The Origin Story: Maya Keeyana and Live in Love Boutique

The Declaration

It all began in 2016. I was a junior at Northeast High School, standing in the doorway of my bedroom when I boldly declared, “I’m going to change the world.” At the time, I was a quiet observer—walking the halls with headphones in, focused on my work, content in the company of myself.

A World in Chaos, A Purpose Awakens

Outside of my internal world, chaos was unfolding across the globe. The war in Aleppo was devastating lives, North Korea was testing missiles, and in the U.S., the 2016 election had just ushered in Donald Trump as president. These events—magnified by social media—left me shaken. And somewhere in the tension between my inner stillness and the world’s disorder, I experienced a spiritual awakening: I am here to make this world better.

Heartbreak as a Catalyst

Not long after, in early 2017, I experienced my first heartbreak—an experience that broke me open and became a catalyst for my transformation. In my healing process, I turned to knowledge. I studied the works and words of Dick Gregory, Young Pharaoh, and Dr. Umar Johnson. I immersed myself in teachings on ancestral wisdom, starseeds and indigo children, the divine power of melanin, Afrocentric philosophy, and the sacredness of the melanated woman.

A Soul-Fed Education

For the first time, I was learning in a way that fed my soul. I began to understand the melanated woman not only as the original being on this planet—but as a divine portal who brings life from the metaphysical into the physical. And with that understanding came a sacred responsibility: her wellness secures the wellness of the entire Earth.

Choosing Purpose Over Pressure

After graduating high school in 2017, I enrolled at Drexel University as a computer science major, believing I could change the world by building websites—and making good money doing it. I excelled academically, even while silently carrying the weight of heartbreak, pressure, and emotional isolation. I made the Dean’s List during my first semester.

The Breaking Point

But when I began my co-op in Drexel’s IT department, I realized something wasn’t right. I was earning more money than I ever had before, yet each day commuting to work felt heavier than the last. I looked around at the faces of people on the El and saw lives void of joy or purpose. Deep down, I knew: this isn’t what I came here to do.

A Return to the Self

Depression and anxiety followed, but so did new tools for healing. I began practicing mindfulness and sound healing. I used Insight Timer for daily meditations. I explored sensory regulation through breath, sight, and presence. These practices grounded me and layered onto the spiritual knowledge I had already been collecting.

Realigning with My Path

I transferred to Temple University and changed my major to psychology—choosing purpose over pressure, even when others didn’t understand. I no longer believed in higher education as a system, but I knew that if I had to stay, I needed to study what truly moved me. Psychology gave me that. It allowed me to understand the mind and emotional world—not just for myself, but for others. I graduated in 2022 with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, proud of my resilience and committed to using this knowledge to help melanated women reclaim their power.

Self-Awareness as Power

From a young age, solitude taught me self-awareness, and self-awareness taught me self-trust. I’ve always been willing to bet on myself. Through my lived experience, my studies, and my healing, I’ve come to embrace my divine assignment: to awaken and empower melanated women.

My Mission Today

I am a self-love advocate. I encourage melanated women to honor themselves through mindfulness, self-expression, and psychological awareness. I believe that fulfillment begins from within, and that when we love ourselves deeply, we transform the world around us.

The Vision

My vision is clear: wholistic health, liberation, and joy for all.