Hayley Kiyoko Reflects on the Deep Personal Connection Behind ‘Girls Like Girls’ and Why Filming in Canada Meant So Much to Her

Hayley Kiyoko has spent the last decade transforming Girls Like Girls from a beloved song into a cultural phenomenon that now spans multiple forms of storytelling. Known as a singer-songwriter, actress, author, and filmmaker, Kiyoko has continually expanded the project’s reach, culminating in the release of the feature film adaptation that recently arrived in theaters.

Starring Maya da Costa, Myra Molloy, and Zach Braff, the coming-of-age drama not only marks another major milestone in Kiyoko’s career but also firmly establishes her voice as a writer and director. More than just an adaptation of her hit 2015 song and subsequent novel, the film represents a deeply personal journey that intertwines themes of identity, heritage, self-acceptance, and representation.

Set in 2006, Girls Like Girls follows the story of Coley, a teenage girl struggling to rebuild her life after the death of her mother. Forced to move to a small Oregon town to live with her estranged father, Coley finds herself isolated and uncertain about her future. Everything begins to change when she meets Sonya, a charismatic and popular local girl whose confidence and energy immediately draw her in.

As their friendship deepens, so does their connection, evolving into a tender romance that challenges both girls to confront their fears, desires, and sense of self. At its heart, the story is about discovering who you are and finding the courage to embrace that truth despite the obstacles that stand in your way.

For Kiyoko, however, bringing this story to life on screen carried an additional layer of emotional significance because of where the movie was filmed.

The production took place in Kelowna, British Columbia, a Canadian city that holds a special place in her family history. Speaking about the experience, Kiyoko revealed that arriving there immediately stirred powerful emotions.

The connection runs far deeper than simply using the location as a filming backdrop. Kelowna is where members of her Japanese family are buried, and it is also where she spent part of her earliest years. In fact, she shared that she took her first steps as a baby in the city, only a few streets away from where scenes for the film were eventually shot.

For Kiyoko, that coincidence felt almost surreal.

The filmmaker explained that the entire Girls Like Girls journey has always been about more than telling a love story. It has also been a process of learning to embrace every part of her identity, including her cultural heritage and her place as a biracial woman in the entertainment industry.

Throughout much of her career, Kiyoko has spoken openly about the importance of seeing people like herself represented as protagonists rather than side characters. Creating Girls Like Girls became one way of challenging traditional narratives and ensuring that queer stories—and stories centered on women of color—could occupy the spotlight.

Being able to film in a location connected to her Japanese grandparents made the experience feel even more meaningful. She described it as a reminder that the project had grown beyond her personal ambitions and become something larger.

According to Kiyoko, she has always viewed Girls Like Girls as a project created for a broader community of people who have often felt overlooked or excluded from mainstream media. The opportunity to honor both her heritage and her creative vision in the same place felt like a reward after years of hard work, uncertainty, and perseverance.

The filmmaker acknowledged that the ten-year journey to bring Girls Like Girls to theaters was filled with challenges. Yet standing in Kelowna, surrounded by memories of family and personal history, gave her a sense of validation that made the struggles feel worthwhile.

Beyond its personal significance, the film also reflects Kiyoko’s ongoing commitment to telling authentic queer stories that balance honesty with hope.

Throughout the narrative, viewers witness both the joy and pain experienced by Coley and Sonya as they navigate first love, identity, and acceptance. The story does not shy away from difficult realities, but it also resists defining queer experiences solely through trauma.

Kiyoko explained that one of her primary goals has always been to create uplifting LGBTQ+ content without sacrificing authenticity. She understands why many stories focus heavily on hardship, as discrimination and emotional pain remain a significant part of many queer people’s lives. However, she believes it is equally important to create narratives that leave room for optimism.

While writing both the novel and the screenplay, she found herself constantly searching for ways to acknowledge real struggles while still offering audiences a sense of hope. Rather than presenting an idealized version of reality, she wanted to portray characters who experience genuine challenges but ultimately discover strength, love, and self-acceptance.

One of the most difficult aspects of the adaptation process involved developing Sonya’s character.

Unlike Coley, whose emotional journey is often easier for audiences to sympathize with, Sonya makes decisions that can be frustrating and hurtful. Throughout the story, she struggles to accept her feelings and frequently sends mixed signals that impact Coley emotionally.

Kiyoko admitted that finding the right balance was incredibly challenging. During revisions, she often worried that Sonya’s actions might push audiences too far in one direction or another.

Her goal was not to create a perfect character but a realistic one.

She wanted viewers to recognize aspects of themselves in both young women. Although the film specifically focuses on a lesbian romance, Kiyoko believes its emotional themes are universal.

Almost everyone, regardless of gender or sexuality, has experienced the vulnerability of asking someone whether their feelings are reciprocated. The fear of rejection, uncertainty about the future, and difficulty communicating honestly are experiences that transcend any single community.

Kiyoko emphasized that adolescence is particularly complicated because young people are still learning how to navigate emotions and relationships. Mistakes are inevitable.

For that reason, she wanted audiences to approach Sonya with empathy rather than judgment. People do not always handle situations perfectly, especially when confronting something unfamiliar or frightening for the first time.

The filmmaker believes that human experiences are rarely simple or binary. Relationships can be messy, and personal growth often involves setbacks. Sometimes people need distance and boundaries, while other times they deserve opportunities to learn from their mistakes and make amends.

Exploring those complexities became one of the film’s central themes.

As Kiyoko steps into a new chapter of her career as a director, she is also acutely aware of the broader challenges facing women of color in the entertainment industry.

Despite ongoing conversations about diversity and inclusion, women of color remain significantly underrepresented behind the camera. Industry studies continue to show that only a small percentage of major studio films are directed by women from minority backgrounds.

Kiyoko acknowledged that breaking into those spaces is far from easy.

She described the process as an uphill battle that many women face across various industries. Often, success requires repeatedly convincing decision-makers to trust your perspective, support your vision, and believe in the value of the stories you want to tell.

For Kiyoko, the challenge extends beyond filmmaking. It reflects a larger societal issue in which women are frequently required to work harder to gain recognition and opportunities that others may receive more readily.

Despite those obstacles, she remains committed to creating meaningful stories and expanding representation both in front of and behind the camera.

With Girls Like Girls, Kiyoko has accomplished far more than adapting a popular song into a movie. She has crafted a deeply personal work that celebrates authenticity, resilience, and the power of being seen.

Through its themes of love, identity, and self-discovery, the film offers audiences a reminder that everyone deserves the chance to embrace who they truly are. And for Kiyoko, bringing that message to life in a place so closely connected to her family history made the experience all the more unforgettable.

After ten years of dedication, Girls Like Girls stands as both a creative achievement and a testament to the importance of telling stories that inspire people to see themselves—and their possibilities—more clearly.