Meet Wykesha “wy Renae” King

We were lucky to catch up with Wykesha “wy Renae” King recently and have shared our conversation below.

Wykesha “Wy Renae”, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

The short answer… By Becoming the main character in my life.
Often times we take a backseat to our lives because we’re so busy taking care of everyone else. We care so much about others’ opinions of us.
I’ve always had dreams and aspirations of becoming a singer and an actor from a young age. However, somewhere down the line I had convinced myself that my sole purpose was to be the supporter of others dreams forgoing my own. I had become complacent with life until my 33rd birthday. As life would have it, a series of events left me feeling isolated and alone. I was left with asking myself this question;
“Did I want to live life or just exist? I didn’t know what I wanted to do or what my purpose was supposed to be BUT I was at the point where I wanted to try to find out.
Over the next few years I intentionally looked for activities and events to participate in that took me out of my comfort zone. I met some phenomenal people, forged new relationships, built confidence and learned even more about myself and what I was capable of. With each experience I realized more and more that through meeting people and having those experiences my purpose was becoming more clear. Instead of just letting life happen I started to become an active participant. Learning more about myself, healing my traumas building confidence and overcoming fear.
On my journey, I moved to Houston, became a published plus sized runway model, and landed a role in a touring play. It wasn’t until I entered the Miss Plus America pageant & won the national title of Ms. Plus America with my platform being I H.E.A.R.T. Life (Helping to Encourage Anyone to Remain Triumphant) that my purpose was clear. That platform has now become my life’s mission and purpose and birthed my business, GEM TIME Coaching & Consulting, Where I help others to “Lose the BUT and Drop the WAIT”. Realizing that it’s never too late to do the very thing you want to do in life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m an entrepreneur. I like to think of myself as a “Hope Dealer” by day and a Multifaceted Artist by night.

I have always found joy in helping others whether it’s by profession or through volunteering in the community. After working in the social service field for over 15 years, I noticed that there was very little knowledge about stress, anxiety, self-care or the need for hobbies and extracurricular activities in the communities I served. As I have found the aforementioned things to be a necessity in my life to manage my stress and anxiety, I then began to find ways to incorporate the information in our meetings and educate others. Understanding the necessity of caring for the total person (mind, body and spirit) GEM Time Coaching and Consulting was formed, Helping others to Lose the BUT and Drop the WAIT!™

I truly have a love for people and their overall well-being. As a certified life strategist and yoga instructor I am an advocate of self-care. I create spaces of tranquility to relieve stress and cater to ones personal needs. I’m known for the care, compassion, and creativity that I bring to my events and one on one sessions with clients. Most would say that I’m very nurturing and easy to talk to. I’m big on affirmations and affirming thoughts as well as journaling. I introduce yoga to my clients as a way to relax, practice mindfulness, and learn to quiet the mind. This practice i personally use to aid in managing stress and anxiety along with my herbal teas. As an avid tea drinker, My partner and I have started a business where we create and sell loose leaf hand blended herbal teas to promote wellness.

As an Artist, I love to act and I sing. I have performed in numerous stage productions and independent films. I have performed on the main stage at the Historic Ensemble Theater and with their TourEd program. You can find me in shows performing at the Midtown Arts Center in productions from Vincent Victoria presents. Most recently, I landed the role of Hattie McDaniel in the film the Dichotomy of Hattie McDaniel, written and directed by Vincent Victoria. The film was chosen was to be the opening film for the San Diego Black Film Festival. It was indeed an honor to play the Iconic figure. Hattie McDaniel’s most notable role was “Mammy” in the movie Gone with the Wind in which she was the first black person to receive an Oscar for best supporting actress for that role.

I am very please to have launched my Meditate, Sip & Paint Classes. I’ve created an outlet for people to experience relaxation and focus on themselves. I believe that selfish is not a bad word. We must take care of ourselves so that we can assist others. I am sure most of us have heard the saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup”. To take that even further, I was once told that you shouldn’t be pouring from your cup at all. You should be caring for yourself and filling your cup to the point it overflows and you help others from the overflow. The next class will be held on February 14, 2025. I have also curated this class for corporate offices and employees for a wellness activity/event.

The next few events that I have scheduled are: A vision planning event called Envision 2025 scheduled for March 1, 2025. This event will allow those who got a late start on goal setting for the year to get on track and refocus! We will also create vision boards. Next, a collaborative workshop with a friend and fellow actor, Monica Mansy, called Create or Die for aspiring and working actors (March 11) to sharpen their skills and keep that creative energy flowing! Lastly, I’m part of the production team for a phenomenal stage play opening May 17, 2025 called “Therapy” written and produced by E’brandia Perry of E’Major Entertainment & Productions.

This is only the first half of the year! Be sure to follow me for more information about these events and see what I have coming up next.

I am truly excited to bring my wealth of knowledge, experience and creativity to all that I do!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I believe that the first important quality is confidence. Confidence is key! I’ve learned over the years that being confident in who you are, your abilities and your knowledge can open many doors and yield some great rewards, so I encourage everyone lean into that. Number 2, Accountability. taking responsibility for your actions or things that happen under your leadership. I know that sometimes it’s not easy and mistakes are going to happen but it’s what you do next that makes the difference. Which leads me to my third quality, integrity. Your words must match your actions and your personal values should prioritize honesty and truth.
As an honorable mention, learning the skill of effective communication is a must. Being able to articulate your needs as well as listening to understand the needs of others is where many of us fall short.
By no means will this make us perfect but it will create a space where we can begin to understand one another and create the foundation for change.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

As a small business and solo-preneur my current obstacle is marketing and getting the word out about who I am and what I do! Oftentimes the budget isn’t there so, I rely heavily on word of mouth and referrals. I also use social media to build an audience.

That’s why I am so grateful for this opportunity to tell your community of readers about myself and my business! I know that if I can get you on the mat or in a class you will leave feeling the benefits and return for more!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Rudy Mai Photography
Eric Coleman photography
Brave Roots film & photography
Wy Renae King

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