Hayley Kiyoko has long been recognized not only as a singer and actress but also as a creative force determined to reshape how LGBTQ+ stories are told on screen. With her feature film Girls Like Girls, she openly embraced what she described as breaking barriers in an industry that has historically offered limited space for queer female narratives. However, behind that confident public image lies a far more complex and emotionally layered creative journey—one that reveals hesitation, vulnerability, and immense personal pressure beneath the surface of her artistic triumph.

While Kiyoko has often spoken about her mission to bring authentic queer representation to wider audiences, she recently reflected on how difficult that journey has been in practice. Over the years, she has continued expanding the story of Girls Like Girls across different mediums, from music to literature to film, in an effort to reach audiences in as many ways as possible. Despite the many obstacles she encountered along the way, she describes the experience as deeply meaningful and ultimately life-affirming.

The artist admitted that her drive to continue the project often felt almost instinctive. Even during moments of doubt, when she questioned whether the film would ever come to life, she experienced an internal force pushing her forward. Rather than attributing it to religion or external belief systems, she described it as something physical and emotional within her that refused to let the project die. In her words, it felt as though abandoning the story was not an option, as if it needed to exist regardless of the difficulty involved.

At its core, Girls Like Girls tells the coming-of-age story of Coley, a grieving teenager who relocates to a small town in Oregon after the death of her mother. She moves in with her estranged father, Curtis, and begins adjusting to a new and unfamiliar environment. It is there that she meets Sonya, a charismatic and emotionally complex girl with whom she develops a powerful romantic connection. The story explores themes of identity, grief, self-discovery, and first love.

Kiyoko has described the film as more than just a creative project. For her, it represents a larger personal mission tied to emotional healing and self-acceptance, both for herself and for audiences who may see their own experiences reflected on screen. She believes the film serves as a meaningful contribution to the ongoing journey of self-love and identity exploration for many viewers who have rarely seen their stories represented in mainstream cinema.

In recent interviews, she has openly discussed the decade-long process of bringing Girls Like Girls to the big screen. What began as a song evolved into a music video, then later into a novel, and finally into a full-length feature film. Each stage represented a deeper and more refined version of the same story, allowing her to explore new layers of emotional truth and representation with every iteration.

Kiyoko explained that this long creative evolution was both rewarding and emotionally challenging. As she revisited the story over the years, she constantly pushed herself to deepen its meaning and authenticity. With each new format, she found herself moving closer to a more honest reflection of her identity and experiences. The journey also allowed her to highlight Asian representation more prominently, particularly in the film adaptation, where she cast two Asian leads in central roles.

She described this progression as a process of self-acceptance. Rather than attempting to reshape herself to fit industry expectations, she gradually learned to embrace her own identity more fully through the storytelling process. In many ways, each version of Girls Like Girls mirrored her own personal growth and increasing comfort with who she is.

A significant part of the film’s success lies in its casting choices, which Kiyoko approached with great care. The production reportedly reviewed more than 4,000 audition submissions in search of the right actors for the lead roles of Coley and Sonya. Interestingly, actress Maya da Costa was the very first audition tape Kiyoko watched, and her performance immediately stood out.

Kiyoko recalled being deeply moved by a subtle moment in da Costa’s audition, where the actress simply sat in a bedroom set, quietly taking in her character’s surroundings. That moment reminded Kiyoko of the vulnerability and emotional intensity of young love, especially the awkwardness and uncertainty of being in someone else’s personal space for the first time. It convinced her early on that da Costa was a strong contender for the role.

Myra Molloy’s casting came through a different path. Initially auditioning for the role of Coley, Molloy’s interpretation ultimately led Kiyoko to realize she was better suited for Sonya. During a chemistry read, her performance revealed a natural complexity that aligned perfectly with the character’s emotional contradictions. Sonya, while sometimes verbally harsh, is not portrayed as a villain. Instead, she is a young person navigating emotional confusion, insecurity, and the difficulty of self-expression. Kiyoko praised Molloy for capturing that balance with nuance and authenticity.

The role of Curtis, Coley’s father, was eventually given to actor Zach Braff, a casting choice that Kiyoko described as unexpectedly meaningful. She revealed that she had long admired Braff’s film Garden State, which had a significant influence on her own artistic sensibilities. The film’s soundtrack and emotional tone had been a source of inspiration for her, and she even included it in early visual references for her project.

When Braff received the script, he reportedly responded with enthusiasm and quickly agreed to meet with her. Kiyoko noted that they connected not only creatively but also on a personal level, as they both understood the challenges of directing a debut feature film. She described their collaboration as a moment of mutual understanding and respect.

Kiyoko even made a brief cameo appearance in the film, although she admitted this was not originally planned. Toward the end of production, she decided to step in front of the camera for a brief moment, almost as a symbolic gesture marking the completion of a long journey. Though her appearance lasts only a few seconds, she viewed it as a personal acknowledgment of how far the project had come.

Beyond its production challenges, Girls Like Girls also carries cultural significance for Kiyoko. She has often spoken about the lack of LGBTQ+ coming-of-age stories featuring women at the center, particularly narratives that feel emotionally authentic and relatable. Growing up, she struggled to find films that reflected her own experiences, which contributed to feelings of isolation during her childhood.

Because of this, she sees the film as part of a broader effort to create the kind of representation she once needed. She acknowledges that while there is still much progress to be made, she feels honored to be part of a growing movement that is expanding the visibility of queer stories in mainstream media.

Kiyoko also emphasized that the emotional core of the film extends beyond sexuality. While Girls Like Girls focuses on a romantic relationship between two women, she believes its themes are universally relatable. At its heart, the story is about vulnerability, connection, and the uncertainty of young love—experiences that resonate with people regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation.

She explained that nearly everyone has experienced a moment of emotional risk in relationships, where they must confront whether their feelings are reciprocated. These moments, she said, are universally human and form the emotional backbone of the story.

Ultimately, Kiyoko views Girls Like Girls as the realization of a long-held creative vision. More than a decade in the making, the project represents not only her artistic evolution but also her personal journey toward self-acceptance and creative confidence. While she acknowledges the pressures and emotional challenges involved, she remains proud of what the film represents.

For her, the project is not just a film—it is a statement of identity, perseverance, and the belief that authentic stories deserve to be told. And while she hopes it will pave the way for more LGBTQ+ coming-of-age narratives in the future, she also sees it as a deeply personal achievement: the story she always wished existed when she was younger.