We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Makhyli Simpson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with MAKHYLI below.

Alright, MAKHYLI thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My mom has always been my greatest supporter, and the most incredible gift she ever gave me was her unwavering belief in me. As a shy child, I was so afraid of the spotlight, interacting with people gave me severe anxiety. but when I was seven years old, I gathered the courage to tell my mom I wanted to be on television—and surprisingly, she never doubted me and promised she’d help me. She encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, helping me build the confidence I needed to pursue my dreams. She found acting, vocal, and dance coaches to support my growth and was by my side for every audition, show, and performance. Her belief in me was so strong that she made the life-changing decision to move us to Los Angeles, where I ultimately saw my dreams come to life—appearing on television, in magazines, and on the radio. Her support shaped my journey, and I am forever grateful.

MAKHYLI, 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?

As a child, I was incredibly shy, but I always knew I wanted to be in the entertainment industry. I attended a creative arts elementary school, where I was immersed in singing, dancing, acting, and playing instruments from the age of five. Yes, my extreme anxiety followed me and I had a hard time participating, but internally I was falling in love with performing. At eight, I began competitive dance, and by nine, I had signed with a local talent agency and booked my first commercial. At ten, I landed my first role in community theater at the second-largest theater in the U.S., performing up to 30 nights in a row, sometimes with multiple shows on weekends.

As I gained experience, I started receiving recognition in my community and was given opportunities to perform—sometimes as a dancer, other times as a singer or model for various events. At 14, I performed in a national showcase attended by agents, managers, and music producers from across the country. That performance led to me signing with a management company and agency in Los Angeles. Just three weeks later, at 15, my mom made the bold decision to move me to LA, giving me one year to pursue my dreams—if I didn’t make progress, we’d return to Grand Rapids, MI.

Fortunately, I hit the ground running. Within my first two weeks, I landed my first paid job, followed by several others. I auditioned for Disney, Nickelodeon, and other major networks, receiving callbacks and even participating in chemistry reads. Before I could secure a major role, I received a life-changing DM from a record label looking to form a girl group. On my 16th birthday in 2019, I officially became a member of Boys World. Over the next five years, we accumulated over 100 million streams, performed at sold-out venues, collaborated with major brands, and lived an incredible journey. After the group disbanded in July 2024, I shifted my focus to solo music and returned to acting.

Looking back, what I’m most proud of is overcoming my intense fears and anxiety and pushing toward my goals. Despite my deep fear of rejection, I continuously put myself out there, facing setback after setback. I’m also proud of the way I’ve shown up for myself—this path requires a lot of work, and there have been many times when I had no idea what I was doing. I’ve had to research, fail, and try again to figure things out. There are nights when I barely sleep, doing everything I can to keep going. But through it all, I remain committed to my journey, knowing that every challenge brings me one step closer. Through it all, I’ve become relentless and very clear on my mission and vision.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Although I’ve been in the entertainment industry from a young age, much of my career has been spent bringing someone else’s creative vision to life. Whether through scripts, plays, music videos, photoshoots, or songs, I was always working within the framework of another artist’s ideas. Now, as I step into my solo journey, I’m discovering how much I truly love the creative process—every aspect of it. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about bringing my own ideas to life, shaping them from start to finish, and watching them take form. But the most rewarding part is seeing people get almost as excited as I am about something I’ve done. That feeling makes all the hard work worth it.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Seeing what’s possible is what drives my creative journey. The more I create, the more I realize that creativity is limitless and there are endless ways to be creative; I want to explore them all!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://makhyli.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makhyli/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Makhyli
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/makhyli-simpson-a35981274/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MakhyliSimpson