Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lai Goddess. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lai, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
I do often feel that my work is misunderstood and mischaracterized. Partly because it may not always resonate with those my age, and mostly because i’m always creating and showcasing something new that doesn’t follow a specific “niche”. As a content creator you’re understood to be a content creator. As a singer you’re understood to be a singer. And as a dancer you’re understood to be.. a dancer. But what happens when you not only take on these 3 hobbies, but you also add modeling, acting, jewelry making, teaching, playing piano, cooking and editing to your belt? You’re somehow the most misunderstood and unbelieved entity on the planet lol. If I speak on a hobby of mine that isn’t actively showcased on my social media then i’m instantly characterized as a “wannabe”, and its been told to my face many times, “wow I didn’t know you could actually do such and such…” It’s always been difficult for people to grasp why (and how) I channel my energy in so many different things and if I ‘actually’ do all these things. So I learned to stop speaking on the things I actively enjoy doing and that’s pretty much been my entire life. Me afraid of showcasing my passion for all the things thats kept me sane throughout the years. As I have aged, I’ve learned to hone in on each and every one of these hobbies that essentially are of me, and I continue to remind myself why I enjoy doing them, by simply doing it. Most of these hobbies happen in seasons while others live in my day to day practice. But i’m also learning to now showcase my many abilities because in a world so big, I know there’s at least 1 other person out there who resonates with my journey and my many crafts. I know there are many others like me, who are multi-passionate and naturally gifted in many areas of life, and I want these types to know that you should confidently stand in this truth and be open to receiving the recognition!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
since a youngin’ I found creative outlets to explore that didn’t require a signature or money from my parent. I grew up in the projects so life was hard, but through boredom and self discovery at a young age I soon began to pick up on what I really enjoyed doing. When I was around 5 or 6 years old I felt in my heart I wanted to be a singer. More specifically, a singer like Rihanna lol. I would sing ‘Take a Bow’ and host concerts for my mom and 1 friend on the block to hear the voice I was too shy to share with anyone else. And by time I was in the 6th grade I knew I wanted to be an actress too, though still shy and timid I kept that (and my voice) to myself until my high school year. I began auditioning for every musical and play my school would have and I took theatre 1, 2 and 3, enrolled into stagecraft, wrote and directed my own play and became a thespian all within those years. I only used my voice to sing backup in musicals as I was still too shy to join choir and really sing. But during our rehearsals we’d work closely with our choir director where I learned the most on voice projection, matching my voice to piano keys, and knowing my range as an alto. I won a handful of awards and certificates that I will forever cherish. And if I weren’t to get casted I made sure I was apart of set, stage and/or house crew. Throughout high school is when I actively acted, sang and danced which gave me time to hone into these crafts in spaces I felt most comfortable in. But home is where I’d make audio recordings of me singing cover songs, or even creating vocal stacks with what i had to test my range and ability. I also played the piano throughout this time and would have recitals at my church frequently. Upon graduating in 2017 I wanted to go to The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts to study theatre and tv/film, but the tuition rate discouraged me so I got my associates degree in the Arts at a local community college, however at that time I stopped acting, singing, and dancing. I started working boring jobs and getting told I’d only be successful with a college degree. I was told to make my dreams realistic time and time again, but I loved watching youtube videos at the time and always wanted to learn how to edit videos. So I created a channel and learned editing techniques and uploaded content for 2 years, even though I never promoted my own. I was a junior in college when the pandemic hit in 2020 and everyone was forced to stay inside. I needed something to lift me up emotionally so I chose to revisit the things that made me feel whole while adding jewelry making to my bag (although I made jewelry in girl scouts when I was 10, so this was full circle!) I started posting videos on tiktok for fun; moving my body to afrobeats and sharing my spiritual beliefs that began to resonate with many. I started my business (Lai’s Body Galore) where I hand-make waist beads, lava stone diffuser bracelets- and at the time, anklets and necklaces as well. I was inspired by coronavirus to explore ways of bettering my health, which led me to holistic healing through herbs, transitioning to a plant based diet, and stepping into enlightenment. 2021 my spiritual journey heightened because of said changes, and I began to add divination/readings to my business as healing takes place in the body, mind and soul. I began Modeling which helped me build the confidence to stand in my truth. And then I started singing again on my social media channels, posting 10 second videos and little harmony duets. But I found myself still feeling like my inner child, shy and timid. So I stopped showcasing it and started writing music behind the scenes instead. My Tiktok grew more and more as I danced but I stopped doing that for a bit as well. However, I was led back to my gifts early in 2022 when I decided to stay consistent and true to my crafts. I got a job with musicians where we teach songwriting and music theory thats structured in a way to connect to mental health and healing. I also took on full time content management and coordination for the team while being a content creator in my day to day life. As the year continued my social media pages have grown and I have gained the confidence to showcase all the things I enjoy doing. I started singing on my social media pages again, this time more confidently. I explored acting opportunities through music videos, got back on track with my business goals and am actively strategizing ways to make it better and expansive! I started runway modeling which is much difference from the free-lance modeling I’ve done for over a year, and I loved every second of it as I was featured in ‘The Taste of the Runway’ and ‘Kansas City fashion Week.’ I Started my first ever waist-whining dance course for BIPOC as it is culturally influenced, and released my first ever single debut ‘Hurt Sometimes’ while planning my next release(s). I know this is long, but my life has been a rollercoaster and it was only through many storms that I was able to find my truth. 2022 has taught me most about discipline and hard-work to maintain these crafts and to elevate them. I may not be anywhere close to where I’d like to be, but damn I’m proud to be where i’m at. I want those reading this to know it doesn’t matter where you start or how many times you stop. The only thing that matters is your journey, and whether or not you choose to dust yourself off and try again when the odds are against you!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative to me is the fact that I get to be myself. I’ve worked too many jobs where I’d shapeshift to fit the perspective of those around me. But as a creative you get to fully show up as yourself, while showcasing the ideas you had in your head in the form of art. Another rewarding thing is being able to connect with others similar to you. The collaborations/networking you get to embark on for the sake of creativity and soulful rejuvenation is an otherworldly feeling that can only be felt throughout the process of being a creative. I love it here.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
The very first documentary that shifted my perspective and began to open my pineal gland was the Secret- Law of Attraction. Following that, the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz has been an amazing read, and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra. A book for all divine feminine practices thats helped me evolve as a wombman is The Sacred Woman by Queen Afua.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lbgalore.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laisbodygalore
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malaisia-stokes-5b5b66210/
- Twitter: @LaiGodddess
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@laigodddessx
Image Credits
@Micah Thompson Photography