For Women’s History Month I will be sharing the stories that define and provide examples of women empowerment, uplifting stories of personal triumph and businesses that are inspiring and are making a difference for women. Women’s History Month is a declared month each year that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.
I want to introduce you to Kinyatta E. Gray.
Kinyatta E. Gray is a Best Selling Author, Celebrity Travel Influencer, Podcaster and CEO of FlightsInStilettos, LLC. Kinyatta launched FlightsInStilettos in 2018 to inspire women to put their best selves forward when traveling. In that same year, Kinyatta also launched the Glam Girl Beach Towels, which have been spotted around the world. Kinyatta wrote and published her first book in 2019, a memoir, called 30 Days: Surviving the Trauma and Unexpected Loss of a Single Parent as an Only Child. Kinyatta’s aspirations to become an author were as a result of a heart-gripping moment in her mom’s final moments of life. She committed to honoring her mother’s legacy by becoming a published author. Kinyatta’s mother wanted to be a published author but passed away in 2018 before ever realizing her dream. Therefore, Kinyatta went the rest of the way for her mother. In 2020 Kinyatta released three more books, they are: Passing As Straight, From Section 8 to C.E.O and So, You Want To Be An Author. Rising in success, Kinyatta’s books and beach towels has been featured in a variety of press outlets such as Fashion Bomb Daily, Urban Magazine, Sheen Magazine, Medium, Mogul, IHeart radio and Pandora “The Madison Jaye Show”, Thrive Global, Bookstr, Sheen Magazine, Blog Talk Radio, EnSpire Magazine, Faces of Success Radio, Bllaklabel, Spotlight Over the City, Marie Driven, Black Talk Radio, Let’s Talk With Rodney, and Women For the Culture, just to name a few. Also, The Davi Magazine based in London has featured Kinyatta’s books and brand FlightsInStilettos. Kinyatta’s memoir was also a 2019 sponsor of “Christmas with Carol” hosted by Carol Maraj, mother of Hip-hop icon, Nikki Minaj.
Here is HERstory:
My story is one of grit, courage, determination, becoming unstoppable, and a commitment to honor my mother’s legacy. In 2018, I successfully launched my dream business, FlightsInStilettos, LLC. Things were going exceptionally well; my signature beach towels were being spotted worldwide, and my efforts had garnered a significant amount of press. In October of that same year, my beloved mother, Beverly E. Carroll, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. The horror, shock, and pain of it it all brought all of my hopes and dreams to a screeching halt. Many people thought that I’d never recover from her loss. I didn’t think I would make it either because I spent the better part of 2019 being suicidal. By mid-2019, after months of mental health intervention and love and support from my family, I began to shift my thinking, which led to a change in my actions. I decided to turn my pain into purpose and find a way to honor my mother’s legacy in my words and deeds. I released my first book in 2019, called “30 Days”. My book talks about losing my mother and the importance of listening to your inner voice. I never had any desire to become an author but did so to honor my mother’s legacy. She had always wanted to become an author but did not accomplish that before her passing. I then decided to continue forward with my beloved business, FlightsInStilettos. Not only did I genuinely love and enjoy the nature of my business, but I was also confident that my mom would want me to carry on doing what I loved. This is why I stated in the beginning that my story is one of grit, courage, determination, and becoming unstoppable — because it took all of those qualities to make the firm and empowering decision to turn my pain into purpose.
Her business is FlightsInStilettos, LLC.
What does women empowerment mean to you?
When I think of women empowerment, I think about women who make decisions and stand by them, who live according to their own convictions, and women who support, inspire or influence others to step into who they are meant to be.
What advice or words of inspiration would you like to share with someone?
My words of inspiration are to live your life in the way that you want to be remembered. Your legacy is what will outlive you. You can decide today how you want to be remembered. It is those memories of you that will live forever in the hearts and minds of those who loved you.
What do you want your legacy to be?
I think about my legacy daily, and I encourage others around me to live their life in the way that they want to be remembered. I want to be remembered as a fierce, unstoppable, loving, honorable, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, author and brand originator who turned pain into purpose, fueled by the desire to honor my mother’s legacy.
What kind of impact do you want to have on those around you?
I want those who come in contact with me to be inspired to live life according to their own convictions, and to know it’s never about where you started, but about your determination, will and grit to get to where you are going. Become unstoppable. Turn Your Pain into Purpose. Design Your Legacy.
She has authored a total of 5 books: 30 Days, Passing As Straight, From Section 8 To CEO, So, You Want To Be An Author (ebook), and I Survived (ebook).
What’s next for you in your business/brand? What can readers look forward to from you?
In January 2021 we launched FlightsInStilettos Magazine! FlightsInStilettos®️ Magazine is a new quarterly magazine for occasional travelers that’s all about trending travel style, affordable travel destinations, lifestyle, and so much more! We are head over heels excited to feature our very first cover girl – the beautiful, legendary, award-winning, multi-talented surfer Nique Miller on our April 2021 issue!
FlightsInStilettos®️ Website | Instagram
Kinyatta Gray Website | Instagram
FlightsInStilettos®️ Magazine Instagram
