Joyce Kabuya on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Joyce Kabuya and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Joyce, 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 is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day starts in my high-rise in Atlanta around 7 a.m. I start every morning thanking God for waking me up, then meditate, have some green or hibiscus tea, and go for a run. After that, I shower, eat breakfast in my favorite pink heart-shaped bowl, and watch a podcast while waiting for the market to open. Once I’ve handled my investments, I start creative work for prettygirlsluvanime and my clients; everything from content calendars and graphic design to video editing, animations, and web updates. I currently partner with a law firm, helping manage their digital presence, analytics, and social strategy, and I really enjoy the balance between creative and corporate worlds. By the afternoon, I’ll read, connect online, run errands, or meet a friend for dinner somewhere in the city. My nights end with some quiet time. Usually shopping on Depop or watching a drama on Netflix before bed. If you’d asked me this a month ago, I would’ve told you the same routine, but at my mom’s house. Having faith in myself transformed everything. 1 month after finishing my internship at BBDO Atlanta, my vision started to take shape in ways I couldn’t imagine. Freelancing sounded stressful at first, but when you truly love what you do and have strong relationships, it stops feeling like work. It just feels like living. God’s timing is perfect, and I’m incredibly grateful for how fast he moves in my life.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Joyce Kabuya, also known as Kabuya’sKrafts or Miss Kreative. I’m a 23-year-old Congolese American Creative Marketer with skills in 2D animation, graphic design, music video editing, and freehand painting for my e-commerce clothing brand Prettygirlsluvanime. Every piece I create is fully hand painted with no stencils or projectors. I design graphics for clients, plan content, build and edit websites, create email campaigns, and handle analytics and SEO. Right now I’m editing a music video with my signature 2D twist and getting ready to work with a big artist soon. I started e-commerce at 19 when I built my first business to 20k followers in under a year and made my first four figures through digital marketing. After moving away from ebooks, I shifted my focus to my clothing brand PGLA and growing my design skills through internships and client work.What makes Kabuya’sKrafts unique is the ability to meet audiences where they are by blending nostalgia, creativity, and connection. My marketing is personal. My design style is fun. And the word “Krafts” is plural for a reason. It represents the many creative lanes I can shape into something engaging and unforgettable.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Being “mysterious.” I used to keep a lot to myself, not intentionally, but because I’ve always been private and never wanted validation from anyone but God, my mom, and myself. I used to celebrate my wins quietly, maybe by buying something off my wishlist or treating myself to a sweet treat. But I’ve realized I’ve accomplished incredible things that deserve to be shared. That phase served its purpose by building a quiet confidence. But now I’m in a new chapter where I’m learning to speak up and celebrate myself out loud from time to time. I deserve to find community through my wins, to say “yeah, I accomplished that” without shrinking myself to make others comfortable. I don’t have to hide my light anymore. I’m grateful for the people around me who remind me of that every day.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
I recently changed my mind about how I want to present myself as a brand. I’m tired the TikTok mannerisms and the copy-and-paste trends everyone follows. True influence comes from authenticity. I don’t need to fit into anyone’s formula to be successful. I never have. I’ve always done my own thing, and I plan to just keep doing just that!

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Happiness, 100%. My friends would tell you I’m all about just vibing, doing what you want, and finding a way to make your passion work if you love it enough. Tell people you love them. Give. Compliment people. Choose yourself. Choose your peace and respect. I’m going to choose me and my happiness everyyy time.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Both. My mom always told me to get a degree and then do whatever my heart desired. I’ve always followed my curiosity, passions, and skills openly, willingly, and boldly. I was born to have a creative career and to live a pink, fun, curious, and whimsical life. I always knew I wanted to go to college, so I chose UGA. I feel like I was born to follow the creative path I’m on, and I’ve always been encouraged to pursue it.

Image Credits
Jiggspics