Check out our interview with gorgeous model, chef, beauty, health & wellness influencer and entrepreneur Shayna Terese Taylor who launched the very popular healthy lifestyle destination Shayna’s Kitchen and created the successful holistic CBD brand Bottle & Stone.
Shayna first rose to fame signing a contract with top modeling agency Wilhelmina Models and then began expanding her social media presence by sharing original recipes and matcha journey. Through her work to uncover and share the world’s “best of the best” in wellness, Shayna formulated her own organic Morning Ritual Ground Matcha made of the world’s highest quality matcha: Ceremonial Grade A and Koicha Stone Ground. Shayna’s goal with her burgeoning online platform is to share what she uncovers so that everybody has access to make informed decisions about their health.
Shayna’s matcha is 100% organic, ceremonial grade green tea leaves that are only ground once she places an order. She stores them in a fridge until it is shipped out to you to ensure it has the highest antioxidants and nutrients as possible. She always sticks to ceremonial grade for its many health benefits and slightly sweeter taste, instead of bitter and chalky. Chinese matchas are reported to have a higher risk of contamination from lead, so it’s best to stick to the Japanese varieties.
Follow Shayna @shaynateresetaylor
Hi Shayna, please tell us a little about you?
I grew up in Southern California with my father and brother. My childhood and teenage years were typical for a teenager growing up in Riverside. However, I always had big dreams and aspirations. I enrolled in the culinary program at the Art Institute of Costa Mesa right after high school. Thinking that becoming a chef would be a great way to marry my need for a creative outlet and passion for cooking and nurturing the people I love. One day walking through Fashion Island mall in Orange County, I got approached by a Wilhelmina scout, who asked if I would be interested in pursuing a career in modeling. A week later I moved to Los Angeles and got signed by the agency. Even though I was getting booked for jobs on a regular basis. I struggled watching models starve themselves and try endless diets to keep up with the pressure of staying thin in the modeling industry. I knew that type of lifestyle was not only not sustainable but also dangerous for your health. I wanted to help these young girls and tell them that “yoyo dieting” was not the answer.
Modeling was a great adventure but I knew in my heart that I had more to give and it had to be something creative. My friends always called me Mama Shay because I was always the caretaker in the group, either cooking for everyone or making cocktails to get everyone in the mood. My circle of friends has always been diverse and somewhat international, and in most cultures if you want to show your love for someone, you feed them or give them nourishment. Preparing a meal for someone is the ultimate gesture of love. After my very short but fun stint as a model. I became a personal chef and discovered that most people had a desire to eat healthy because they understood the link between what we put in our body and our wellbeing, but most had no clue where to start. My clients were complaining of fatigue, excessive weight, or just wanting to feel better overall. – This made me seek out to search for answers. My niche quickly became – “How to maintain your energy and feel great, while still eating the foods you love”. I immersed myself in holistic eating and wellness education. After all, if food can make you feel sick, it also has the power to heal you, Hippocrates said it first “All diseases begin in your gut”. Not long after that I picked up my parents’ entrepreneurial spirit and started Shaynaskitchen.com
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Free spirited, hardworking, creative
Name one your strengths?
Listening to my intuition.
Best advice ever given?
Don’t listen to outside sources and become more confidant in yourself.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life?
I am grateful for my mother Brenda; she is my biggest teacher and inspiration. Growing up I watched my mom be an entrepreneur and how she often had to wear many hats in her businesses. Over the years I have watched my mom be a film producer for the navy and Boeing. When I was 22, she deployed to Afghanistan to film a documentary. There was even a time where she promoted UFC fights. Watching my mom growing up taught me resilience, honesty, perseverance and tenacity. To never give up and that if you want something done right do it yourself. She also taught me some practical stuff, for example how to write a pitch deck, when it’s necessary to involve a lawyer or if it’s something you can handle on your own. She has always been very generous to share her knowledge and experience to help guide me along the way The most powerful lesson she taught me is to never choose money over my passion. If am passionate about what I am doing and happy doing it, money will always flow in.
What did you learn from your biggest failure?
It reminds me of a famous quote, “I would rather attempt to do something great and fail then attempt to do nothing and succeed”. Of course, I was scared when I was first starting out but my passion for realizing my dreams was greater than my fears. With that said, I don’t believe in mistakes because everything that happens to us is a learning experience. With every challenge, there is an opportunity for growth. Our mistakes test us; help shape our character and ultimately put us on a path of self-discovery and purpose. Without mistakes, how would we discover what we are good at? They give us direction and create a sense of urgency to” keep it moving” and maybe try something else. Mistakes force us to look inward and tap into our intuition and think about whether it’s time to pivot or keep pushing. The lesson that I have learned along the way is, there is no greater satisfaction then making a mistake, learning from it and rising above it.
What’s your advice for the newer models?
Stay in your lane. Don’t compare yourself to others. You will be booked for you and what makes you unique.
Now tell us about your other projects as a chef, beauty, health & wellness influencer?
Currently I am working on a lifestyle cookbook. I am constantly creating and developing recipes for Shayna’s Kitchen, my blog. I create gluten free, corn free, refined sugar free, that supports you in living more intuitively.
Speaking of listening to my intuition. After years of drinking coffee and experiencing its accompanying stomach aches, jitters and afternoon crashes, I discovered matcha. To say it has changed my life in the years since is an understatement. Not only has it given me a delicious and nourishing way to care for myself, but it has opened me up to the sacred world of daily tea rituals. I tested hundreds of kinds of matcha before finding the authentic ceremonial-grade Japanese variety you’ll find in Morning Ritual — it’s the best in the world.
I am so excited to share it with you and invite you to join me in my morning tea ritual, one of the best parts of my day.
Through giving health advice on Shayna’ Kitchen that I led me to my newest venture Bottle and Stone. I have spent the past few years working and developing formulas for daily self-care solutions that support a holistic, healthy lifestyle. The result is Bottle & Stone, a line of handcrafted CBD-based remedies that puts the power to thrive naturally back into each of our hands. We offer a holistic system of CBD-based remedies and resources. Although we will continuously be adding new products to our line to best help you, our current line including tinctures, throat spray, face oil, beard oil and body salve.
What is the feeling of being a very popular content creator & influencer?
I feel blessed and lucky to have such an amazing community who is constantly looking to improve their life through wellness.
You are followed by so many people. How do you feel about that pressure of doing always the right thing, and encourage people to follow their dreams?
I love what I do, I only want to give content that’s going to inspire people and make them feel good.
Can you share some health & wellness tips with our readers?
My best advice is always shared on my Instagram and Shayna’s Kitchen blog.
Now about Shayna’s Kitchen. How and when did you decided to create this and where the love for food comes from?
My whole live, went to culinary school. Started the blog when I was younger. 2016 became SK
Can you tell us about your company Bottle & Stone?
At Bottle & Stone, we believe that your story of health and happiness is yours to write. We provide high quality CBD-based remedies and resources that put the power to thrive back in your hands. Our work is grounded in the science and wonder of nature’s healing plants, and in the ancient wisdom of wellness. Always evolving by listening to our community, we are honored to share what we can to empower you to thrive naturally, on your own terms.
What would say are the greatest lessons you learned so far in this business?
Realizing how much quality matters. To make sure I create high quality products. I know where its grown, how its grown and who is growing it.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty. While not your classic entrepreneur book it supports you in cultivating a clam mind. Which is an important factor for anyone’s lives.
What’s next for Shayna Terese Taylor in 2021?
Currently I am working on my lifestyle cookbook. Along with that I am coming out with new products for Bottle and Stone
Which project is still on your bucket list?
I would love to have a show on Food network.
In five years from now, where do you see yourself and your career?
Have my own lifestyle/ cooking show, have an incredible line of sustainable organic home goods. Launch my cookbook and continue to build my empire.
Now talking about Instagram, can you share some tips for keeping your account interesting?
We have made a commitment to always stay in contact with our community which gives us ideas for what to share. We cater to our community which in turns helps us grow.
How often do you post content?
Everyday!
What is your favorite healthy food?
Pizza.
And your favorite cheat food?
I don’t believe in that term. I think that you can eat everything in moderate. Life is about balance. Food is food.
What is your own definition of happiness?
Happiness to me is being truly happy within yourself, not needing outside sources to bring you happiness. Spending time alone to understand yourself better and in turn learn to make decisions for you. You’re the only person who will know what makes you happy. Prioritize yourself over everything.
How would your best friend describe you?
Nurturing, Attentive
Who is your biggest beauty inspiration?
Gisele Bündchen. She is someone who cares about what goes into her body.
How would you explain your fashion style and what items in your closet can you not be without?
My style is classic and simple. I prioritize quality basics and pieces that are comfortable and soft.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Martha Stewart, I would love to pick her brain on how she created her empire.
Where we can follow you?
Instagram:
@shaynas.kitchen
@shaynateresetaylor
@bottleandstone
Websites:
FAVORITE:
Quote: Do not seek love, be love then you’ll never be without it
Holiday Destination: Italy
Drink: Matcha
Celebrity Crush: Harry Styles
Favorite song? Why? Currently can’t stop listening to Better Than You’re Used To Tyler Rich
Sports Team: Not a big sports fan
Movie: Finding Nemo
Photo Credit: Benjo_Arwas
