An Inspired Chat with Lay Luscious of Decatur

Lay Luscious shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Lay , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think a lot of people are silently struggling with the pressure to always appear like they have it all together. Social media has made it easy to showcase only the highlight reel, so many feel ashamed to admit when they’re overwhelmed, uninspired, or just tired of pretending to be “okay.” There’s a constant fear of being seen as weak, especially for creatives, leaders, and entrepreneurs. But the truth is, even the strongest people crave rest, reassurance, and real connection—they just don’t always feel safe enough to say it out loud.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Lay Luscious—a Haitian-American rapper, internationally published model, director, songwriter, and queer creative powerhouse born in the Bay and based in Atlanta. I built my brand from the ground up after surviving homelessness, overcoming stereotypes, and turning pain into purpose. My brand represents elevation, visibility, and pure energy—whether I’m performing on stage, curating castings, or launching digital campaigns.

Through Lay Luscious Castings and my creative studio, I’ve created a lifestyle empire that blends music, fashion, and marketing. I’m known for hosting unforgettable events, booking models and influencers, and building a space for LGBTQ+ talent to be seen, paid, and celebrated. Right now, I’m focused on expanding my brand globally through music distribution, immersive events, digital marketing, and a new series of online courses.

I don’t just show up—I shut it down. And I’m just getting started.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Bonds are often broken by unmet expectations, unspoken truths, and the fear of vulnerability. When people feel unheard, unseen, or betrayed—even unintentionally—it chips away at trust. Sometimes it’s pride, sometimes it’s pain, but silence can create more distance than any argument ever could.

What restores bonds is accountability, emotional honesty, and effort. Not just saying “I’m sorry,” but showing up differently. It’s the intentional actions, the uncomfortable conversations, and the willingness to grow with—not away from—each other. Real love, whether platonic or romantic, doesn’t avoid conflict—it survives it by choosing connection over ego.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me how to survive when there was no spotlight, no applause, and no safety net. It revealed my strength in silence, my faith in the dark, and my ability to create when I had nothing but vision. Success never taught me how to heal—suffering did. It taught me who I was when no one was watching, and how to keep going when the world gave me every reason to stop. Success celebrates you, but suffering sculpts you. And the version of me that was built in the fire? She’s the reason I shine now.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes—and no. The public version of me is real, but it’s amplified. It’s the version of me that knows how to command a room, shut down a stage, and turn a moment into a movement. But underneath that? I’m still the same girl who survived struggle, who loves hard, who cries in silence, and who’s constantly evolving. The public me is the polished product of the private me’s persistence. I just made sure both versions stayed rooted in authenticity, even if one shines louder.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope they say I was unforgettable—not because I was loud, but because I was real. That I turned pain into art, struggle into strategy, and chaos into legacy. That I helped people see themselves, love themselves, and believe bigger just by watching how I moved. I want them to say, “She didn’t just break cycles—she built empires.” That I showed up with heart, hustled with purpose, and left the world softer, louder, and more unapologetically alive because I dared to be Lay Luscious

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/layluscious
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/layluscious__
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lay-luscious-883196153?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/LayLusciousfans/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@layluscious?si=rVuboG0MbNsatU4H
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/layluscious?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=1&si=F2D63783E11A4BEE814B66FBCB7AC545&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing