We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Monique Pitt. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Monique below.
Monique, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Gyallivant is a women-led wellness brand created for Black women and WOC, with a mission rooted in community, play, and holistic well-being. At its core, Gyallivant is about reimagining wellness as something joyful, accessible, and culturally affirming—moving beyond the rigid, mainstream definitions of self-care to create spaces where Black women & women of colour can fully embrace their wellness journeys.
Founded by Monique Pitt, a wellness curator with Caribbean roots, Gyallivant is a reflection of her lived experiences and professional journey as a social worker. Monique’s ancestry traces back to Jamaica, where wellness has always been about more than just exercise or diet—it’s been about community, movement, and cultural pratices that nourish both the body and soul. Growing up in a Jamaican household, wellness was woven into everyday life, from the rhythmic sounds of reggae music that turned any space into a dance floor to the herbal remedies and traditions passed down through generations.
As a social worker, Monique recognized that while traditional talk therapy can be a valuable tool, healing for Black women and women of color often extends beyond the therapy room. She saw the importance of creating spaces where women could fully express themselves in the world they live and work in—spaces that encourage movement, play, and learning within a supportive community. Gyallivant was founded to meet this need. Gyallivant was founded to create a space where healing is holistic, community-driven, and rooted in cultural traditions that support overall well-being.
Monique, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Gyallivant is all about redefining wellness by centering play, movement, and community care. We offer movement-based classes such as Soca Kickboxing, Box Braids & Ballet, as well as community wellness challenges like STEPtember, which focuses on heart health. We also create intentional spaces for rest and connection, such as the DEHYA retreat, and many Gyallivant hikes. Through workshops, events, and therapy offerings, we make wellness feel engaging, accessible, and culturally relevant.
Gyallivant exists because wellness spaces near us haven’t always been built for us. Many Black women and women of colour feel disconnected from mainstream wellness culture—it often lacks cultural relevance, representation, and a true sense of community. We solve this by creating spaces that honour the unique ways Black women and women of colour engage with wellness. Gyallivant makes movement feel fun and freeing rather than a chore, fosters a sense of belonging, and provides access to wellness practices that center both joy and rest without guilt.
What sets Gyallivant apart is our approach—we don’t just talk about wellness, we make it a lived experience. We create spaces that feel vibrant, culturally aligned, and community-driven. Whether it’s sweating to a dancehall beat, unwinding at a retreat, or having real conversations about well-being in our Gyal Chats, Gyallivant makes wellness feel like home. We are not just another wellness brand—we are a movement for women who want to take up space, reclaim their joy, and redefine what wellness looks like on their own terms.
I’m most proud of the community we’re building—seeing women come together, let go of stress, embrace joy, and support each other on their wellness journeys. Whether through movement, conversation, or simply showing up for one another, Gyallivant is creating real, lasting impact—and that’s what keeps me to going.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Gyallivant’s social media presence was built organically, rooted in community, culture, and real connection. From the start, we treated our followers like family—because they are. We call them the Gyal Fam, and we make sure our page feels like a space where people feel seen, heard, and part of something bigger. It’s not just about posting—it’s about engaging. We show up daily with posts that bring humour, energy, and realness. We do our best to answer DMs, ask questions about what our gyal fam wants to see and we keep our community in the loop, making sure they feel involved in what we’re building together.
Our advice for anyone starting out? Be authentic. Use your own voice. Social media can feel overwhelming, but real recognizes real—your people will find you if you stay true to yourself. Don’t just post for the sake of posting—talk to your audience like you’d talk to your friends. Share what excites you, what makes you laugh, what moves you. Consistency matters, but connection matters more. The goal isn’t just to gain followers—it’s to build a community that vibes with what you’re about. Keep showing up, keep it real, and trust that the right people will come (and those people will bring more people)!
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
If there’s one thing about our community, it’s that they’re going to talk and share with their people. Word of mouth is real, and it has been our best source of new clients. While we take pride in our graphics, messaging, and the energy we bring online, the real credit goes to the Gyal Fam—the ones who share our events and offerings with their hairstylists, nail techs, colleagues, friends, family, and beyond.
Our community is better than any billboard because they genuinely believe in what we’re building. When something resonates, they don’t just show up—they bring others with them. That’s the kind of organic growth you can’t buy. We’re beyond grateful to have a community that not only supports Gyallivant but actively spreads the word, making sure more Black women and women of colour find spaces where they can move, rest, and thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gyallivant.com
- Instagram: Gyallivant_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpitt1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btwabSB9g4E
