We had the good fortune of connecting with Kylaa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kylaa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
QUESTION #1 Starting my own business was something that I always wanted to do. I had a strong desire to be my own boss and have control over my career and financial future. However, it took me some time to figure out what exactly I wanted to do. I was inspired by different aspects of my life, such as my daughters enthusiasm for my work, my passion for hair and beauty, and my interest in creating my own products once I had an idea for my business, I started researching and learning as much as I could about the industry and what it takes to start and run a successful business. I knew it would be challenging, but I was determined to make it work. I also knew that I needed to be flexible and capable, as the journey of entrepreneurship can be unpredictable and requires quick thinking. Overall, my thought process was driven by a combination of passion, desire for independence, and willingness to take risks and learn as I go.

QUESTION #2 I disagree with the conventional advice that goes “if you have to continuosly ask yourself if something is worth it, it’s probably not”… I would say I 100% disagree because I’ve questioned my business multiple times, but I never gave up no matter the many obstacles that were thrown at me. Knowing you’re worthy of something is a lot to take on and it’s stepping out of your comfort zone ! Everything is worth it, if you want it enough. There will sometimes be challenges and obstacles that may cause doubt and uncertainty, but it is important to remember why you started in the first place and what your end goal is. It is natural to question things and it doesn’t mean that it’s not worth it, it just means that you need to reevaluate and find ways to overcome the challenges. Sometimes, the journey to success is not a straight line and it may take longer than expected, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it in the end. It’s important to have faith in yourself and your abilities and keep pushing forward towards your goals.

QUESTION #3 I would say that risk taking is a significant part of being an entrepreneur, and I have learned to embrace it. For me, taking risks means putting in the effort and taking action to create opportunities that I may have otherwise had. It also means being willing to invest my time, money, and energy into my business, even if it comes at the cost of personal sacrifices such as family time or me time. I believe that the greatest rewards come from taking risk, and thats why im willing to do it, of course, it’s not always a guaranteed win, but i’ve learned that failure is just a stepping stone to success every time I take a risk and fail, I learn something new that helps me make better decisions in the future like no other, knowing that my hard work and determination have paid off. Ultimately, I see risk-taking as a necessary part of building a successful business. It’s a mindset that also allows me to think outside the box and take bold actions that can lead to big rewards. I may not always have a clear path forward, but I’m willing to take the risks to achieve my goals and create a better life for myself and my family.

QUESTION #4 As a business owner, I’ve had to adjust and change some of my habits that have helped me the most is changing my procrastination tendencies. In my personal life, I might put things off until the last minute, but as a business owner, I can’t afford to do that. I’ve learned to set strict and certain deadlines for myself and stick to them, even if it means working extra hours or sacrificing personal time.

Another habit that has helped me is how I present myself when I leave the house. As a mom, I used to prioritize comfort over style and would leave the house in a t-shirt and bonnet, but as a business owner, I’ve realized that I am my brand and every interaction I have in public is an opportunity to promote my business. Now, I make a conscious effort to present myself professionally, whether that means wearing my business shirt or making sure my hair and makeup is done. It may seem small thing, but it has made a big difference in how people perceive me and my own business

QUESTION #10A Lot of my inspiration has come from my all time favorite celebrity Rihanna! It has pretty much everything to do with her versatility. I’ve been a huge fan of Rihanna ever since i was in the 5th grade, i remember watching her videos as a child after school. I remember in high school Rihanna shaved the side of her hair and I did my hair the same way, color and all. That’s how much she has inspired me. To see her and all she has excelled in over the years such as her music, fashion, beauty and fenty business and now with her being a mother. Rihanna’s versatility has been a huge inspiration for me, particularly when it comes to the fenty beauty line. Seeing her successfully transition from her music to fashion and beauty was a game changer for me. Her willingness to take risks and try new things has given me the confidence to pursue my own dreams of starting a skincare business. If she can do it, I can do it too. Her entrepreneurial spirit has shown me that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Seeing her use her platform to uplift underrepresented communities, including women of color is also very incredibly inspiring to me. I hope to follow in her footsteps by not only creating high-quality products but also making a positive impact on the industry and society as a whole.

Question #6 Starting my business I only had 1 product; it was just different varieties color wise. A few months in I had at least 4 products to choose from. To me it was a lot but from the outside looking in, to others it wasn’t enough. Sales got slow and I felt like my business was going unnoticed. I felt discouraged.

As time went by I began to work on recipes soley. I wasn’t launching anything on my website, I didn’t promote anything. I just made recipes, in the past 12 months I’ve created over 200 recipes for a variety of my products. Aside from my recipe book I’ve made a list of 300 things that I plan to cross off a year from the date I wrote it. I was inspired by Steve Harvey to make that list. I made those two things my top priority and really began to focus on my business again, I began to remember why I started in the first place. I wouldn’t want my children to see me quit, especially not my daughter Liylah Kay.

The lesson I gained from that experience: It’s important to keep moving forward and not give up on your dreams, even in the face of obstacles and opposition. It’s important to stay true to your vision and never let others hold you back or discourage you. It’s important that I show my daughter that.

I feel like as an entreprenuer it’s important for you to always have self-belief, perseverance and most importantly determination. It’s simple, but at times can be iffy. You can do it!

Question #7 Before starting my business, my life was very different. I had a lot of free time to spend with my family and children. However, now that I have my own business, my balance has shifted significantly. I am constantly wearing many hats, from being a full – time single mom, to doing hair, cooking, and working on my business. Free time is now a luxury, and I find myself always busy with something. While some days are tough, and it can be a struggle to find balance, I always remember to show up and give it my all. It’s a new challenge, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Question #8 When my daughter came home from school one day, excited about the idea of work because she thought I was having fun while working from home, it hit me. I needed to become my own boss. I’ve always wanted to be my own boss. I just didn’t have the idea yet. I wanted to inspire my daughter and my son Keyvonn as well. I want to show them they can also become their own boss one day. That was my moment of realization and my driving force behind starting my own business. I wanted to be an example for my daughter and show her that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. Starting my own business was not just about achieving financial independence, but it was also about setting an example for the next generation.

What am I inspired by? A lot of my inspiration has come from my All Time Favorite Celebrity, Rihanna! It has pretty much everything to do with her versatility. I’ve been a HUGE fan of Rihanna since the 5th grade, I remember watching her videos on 106&Park singing her songs word for word, I was just in love with her as a whole. I remember in High School, Rihanna shaved the side of her hair and the next few days I did my hair the same exact way, color and all that’s how much I was inspired by her. To see her and all that she has excelled in over the years such as her music, fashion, beauty,Fenty business and now she’s a mom! Rihanna’s versatility has been a huge inspiration for me, particularly when it comes to her Fenty Beauty line. Seeing her successfully transition from her music to fashion and beauty was a game changer for me. Her willingness to take risks and try new things has given me the confidence to pursue my own dreams of starting a skincare business. If she can do it, I can do it too. Her entrepreneurial spirit has shown me that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Seeing her use her platform to uplift underrepresented communities, including women of color is also very inspiring to me. I hope to follow in her footsteps by not only creating high-quality products but also making a positive impact on the industry and society as a whole. That’s what I am inspired by.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Starting my own business wasn’t an easy journey. I faced various challenges and obstacles along the way, but I never gave up. I knew that if I wanted to make my dreams a reality, I had to put in the hard work and dedication to make it happen. One of the biggest things I learned early on was the importance of perfecting my craft. I isolated myself to focus on improving my skills and creating high-quality products that people would love. It was a challenging process, but it was necessary to create a brand that would stand out from the competition.

I also learned that sometimes strangers are more supportive than friends and family. While I had a few close supporters, it was often strangers who showed the most interest in my brand and who helped me grow my business.
Through all of these experiences, I came to understand that nothing worth having comes easy. But I believe that hard work, dedication, and passion for what you do can make all the difference.
Today, I’m proud to say that xKlusive Kollections is a brand like no other. We cater to all genders and ages and offer a range of high-quality skincare and beauty products. Im excited about what the future holds for my brand and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.




Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I rarely go out lol. Food wise my favorite food is mexican food so maybe Ojeda’s or something quick like City View which is my favorite taco spot. Drinks we could go to JJ’s for drinks and do drunk karaoke. Im not really big on going out. I’m hardly on the scene, but if its good food involved I just might show up.


Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to take a moment to give a special shout-out to the people who have been supporting me since the very beginning – my family and a few close friends. I am incredibly grateful for their unwavering support, encouragement, and belief in my vision. However, there is one person who deserves a special mention. My little sister Kameryn has been a driving force behind xKlusive Kollections since day one. She wears my business shirt everywhere she goes – to the store, to the gym, to get her makeup done for prom, you name it. She never misses an opportunity to reshare my post on social media, and she takes my products to school with her to let her friends try them.

Kameryn’s dedication to my brand goes above and beyond, and I cannot express my gratitude enough. She has even expressed an interest in learning how to make some of my products this summer after she graduates, which is a testament to her passion and commitment to the success of xKlusive Kollections. Kameryn, thank you for being my biggest supporter and motivator. You are a true inspiration, and I couldn’t have done it without you.
Thank you Kameryn (My Boosin Boosin)


Website: www.xkkollections.com

Instagram: @xklusivekollections

Facebook: @xklusivekollectionsbykylaa

Image Credits
WeezyVisuals

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.