💖 React Miami is For the Girls

As a woman in tech, it’s rare that I attend large developer events and feel truly seen. But you know what? React Miami is for the girlies! This conference radiated warmth, visibility, and inclusion from the stage to the swag bags. Here are some of my favorite tech girly moments from React Miami:

Seeing women on stage

Some of the most insightful, inspiring moments came from the incredible women who brought their knowledge (and style!) to the stage:

• Madison Kanna was one half of the welcoming MC duo, bringing both hype and high fashion.

• Jovonne Cameron walked us through her $50,000 mistake and how to avoid it with better React state management.
  Jemima Abu reminded us that sometimes, less JavaScript is more.
  Isabela McLenachen showed us how to implement automated accessibility testing to build apps everyone can use.
  Leah Thompson demoed how to move faster with InertiaJS.

• Aileen Villanueva Lecuona wowed us with ways to use WebAI to create smarter user experiences.

• Julissa Rodriguez walked us through building scalable full-stack apps—without stressing over infrastructure.

• Samhitha Rama Prasad taught us how to build a rock-solid permissions system in React.

Not just seen – included

I love how welcoming and inclusive this community was. I met too many kind, warm, and welcoming folks to count. I met so many kind, warm, and brilliant folks, some familiar faces, and many new ones. If you’ve ever hesitated to attend an in-person event because you weren’t sure you’d belong, I promise: React Miami sees you. React Miami welcomes you.

Cute Goodies

Part of going to a tech event means you’ll get swag. I’m a sucker for a soft t-shirt or cozy pair of socks, but they have a tendency to be plain black or neutral colors. React Miami’s signature color is a gorgeous and bright hot pink, and I was so excited to see everyone embrace it! From hot pink sunglasses from Auth0 to the cutest fanny pack/belt bags from Clerk and even homemade React Miami cookies by Israa Taha, there was no shortage of cute (and delicious) goodies to bring home.

And while the talks were amazing, some of the most unforgettable moments didn’t happen on stage. They happened in the hallways, at sponsor booths, and between sessions. Let’s talk about the hallway track.

✨ The People Made the Magic

Some of my favorite moments didn’t happen in front of slides. They happened in the in-between. The hallway track was where the magic unfolded: spontaneous conversations with folks I’ve followed online for years, meeting new friends while grabbing brunch, and getting introduced to incredible developers at sponsor booths. Evenings on rooftops always ended with laughter, and it reminded me how much value there is in just being present. React Miami wasn’t just about the content. It was about connection.

Just when I thought the week couldn’t get any better… I ended up behind the mic for a special podcast recording that made the whole experience even more unforgettable.

🍹Rum, React, and Ramblings

I was so excited when the team behind Whiskey, Web, and Whatnot invited me to join them for a special podcast recording. Our themed episode, Rum, React, and Ramblings, was an absolute blast! I got to sit down with Chuck Carpenter and Aaron Francis to sip rum and chat about everything from styling in React to discovering new places through food. It was the perfect post-talk activity, riding that post-speaker adrenaline and having some real, relaxed conversation. I’ll be sure to share the episode once it’s live, but in the meantime, if you haven’t listened to the podcast yet, now’s the time to change that!

🌇 Sunset Summary

React Miami wasn’t just a conference. It was a vibe, a vacation, and a validation all rolled into one. From giving one of my favorite talks to meeting incredible people, recording a podcast, and learning so much about the React ecosystem, this trip gave me everything I didn’t know I needed. I left feeling inspired, connected, and so deeply grateful for the growing, welcoming community that makes spaces like this feel like home. Until next time, Miami—you were magic. ✨