as we continue to celebrate women's history month, we are absolutely thrilled to bring you this week's kai conversation with veronika payne, the designer & founder of ora ana, a gorgeous line of eye-catching, statement-making jewelry that is plated with 18-karat gold and silver, and is 100% hypoallergenic. designed in new york city by veronika herself who imagines and conceptualizes each and every piece, the full range of ora ana jewelry has an old hollywood glamorous look & feel and truly speaks to every woman. veronika is a brooklyn native and a long-time kai devotee, who has also had an impressive career as a fashion model, designer, and influencer. in the past few years, utilizing her remarkable talents and unique eye for creating simple, bold, next-level jewelry designs, veronika has been wholeheartedly focused on building the ora ana collection, which we've fallen in love with and we highly encourage you to check out. 

in complete synergy with the kai "breath*life*flow" way of life and brand mission, the ora ana mission is "to remind women that they are worthy of appreciation now and not when. aspirations drive us; however, this moment of our journey is worth celebrating." what a perfect message not only for women's history month, but for how women should be celebrated always, at all times. congratulations to veronika on the success of this incredible jewelry brand and company mission! in the interview conversation below, you will get to learn more about what an amazing woman and entrepreneur veronika is. please enjoy and stay tuned over the coming weeks for a special giveaway collaboration with ora ana + kai! 

xo,

gaye. 

how are you taking care of yourself and your loved ones during this time? are there certain things that are proving to be sources of motivation/ inspiration? if so, please feel free to share.

i meditate every morning - gratitude is the highest way to raise your frequency. i normally speak with my family once a day but recently it has been twice! i try to stay super connected to my friends - House Party halloween get togethers, Zoom book clubs, anything that promotes human interaction. i am keeping in the back of my mind that eventually the world will resemble the place we once knew and i want to have spent this time becoming a better version of myself . i try to share the things i am doing to help keep it together on my social platforms - mostly twitter and instagram stories - with the hope that they will also help someone else or inspire someone to find their own routines. here is the meditation i most frequently use in the AM. 

how do you embody kai's "breath*life*flow" lifestyle? 

i do my best to take care of myself inside and out. by taking care of my body with skincare routines, healthy diet and exercise and my mind by reading, staying close to the people i love and always being a student of life. i prepare myself for the things i can control and understand there's so many things that i can't prepare for. gratitude for the small things is huge for me. we are all works in progress and we deserve to celebrate ourselves for even the smallest steps in the right direction. 

do you have a mantra that you live by?

"be impeccable with your word. don't take anything personally. don't make assumptions. always do your best." "you create what you believe" "i don't need to be what i am not".

what's your beauty secret? or must have beauty product? 

keeping your face clean! right now it's my mix of Trentinoin and Clindamyicn cream which kills any acne that might even attempt to creep up. i wash with an exfoliating spin brush using Cerave moisturizing cleanser and Agent Nateur Brightening Acid Wash cleanser.

go-to lipstick color? 

"Russian Red" by MAC - i also love "Warm Me Up" by Maybelline or "Taupe" by MAC both with "Chestnut" (used to be "Bittersweet") lip liner also by MAC.

what color nail polish are you wearing right now? 

mostly clear - chipped nails are a huge eye sore for me and i am avoiding the salon due to covid. but i've even started having fun with press-on nails, which have actually improved drastically since i was 11. 

what do you love most about where you live? any secret spots you love to go to?

i've recently moved and am lucky enough to have my own babe cave and office. i love reading by the fireplace in my lush cave & i also love the feeling of being so into my work that i have to be dragged out of my office, and really i LOVE that these are two separate places. 

favorite food? 

if there are plantains, i am eating them. 

ultimate getaway? 

anywhere new. i love to travel and learn about/see new things. i do love Nice, France. 

guilty pleasure? 

i love working on my jewelry brand, Ora Ana and binge watching MTV's "The Challenge."

kai obsession? 

body buffer and body glow, i love soft glowing skin. 

morning person or night owl? 

i try so hard to be a morning person but currently i am a night owl.

current craving?

travel & nightlife.

ideal way to relax/ unwind? 

reading, with a blanket and the kai reed diffuser.

what book are your reading currently? 

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.

thank you... veronika!