I met Sakoyah Simmons a few months ago at a party in Jersey City, I remember she came up to me all giddy and smiling and said “Hey Chicpea, what’s up?” and that was it, I liked her. Her smile is infectious, she is a very beautiful girl both inside and out. Sakoyah is one of those people you meet and can never forget, that girl in school that everyone likes and wants to be friends with. Sakoyah definitely left a lasting impression on me. I knew it would be a matter of time before we sat down to get to know each other.
Sakoyah is a mogul in the making, she is a hustler and works a few jobs to support herself and her dreams, she is an inspiration and the hardest 23 year old I’ve ever met. We met up at her favorite food spot, Bon Chon chicken in downtown JC a few weeks ago. I loved getting to know Sakoyah, she is smart, humble yet playful. She proves that you do not have to be a by-product of your environment, that you can rise above it all and create a happy and successful life and future, all you have to to do is believe in yourself.
I am so excited to follow her journey to being a “Female King.” She is a force to be reckoned with.
What’s your name? My name is Sakoyah Simmons also known as King Koy.
What do you do? I am a hair stylist and I’m an entrepreneur.
When did you start? I began doing hair at the age of fifteen and at the beginning of last year I started my own business. I’m currently working as a hair stylist and I’m trying to find myself during the process. I’m trying to get myself into having my own nonprofit organization which will be called Female Kings. Female Kings will target young women in Jersey City that are in need of guidance and mentorships. I also have a hair-line, the hair line is called King Pieces Hair—it consists of Indian and Brazilian hair.
What are your future plans? Getting my nonprofit off the ground. Right now I’m just working on the paperwork. I also want to open up a beauty bar which also will be called King Pieces Studio. It’s really hard to start your own business and I don’t really have help so that’s my main focus and I think it’s going to take some time.
Where do you currently style hair? I have a salon in my basement and I actually work out of a salon in Irvington. I have a lot of clients in Irvington so I found a salon over there to work out of and for my local clients they can come to my house in my basement.
Where do you live in Jersey City? I live in Curry Woods, Jersey City.
Were you born and raised in Jersey City? Yup, born and raised, still there. I love Jersey City.
How do you feel it’s changed? It’s changing drastically, every block, every community, every project is really changing but I think it’s a good idea. I think it’s going to work for the future.
What is your favorite Jersey City hangout spot? I would probably just go to the hair salon, chill, and relax or I would come here and eat Bon Chon’s Chicken.
Do you like Bon Chon’s chicken? Bon Chon is the best freaking chicken in Jersey City.
How would you define your style? I’m a tomboy. Where I’m going, I have to break out of it, I have to start dressing professionally. I’m a tomboy, but I’m very versatile. I love sneakers and I love shoes. When I’m dressing professionally or having fun, I like my vintage clothing and then when I’m a tomboy, that’s my lazy wear. I like to dress comfortably.
How old are you? I’m 23. I’m an old soul.
I said this earlier in my video which is called “The Evolution of a Female King,” you have to be your own hero, no one is going to come save you.
Why “Female King?” I think that “Female King” is a unique name being that a lot of people think that a woman can’t be a king. For one, a king isn’t just a male ruler, it’s someone who’s dominant, someone who’s superior. I like to go against the odds, so I’m like since everyone’s saying I can’t do it, I’m going to name myself a king. And I think it’s cute, Female King is very catchy. I have a few definitions for Female King, I think a Female King is also someone who knows what they want out of life and they get it, they’re dominant.
How do you feel about women, in general, supporting each other? I’m all about woman empowerment. Women are so dope when they’re happy and when they support each other it’s the best feeling in the world. I don’t like when women turn on each other or down talk each other, it’s not good.
Anything else you’d like people to know? I love meeting people, I’m like a socialite. I love that I’m able to exemplify emotions just through doing hair. Just being creative and using my own technique, that’s a good feeling.
What are the latest trends in hair? Right now for my generation, it’s called the Versatile Sew-In. The halo of your hair is left out, you’re able to put it in a high bun or ponytail. And actually a Lace Closure, it looks real, but it’s not real.
What school did you go to? I went to P.S. #30, I went to P.S. #40, I went to Lincoln High School, and I went to Berkley College. Unfortunately, I dropped out of college to fulfill my goal. College isn’t for me, I figured I could do it on my own and now I have to prove I can do it without going to school.
How do your parents feel? My grandparents, they were like, “You’re not about to do that.” I’m like, “I am,” I would’ve been the second person in my family to graduate college, my sister was the first. I didn’t want to do it just because they wanted me to do it, I wanted to do what I wanted to do. They didn’t like it, but now that they see it they’re like, “Oh she’s doing it so let her be who she is.”
It’s hard being a creative. I feel I need to grow on my own to learn my own. Growing up my mother wasn’t really around because of drugs. She stopped doing drugs due to my sister having a baby and she’s been clean for six years now. Her entire childhood was ruined by drugs. Thank god for my nephew and thank god for my grandparents for taking me in as a child.
And you came out a strong woman. My grandmother raised me, she knocked some sense in my head. I like for people to know where I’m from, how I was raised because when I was younger I was scared to let people know that my mother used to do drugs and I would lie about it. I don’t ever want to be like anyone else. We’re close and she’s here now. I’m happy to be a part of my environment because I came out great so I love where I’m from.
What are you last words? Everything you want is on the other side of fear. Me growing up I was scared of everything. I’m still scared now because my dream is so big, I’m scared of them. You can’t be scared, you just have to do it.
You must be logged in to post a comment.