We recently had the chance to connect with Kayla Simone and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Kayla , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Good Morning, thank you for having me! If I had to choose between intelligence, energy, or integrity, I’d always go with integrity. I’ve been around a lot of people who didn’t have it, and those experiences really shaped my perspective. To me, integrity reveals who you are at the core. It means you’re not easily swayed, you’re not for sale, and you don’t compromise your values just to get ahead.
I also believe integrity goes hand-in-hand with authenticity — when you have it, you don’t need to wear a mask or perform just to be seen. In today’s world, a lot of people chase attention or validation, but integrity keeps you grounded. It’s not about doing the most to be noticed, it’s about doing what’s right, even when nobody’s watching. I’ve also seen people confuse simply ‘showing up’ with having integrity, but consistency without character isn’t the same thing.
A person can be intelligent and energetic, but if they lack integrity, those strengths can actually become harmful. With integrity, what you stand for doesn’t change — no matter who you’re around, what opportunities come your way, or what temptations are put in front of you. You remain solid, dependable, and true to your core.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! I am Kayla Simone, I’m a visionary, author, speaker, and entrepreneur — and the founder of SheBelieves, a faith-based brand created to help women step into their true identity, align with God, and walk out their purpose with both faith and strategy. You may remember me from when I was in the hair business, but I’ve since pivoted fully into purpose-driven work that helps women grow spiritually and practically.
My work is rooted in my own story — navigating seasons of struggle, healing, and rediscovering who I am in Christ.
What makes my brand unique is that it’s not just about encouragement/motivational on the surface — it’s about building women up from the inside out. Through resources like my She Believes Belief Prayer Journal and prayer book, as well as mentorship opportunities in the future, to provide practical tools and guidance to help women strengthen their faith, shift their mindset, and create a lifestyle in alignment with God’s calling.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding SheBelieves into a community where women can grow in confidence, consistency, and purpose, receiving both spiritual and practical support, because you need both faith and strategy — you can’t have just one without the other — to live fully in alignment with God’s purpose and will for your life.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One pivotal moment that really shaped how I saw the world happened in 2020. That was a season of major transition in my life when God really revealed Himself to me and began a deep process of healing and transformation. He started peeling away layers of my old self and stripping me of my previous identity. I remember one moment clearly: I looked in the mirror and didn’t like what I saw. I had never struggled with confidence before, but in that moment, I realized it wasn’t about self-esteem — it was because I didn’t recognize the new person God was creating. I had to die to my old self.
That process was uncomfortable and challenging, but over time, God began revealing my spiritual gifts, helping me harness the natural gifts I had always carried, and showing me how to put it all together. That season allowed me to see the world through a completely new lens — one rooted in purpose, faith, and alignment with God’s calling. It shaped not just how I see myself, but how I engage with the world, my work, and the people around me.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me lessons that success never could because it’s been the foundation of everything I’ve built in my life. I’ve literally had to get it out the mud myself — blood, sweat, and tears — without anyone coming to save me or assist me. There were seasons where I hit rock bottom and had to confront my own strength, faith, and values.
Through those experiences, I learned how to suffer well. More importantly, suffering showed me that I am not willing to compromise my morals or values to get something. It built my character and revealed how solid I am. It taught me about resilience, strength, and faith — not in a way I necessarily wanted to be known for, but in a way that prepared me to fulfill my purpose.
I know what it’s like to build from scratch — and even rebuild your life from the ground up while fully trusting God’s timing and plan for your life. True strength isn’t about comfort or surface-level success; real success comes from suffering, from rising when everything has been taken from you, learning from it, and using it to shape your purpose. Suffering has taught me everything I know about perseverance, faith, and stepping fully into the life I’m called to live.
Because of this heart posture — the willingness to endure, grow, and trust through hardship — the success I’m stepping into is going to be even bigger, sweeter, and more abundant. I’m still on that journey, and I know it will be far more meaningful because I’ve prepared my heart, my character, and my faith to receive it fully.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that you should always follow your heart. A lot of people say, ‘Just do what your heart tells you,’ and for a long time, I thought that was right. But I’ve learned that the heart can be very deceitful — it’s full of emotions, impulses, and desires that don’t always lead you in the right direction.
What helped me realize this was having discernment. Discernment allows you to see beyond the surface, to notice when something that feels right isn’t actually in your best interest. It helps you recognize patterns, intentions, and hidden red flags that your emotions might miss. For example, your heart might tell you a person, opportunity, or decision is right, but discernment shows you what’s really happening beneath the excitement or attraction.
Following your heart alone doesn’t guarantee the right outcome, but when you combine it with discernment, you can make wiser, clearer decisions and stay aligned with what’s truly best for your life and purpose. Discernment is what gives you the ability to step back and see clearly, even when your emotions are pulling you in a different direction.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as someone who empowered others to step into their purpose fully and live authentically to the core. Someone who rose through adversity, rebuilt her life from the ground up, and never let opinions, external pressures knock her off course, and still remain true to your values and faith.
I want them to say that I encouraged people to believe in themselves, pursue their gifts, and do the work on the inside, and to not just chase external success. That I didn’t just teach principles, but lived them — showing resilience, integrity, and faith in action.
Ultimately, I want people to remember that I made a real difference in their lives, helped them see their potential, inspired them to be bold and authentic, and encouraged them to align with their true purpose according to Gods will.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/kaylasimone
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14M6LfKFKGP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thekaysimone?si=alhi3VHREvO19cOI
