This was a full-circle year for Hayley Kiyoko. The multi-hyphenate’s breakout 2015 music video “Girls Like Girls” — which she adapted into a book in 2023 — became a full-length film with Focus Features in 2026. Sitting in the director’s chair? None other than Kiyoko herself. On top of that milestone, she released a Girls Like Girls soundtrack album featuring catchy collabs with fellow lesbian pop royalty.
“It’s been a 10-year journey advocating for this film to be made and supported by a major studio,” Kiyoko says. “It has been a hard journey, but also worth it, because seeing our stories represented and told on the big screen is something worth fighting for.”
From her formative Disney Channel roles to her sold-out tours, Kiyoko has proved that persistence is the key to her success. She’s long been living openly, coming out in 2015 and getting engaged to girlfriend Becca Tilley in 2025 — and through it all, she’s never lost sight of her career goals.
“I hope my story and journey as an artist and filmmaker can serve as a reminder to anyone still chasing a dream,” she says. “To never give up. To keep dreaming big and to keep being the change.” @hayleykiyoko
