Keep Going

Today was heavy the kind that sits in your chest and refuses to move.

The kind of day where truth shows up uninvited, and the mask fall off people you once called home.

It hurts not just a little, but deep. The kind of hurt that teaches you who was just passing through.

Believe them. Not the words they said before but the actions they showed you now.

And still… pick yourself up.

Piece by piece, breathe by breath, tear by tear gather you.

Because sometimes strangers will hold you together better than blood ever could.

And that truth? It’s painful but it’s freeing too.

At the end of the day, you are your own safe place. Your own foundation. Your own strength.

So, rely on you. Trust you. Choose you.

And no matter how hard it gets - keep going.

You’ve made it through 100% of your worst days. This one doesn’t get to break you.

You got this.

And even in the quiet love yourself through it.

Together, We Rise - An Invitation to the Bestie Tribe Community

Hello Bestie,

There’s a space waiting for you. A space where your voice matters. Where your story is honored. Where your strength is seen even on the days you don’t feel strong.

The Bestie Tribe Community was created with you in mind.

We are calling on women of color from all walks of life women who are building, healing, navigating, creating, and becoming. Whether you are in a season of growth, transition, or simply searching for a place to belong, this community is here to meet you with open arms.

Here, we don’t compete - we connect.

We don’t tear down - we uplift.

We don’t walk alone - we walk together.

Together, we rise.

Together, we empower.

Together, we create.

Together, we become.

Together, we thrive.

This is more than a community it’s a sisterhood rooted in purpose, support, and real connection. A place where you can show up as you are and still be encouraged to grow into everything, you’re meant to be.

If you’ve been looking for your people. . . this is your invitation.

Come join us.

Come build with us.

Come be a part of something bigger than yourself.

We’re saving you a seat.

With love and purpose,

The Bestie Tribe Community

International Women’s Day 2026

To the women who are tired but still show up… to the women who have cried but still rise…

Keep going

When the world tells you to shrink, stand taller. When doubt whispers your name, answer with courage. When fear tried to sit beside you, remind it who you are.

Fight for yourself

Love on yourself

Speak up for yourself

Choose yourself

There is nothing selfish about survival. There is nothing wrong with wanting peace. There is nothing weak about needing support.

In 2026, and beyond, women supporting women is not optional; it’s necessary. It’s powerful. It’s life-changing.

So, link arms. Fix each other’s crowns. Say the hard things. Protect your joy. And never apologize for taking up space.

We here at Bestie Tribe stand with you. We believe in you. We are rooting for you.

Love you long time. Be safe. Take care. And whatever you do – don’t give up!

Happy February!

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and this month feels especially meaningful.

Two years ago, I began working on a project close to my heart. Along the way, life happened, and the project was placed on pause. At the beginning of February, I felt a gentle but clear nudge to return to it and finish what I started.

Growing Through It, Bestie is thoughtfully created journal for black teen girls, designed to offer encouragement, reflection, and a safe space to grow through life’s changes. We are now in the final stages, and I’m excited to share more very soon.

Thank you for your continued love and support. Please stay connected and follow along as this journey unfolds.

FB/IG/TikTok @bestietribecommunity

February Is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February is often associated with love, but it’s also an important time to talk about healthy love. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is a reminder that respect, safety, and boundaries should always be part of any relationship; especially for teens who are still learning what love looks like.

Teen dating violence can include emotional, verbal, physical, or digital abuse, and it often starts with small red flags like controlling behavior, jealousy, pressure, or isolation from friends and family. These signs are sometimes mistaken for “care” or “love,” which is why education and open conversations matter.

This month, we encourage teens to learn the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, speak up when something doesn’t feel right, and know that help is always available. Love should never hurt, scare, or silence you. Awareness saves lives; and every teen deserves a love that feels safe, supportive, and respectful.

P.S. Be on the lookout for our new journal, Growing Through It, Bestie created to support, encourage, and remind black teen girls they’re not alone on their journey.

Beautifully Me: From Trauma to Healing

I used to believe survival was the same as living. I wore strength like armor, smiling through scares no one could see, convincing myself that silence was safer than truth. Trauma taught me how to shrink, how to apologize for taking up space, how to mistake pain for love.

Healing began the day I chose to listen to myself. It wasn’t loud or dramatic. It was quiet tears on the bathroom floor, deep breaths between memories, learning that rest was not weakness. I unlearned what broke me and relearned who I was beneath the hurt.

Some days I still ache. Some days I rise. Both are part of the journey. I am no longer ashamed of my story, because it proves I survived and more than that, I’m becoming.

I am healing in layers, loving myself in truth, and standing in my wholeness. I am not what happened to me. I am Beautifully Me.

Ms. Kym

2025: A Hard Year, A Stronger Mission

As we close out 2025, I want to share that it has been a rough year for the Bestie Tribe. We experienced a significant loss of funding, which greatly impacted our ability to help as many survivors as we wanted. At one point, we had to shut down completely. In August, we received a small but meaningful donation that allowed us to help reopen in October.

To keep costs down, we merged Bead the Purpose and QDF | Bestie Tribe under one domain. Even with the challenges, we were still able to support a little over 100 survivors, and that means everything to us.

As we look ahead to 2026, we are hoping and praying for a year filled with growth more sales of the Hello Bestie Bracelet and This Is Love Bracelet, more donations, more grants written and won, and more collaborations with organizations in the DFW area that stand firmly behind our mission to support survivors of domestic violence.

To the Bestie Tribe near and far- thank you! We love you. We are grateful for you. And we’ll see you in 2026.

Cyberbullying is Real — And It Took a Life

People truly don’t understand that cyberbullying is real. No matter the social media platform, some people feel entitled to say anything without considering the impact. Some of you may know, and some may not, but a young woman named Riziki took her life on TikTok Live after being relentlessly bullied by her peers. People were telling her to do it- and even how to do it - which is heartbreaking.

I don’t know her personally, but I had seen her on different panels. Still, it deeply troubles my soul that she felt so alone and was pushed to that point, live, while others encouraged it. What makes it even worse is that after her passing, people continued to mock her, speak negatively about her, and say they don’t care— claiming they won’t face consequences because she “spoke back.” If she did, it was only because she was attacked first.

I am sorry, Riziki, that you lived a troubled life. I’m sorry you tried to be friends with people who didn’t deserve your love or loyalty. I wish you were still here so I could hug you and tell you that I have your back— that you were not alone. Sometimes people open up to strangers, sometimes they don’t, but I wish you had known that it would be okay.

I hope you are resting now, and I truly hope justice will be served for you. Your life mattered!

Why do celebrities/influencers glorify domestic violence?

Why do we watch woman after woman stay with a partner who has cheated, manipulated, controlled, and even put his hands on her— and then see it spun online like it’s just “relationship drama?” When you’re telling your story all over the internet, when we can see the bruises, when we can clearly see the pain, but you water it down for the public. . . it sends a dangerous message.

It is NOT okay.

And what’s even worse is the impact: our Black and Brown girls are watching. They’re absorbing these stories. They’re learning that love means tolerating chaos, pain, and disrespect. They’re seeing their role models choose toxicity and thinking, “maybe that’s normal… maybe that’s what love looks like.

We have to stop glorifying domestic violence.

We have to stop normalizing trauma.

We have to stop calling abuse “rough patches.”

Our girls deserve to see that love is safe. Love is respectful. Love does not hurt.

Let’s tell the truth. Let’s hold people accountable. And let’s remind our girls—and grown women, too— that walking away is strength, not shame.

Nina’s Story — Breaking the Cycle

Nina grew up watching her parents in a toxic relationship. The yelling, the fear, the pain it was all she knew. She often prayed for peace, but peace never came… until tragedy struck. One night, her father was killed in the street. It was a moment that shattered her would, but it also opened a door and escape for Nina and her mother.

By 13, Nina found herself drawn to Marcus, a 17-year-old from around the way. Marcus was charming but reckless a street dude caught up in the wrong things. To Nina, he felt like protection, attention, and love all at once. But one day, when she didn’t answer his calls because she was on punishment Marcus snapped. He showed up angry and impatient, and when he finally found her, he beat her so badly she nearly lost her life.

Marcus went to jail. Nina was left with bruises, broken bones, and a broken spirit but she survived. Slowly, she rebuilt herself piece by piece, learning to walk, smile, and trust again.

Years later, at 21, Nina met Devin. He wasn’t like Marcus at least not at first. Devin didn’t hit her. Instead, he tore her down with his words, controlled her through manipulation, and convinced her that love meant pain. Because he didn’t raise a hand to her, she believed it was better. She believed this was love.

But love doesn’t hurt like that. It took time, courage, and therapy for Nina to see the truth. She finally escaped again this time for good.

“I saw it at home and thought it was okay. But now that I’m grown and in therapy, I know it’s not. Mothers, protect your children they see everything. They may not speak on it, but they feel it. Stop thinking with your lower half and start protecting with your upper half your mind and heart.”

P.S.

“I want to thank the Bestie Tribe for standing behind me and helping me see life from a different perspective. The way Ms. Kym talks to me it’s like I’ve known her for years. I truly appreciate her. And thank you for my beautiful Hello Bestie bracelet… it reminds me daily that survived, and I’m still becoming.”