WOMEN ON THE MOVE

Womenon theMove

Nikki's Story

24-year old Nikki Gal is doing it all from artist to fashion designer to mental health advocate to multi-faceted entrepreneur. Upon discovering her dreams to pursue fashion modeling at age fifteen, she decided to leave the modeling industry after four years and two modeling contracts later to pursue more for her life. In 2019, Nikki took a risk- to start her own digital design company See Thru Nikki. Fast forward to 2022, See Thru Nikki has become a widely recognized platform appearing in various media outlets such as Good Morning America, Page Six, and People Magazine. In 2021, Nikki launched her mental health advocacy platform, Raw Talk with Nikki Gal. “Mental health has always been a priority of mine. I want to give women a voice, a platform, and a purpose. I want them to accept themselves in the raw.” Nikki says. Nikki’s motivation to make mental health a topic has helped women across the world, gaining listeners from over forty countries among launching 150 interviews. Her newest projects include Galvanize by Nikki Gal, a content consulting company to guide aspiring entrepreneurs with their goals, Shots By Gal, a film based photography company, as well as her intimates line, Gal Intimates. “I will never stop doing, creating and moving. That’s what we need more of, not a Jack of all trades, but a WOMAN of all trades.”

Q&A

Q: Why did you make the decision to stop modeling? A: I wanted to take control of my own destiny, and leave behind things that I felt uninspired by. If you’re not pursuing something you love, why are you pursuing it? That was the question I had to face within myself and my career direction. Even though the modeling industry gave me many opportunities that I am grateful for to this day, I limited myself so much in the process as I didn’t give myself much room to grow. It was a risk taking moment where I had to sacrifice one passion for another, in hopes for a more liberating and flexible career. That other passion was my creative mindset- which is my biggest power tool I now use everyday.

Q: How did you get into designing? A: I’ve always been a creative soul since the start of my life- it is my calling. I was initially drawn and introduced to the digital design world via a graphic design class when I was 14, and it became my passion over the years. Now just 10 years later, I have transformed my artistic passion into a full-time career. The digital design industry has given me the endless power to dream, yet take control of my own destiny.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration? A: All my inspiration derives from my dear family, my beautiful friends, as well as other incredible artists I’ve met throughout my journey. They have all taught me the importance of patience, the power of keeping your mind open, as well as never being afraid to start and finish new projects.

Q: Tell us about your mental health advocacy. A: The topic of mental health has always been a topic I’ve wanted to bring awareness to. From my own experience of being around others through the years, I noticed the topic of mental health became a rather difficult one to discuss. I want to break that. I want to break the labels, the preconceived notions, as well as the harmful stigmata. I wish to bring awareness among each other as women so that we can grow to talk about our feelings without being afraid. I want to enlighten unity, even though we can feel very much alone at times. No one is ever alone- if you are going through something, someone else is as well. That is okay. We are all in this together. Q: What is your favorite quote, motto or mantra and why? A: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” - Maya Angelou

This quote has spoken to me in many ways throughout my career. Success really is a self embrace process. You have to like yourself to put your best foot forward while also truly believing in yourself. Only YOU hold the power.

Background

Nikki Gal is a former fashion model, entrepreneur, mental health advocate, speaker, content consultant and designer. Gal began her professional career as a model in early 2014, and made the decision to end her career all together in 2018. Leaving the modeling industry was a difficult yet wise decision on her part, which motivated her to pursue more opportunities for her life. Since then, she has created her own success as a entrepreneur of digital design company See Thru Nikki, founder of mental health advocacy non-profit and podcast Raw Talk with Nikki Gal, founder and designer of intimates line, Gal Intimates, founder of content and branding consultant company, Galvanize by Nikki Gal, as well as founder of photography/film company, Shots By Gal. Nikki Gal as well as her works have appeared in Cosmopolitan, People Magazine, CIO Today Magazine, The Sun, Daily Mail, Page Six, as well as television program, Good Morning America. Gal’s mission is to encourage all women that they are capable of every dream they put their mind to and to never limit themselves- anything is possible.

Links to my websites:

seethrunikki.com

rawtalkwithnikkigal.com

Link to social media platforms:

@ seethrunikki

@ shotsbygal

Photo Credit: Nikki Gal

WOMEN ON A MISSION

Kaitlyn Kenealy

Education was my only way out and although I know that path isn’t for everyone, it was foundational in building what I am and who I am today. I was raised by a single mother of 4 children and we didn’t have much growing up, but we did have unconditional love and as I reflect on my journey that love is one of the pillars of my success. I am the first generation to go to graduate college and continue to higher education to obtain two master’s degrees. Throughout my educational career I never got to have the traditional experience as I had to work multiple jobs throughout and had no one to assist me with the financial support, but my love of learning and knowing this was my way out were always at the forefront of my mind and my mother would constantly remind me, “ in the long run, Kaitlyn you will be grateful for the experience because you earned it.”

Education and having these degrees meant that no one could ever take it away from me and I was going to have to earn it through hard work, dedication, perseverance, trials, and the un-traditional route of college. It’s through education and following my heart and passion that I have been able to achieve and reach my goals, because education allowed me to find myself and grow through what I was going through in a safe environment. The seeds of education that I planted are now starting to bloom and as my mother stated above- I am grateful because I earned it, and no one can take it away from me.

Currently, I own my own private practice and work as a fully licensed psychotherapist. I recently wrote and published my first book: Healing is Messy AF and I have a podcast called: Tea Time with the Psychos. This year alone I have won: Young Professional of the Year, Woman of Achievement Award, and made Brainz Magazine’s Top 500 list. But truthfully my work in the mental health arena is where my passion and drive come alive. My platform is built around breaking the stigma on mental health and sharing my story because community and connectedness are what is going to heal the world. Let’s share our stories, heal together, and break the stigma on mental health because no one can take your healing away either!

Follow Kaitlyn

kaitlynkenealy.mykajabi.com

@kaitlynkenealy