Reclaiming My Narrative: From Headlines to Healing

There are moments in life when your name enters rooms you never walked into. When stories are told without your voice, and headlines echo louder than truth. I’ve lived that. And for a long time, I let silence do the talking.

But healing doesn’t always begin with confrontation. Sometimes it begins with clarity. With choosing to tell your story—not to relive the pain, but to reclaim the power.

This isn’t about the past. It’s about the woman who rose from it. The lessons, the boundaries, the quiet strength that came when I stopped waiting for permission to speak.

Before the ministerial position but far, far after the calling. In other words, before the appointment but after the anointment.

In 2012, my name appeared in a local Patch article—one that reduced a deeply personal moment to a few sensational lines. It painted me as a headline, not a human. It didn’t ask what led up to that night, what healing came after, or who I’ve become since. It didn’t know me. But I do.

I am LaKya Monique Garrison—founder of Keyola Consultants, certified Image Consultant, former plus size model, mother, author, minister and faith-driven leader. I’ve walked through fire and emerged not burned but refined. That article may still live online, but so does my truth. And my truth is far more powerful.

🕊️ Reclaiming -What the Article Didn’t Say: The Truth Behind That Night

That night in 2012 wasn’t about rage—it was about survival.

I was in a relationship that had long crossed emotional boundaries. What started as philia/eros love had become manipulation, control, and spiritual erosion. I was trying to leave. I was trying to breathe. I wanted out. And in the chaos of that moment, everything boiled over.

We were in my car, arguing. I asked him to get out, more than once. He refused. The tension escalated. When he finally exited, I tried to drive away—but he wouldn’t let me. He kept something of value, and he kept approaching the car, yelling, provoking, daring me to react. I didn’t intend to harm—I intended to escape.

But escape isn’t always clean. And trauma doesn’t always move in straight lines.

The police report captured the aftermath. But it didn’t capture the years of emotional warfare that led up to it. It didn’t capture the fear, the confusion, or the spiritual breaking point I had reached. It didn’t capture the woman who loved deeply, gave generously, and extended grace to someone whose nature was destructive.

Your typical The Scorpion and the Frog fable—a timeless tale of trust, betrayal, and the unchangeable nature of character.

I’ve never denied that something happened. But I’ve always known that the story was deeper than the article allowed. And now, I recapitulate it—not to justify, but to illuminate.

"This was never the end. It was the refining."

🧠 The Cost of Mislabeling

When the public sees a name in a crime report, they rarely ask about context. They don’t see the emotional manipulation, the spiritual warfare, or the years of silent suffering that often precede a moment of crisis. They don’t see the woman who was learning to set boundaries, reclaim her voice, and break generational patterns.

But I do. And now, so will you.

🌱 Growth Isn’t Always Graceful

Transformation isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it looks like court dates and hard conversations. Sometimes it means facing your past with trembling hands and a steady heart. But growth is never wasted. Every scar I carry has become a seed—planted in the soil of purpose, watered by faith, and blooming into legacy.

Keyola Consultants was born from that soil. It’s not just a brand—it’s a lifeline for women (and men) who’ve been misjudged, misunderstood, or emotionally sidelined. We don’t just consult on image—we restore it.

"They saw a label. I built a legacy."

Personal Letter from Founder:

I used to think silence was strength. That if I just kept building, kept showing up, kept smiling through the distortion—eventually the truth would speak for itself.

But silence, in the wrong context, can be mistaken for agreement. And when your name is used without your voice, it’s not just misrepresentation—it’s erasure.

I didn’t reclaim my narrative to prove anything. I did it to breathe again. To remind myself—and others—that legacy isn’t built on what people say about you. It’s built on what you choose to stand for, even when the room goes quiet.

There were moments I wanted to respond publicly. To correct the record. To defend my name. But I realized that clarity doesn’t always require confrontation. Sometimes it requires elevation.

So I documented. I healed. I created. I built platforms that reflect my truth—not the version others tried to write.

This post isn’t about the past. It’s about the power of choosing what comes next. It’s about the women who’ve been misnamed, misunderstood, or misrepresented—and are ready to reclaim their voice without apology.

🙏 Closing Reflection: Grace Greater Than Headlines

I’ve learned that God doesn’t waste pain. He repurposes it.

What the world tried to label as shame, He transformed into strategy. What looked like a breakdown became the birthplace of Keyola Consultants—a brand rooted in truth, legacy, and emotional intelligence. I am not the sum of a moment. I am the fruit of a mission.

When people search my name, they may find an old article. But when they meet me, they encounter a woman refined by fire, not defined by it.

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten…”   —Joel 2:25 (KJV)

This is my restoration. This is my reintroduction. And this is the legacy I’m building—not just for me, but for every woman who’s ever been misjudged, misused, mishandled, mislabeled, or misunderstood.

Keyola Consultants is more than a business. It’s a ministry of clarity, confidence, and comeback.

✨ What Keyola Consultants Offers

• Emotional Empowerment: We help women rewrite their narratives with clarity, confidence, and spiritual grounding.

• Image Consulting with Depth: Beyond fashion, we guide clients through emotional presentation, boundary-setting, and legacy branding.

• Community & Clarity: Through Keyola Groups and Keyola Blogs, we create safe spaces for healing, growth, and sisterhood.

  
  

🔥 Legacy Over Labels

I don’t run from my past—I educate through it. I don’t silence my story—I amplify it. And I don’t let outdated headlines define me. I define myself, daily, through purpose, prayer, and power.

What part of your narrative are you reclaiming today?  

If your story has ever been told without your consent, know this: you don’t owe anyone a performance. You owe yourself peace. If you’ve ever felt misrepresented, manipulated, or mistaken for someone you’re not—Keyola Consultants is for you. We see you. We honor you. And we help you rise. Your truth is your legacy—and it deserves to be heard. Book your consultation today.