We recently had the chance to connect with Kimberly Dabney and have shared our conversation below.
Kimberly , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
In this season of my life, I feel God is calling me to step fully into my divine assignment with a boldness I didn’t have before. For years, I allowed fear, shame, and other people’s opinions to keep me from walking unapologetically in my purpose. I survived things that should have broken me, childhood trauma, betrayal from people I trusted, deep emotional wounds, even health battles that left me fighting to keep my mind, my faith, and my life intact. I always knew my story carried power, but I was terrified of what would happen if I truly exposed my scars to the world.
Now, I understand that my pain was never meant to stay buried, it was meant to be transformed into purpose. God has placed a calling on my life to be a voice for women who feel unseen, unheard, and unworthy because of what they’ve been through. I’m being called to show up fully as Coach Kimmy, the healer, the mentor, the woman who knows what it’s like to be in the dark but refuses to let another sister stay there.
What used to scare me was the weight of that responsibility and the vulnerability it required. Sharing my truth on public platforms, writing books that uncover real-life trauma, speaking to rooms filled with women whose pain I can feel in my own bones, it’s heavy, but it’s holy work. I realize now that God didn’t choose me because I was fearless; He chose me because I was willing. And every time I step out, even trembling, I’m reminded that my yes is setting someone else free.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kimberly Vonshay Dabney, known to many as Coach Kimmy and in the hair world as ‘Kimmy The Khemist.’ I’m a multifaceted woman of faith, a holistic wellness coach, author, speaker, healing advocate, and a highly sought-after Color Chemist and Color Specialist with years of experience transforming not just hair, but lives. My journey hasn’t been easy. I am a survivor of childhood molestation, betrayal, emotional trauma, and even a life-threatening health crisis. Through it all, God gave me a message: “Get up Queen, you cannot stay here.” That divine directive sparked my mission to help women rise from pain and walk boldly in their healing and purpose.
PopOut Queen, my brand and my foundation Pretty Virtuous Girl Society, are faith based empowerment movements dedicated to helping women reclaim their identity, rebuild their confidence, and heal from the hard places in life. Through my “Becoming HER” series, devotionals, healing guides, seminars like ‘From Pain to Power,’ and my coaching programs, I provide practical tools and faith-driven strategies for transformation.
In the beauty industry, as “Kimmy The Khemist,” I’m known for my artistry and technical mastery in color chemistry, helping women express their inner power through bold, vibrant, and healthy hair transformations. My dual mission is to empower women from the inside out, healing their hearts and elevating their outer crown because I believe every woman deserves to feel whole, confident, and radiant.
Right now, I’m expanding my platform globally through books, podcasts, and speaking engagements to reach women everywhere who need a reminder that no matter what they’ve endured, they are not broken beyond repair. My life’s work is living proof that pain can be transformed into power and purpose.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I carried the belief that my voice didn’t matter. I often stayed quiet, not because I wasn’t loved or valued, but because I misunderstood my own worth. I thought the safest way to navigate life was to stay small, to adapt, and to blend in with the expectations of others. I believed acceptance came from pleasing people rather than fully embracing who God created me to be.
Through my healing journey and relationship with God, I’ve learned the truth: my voice is powerful and purposeful. I was created to speak life, to inspire, to teach and to help others heal, not to hide in silence. God showed me that my identity was never meant to be built on the opinions of people but on His promises and the unique calling He placed on my life.
Today, I no longer shrink to make others comfortable. I no longer second guess whether my words or my truth have value. I know that speaking up, sharing my story, and living authentically is part of my divine assignment. My voice matters, not just for me, but for the women I’m called to reach and the lives I’m meant to impact. That’s a truth I stand on now with confidence, grace, and gratitude.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has been my greatest teacher. Success taught me how to celebrate, but suffering taught me how to survive, how to trust God when everything around me felt shattered, and how to rise when life kept knocking me down. Losing jobs stripped me of the illusion that my worth was tied to a paycheck or position. Mental health breakdowns forced me to face the unhealed wounds I had been carrying for years, the ones I tried to hide behind a strong exterior. Surviving sexual assault taught me resilience, but it also taught me the power of forgiveness, not for the sake of the offender, but for my own freedom. Betrayal showed me the danger of misplaced trust, but it also revealed who was truly for me and who wasn’t, making me wiser and more discerning in my relationships.
Then came the health battles, three pulmonary embolisms, two strokes, and a mass on my colon that doctors couldn’t explain but God supernaturally healed me from. Those moments redefined my faith. When you’ve faced death more than once and come out alive, you know without a doubt that you’re here for a divine reason. No amount of success could have taught me the depth of God’s love, the power of His healing, or the unshakable strength He’s placed inside me.
Suffering broke me open, but it also built me into a woman who knows her power, understands her calling, and refuses to settle for a life beneath what God promised her. It taught me that my story isn’t over until God says it is and that every scar I carry is proof of His grace and my resilience. Success feels good, but suffering shaped me into HER, the woman I am today, unshaken, unstoppable, and fully surrendered to God’s plan for my life.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am deeply committed to the belief that no woman is too broken to heal, rise, and walk in her God given power. That belief fuels every project I put my hands to, from my ‘Becoming HER’ series to my ‘From Pain to Power’ seminars, my healing devotionals, my coaching programs, and even the books I’m writing about overcoming trauma and reclaiming identity. My mission is to help women break free from the chains of pain, shame, and silence, to know that their past doesn’t define their future, and that they can rebuild their lives from the inside out.
This isn’t just a project or a career for me; it’s a calling. I’ve survived childhood molestation, betrayal, sexual assault, multiple strokes, three pulmonary embolisms, emotional breakdowns, and a mass on my colon that God supernaturally healed me from. Every time I should have been counted out, God lifted me up and reminded me that my story carries a purpose bigger than me.
So no matter how long it takes, I am committed to building platforms, programs, and safe spaces where women can find healing, reclaim their voice, and step fully into the life God intended for them. I won’t stop until I’ve reached the women who need to hear, ‘You are broken but not destroyed. You are not broken beyond repair, and your pain can be transformed into power.’ That’s my lifelong assignment, and I will carry it out for as long as God gives me breath.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope the story people tell about me is that I was a woman who loved God deeply, walked boldly in her purpose, and never let pain have the final say over her life. I want people to say that I didn’t just survive what I went through, I used every trial, every scar, every tear to bring healing, hope, and freedom to others. That I made women believe in themselves again, believe in their worth, and believe that God can still do miracles no matter how dark life gets.
I want my name to be remembered as someone who embodied resilience, grace, and courage, a woman who rose from trauma, betrayal, job loss, mental health battles, sexual assault, three pulmonary embolisms, two strokes, and a mass doctors couldn’t fix but God healed and turned all of it into a testimony that lifted others out of their own pain.
Family is at the heart of everything I do. I am committed to leaving behind a meaningful legacy for my sons and all my descendants a legacy rooted in faith, strength, dignity, and the unwavering belief that they can rise above any challenge. I want my children to know what it means to walk in integrity, to value their worth as God’s children, and to carry a mantle of purpose and healing for generations to come.
Above all, my relationship with Jesus Christ is the foundation and motivation for every step I take. He is my source of strength, my healer, and my guide. Every part of my life’s work, whether it’s coaching, speaking, writing, or creating safe spaces for healing, is fueled by my desire to glorify Him and reflect His love to a hurting world. If that’s the story people tell when I’m gone, I’ll know I have fulfilled my divine assignment and left a legacy that honors God and empowers others to walk in their own freedom.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Kimberlyvonshay.com
- Instagram: Kimmy The Khemist
- Facebook: Kimberly Vonshay
- Yelp: Kimberly Vonshay
- Youtube: Behind The Mind With
- Other: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and all major podcasting platforms: “Behind The Mind With Kimberly Vonshay”
Image Credits
Luv Angela Marie Studio
