Dr. Khnuma Simmonds
Girlfriendism™ - Founder & CEO
Dr. Khnuma Simmonds is the proud daughter of El’Roy and Carmen Simmonds and a proud U.S.Virgin Islands mom who was born and raised on St. Croix. She continues to live, work and play on the island where she is raising her 9-year old king, Taino Khing, and her 4-year old prince, Khnum Xau! She received a BA in Liberal Arts from Hofstra University in New York with a major in Communications and a minor in Dance. Khnuma holds a Master in Education Guidance & Counseling from the University of the Virgin Islands and is a Doctor of Philosophy with a PhD in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior Program from Capella University. Her published research investigated the impact of Caribbean music and dance on survivors of domestic violence in the U.S. Virgin Islands and highlights the power of culture, identity and freedom which also transcends through her membership in committees such as the 175th Emancipation Commemoration committee as appointed by the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands and as a graduate of the Executive Program in Leadership Strategy for Violence & Abuse Prevention at the University of Pennsylvania - Ortner Center on Violence and Abuse
As the Founder and CEO of Girlfriendism ™ International and Owner of My Girlfriend’s Closet and SoKh Caribbean Dance Fitness, Khnuma is a full-time mompreneur who enjoys marrying her passions for entrepreneurship and advocacy. Through Girlfriendism ™, she advocates for women’s empowerment through fashion, fitness, business, wellness, travel and philanthropy and also, incorporates her role as a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault to further advocate for and support survivors. The work of Girlfriendism has been featured in St. Croix Magazine, V.I. Consortium, V.I. Daily News, St. Croix Avis, Voyage Minnesota and numerous others throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands and nationally and she has also been named as one of the top ten Disruptors of 2022 by Disruptors Magazine! In 2022, she also embarked on her first international Girlfriendism Retreat in Greece with 31 women from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, South Carolina, New York and beyond! This monumental experience celebrated eleven years of My Girlfriend’s Closet and two years of the launch of Girlfriendism ™ on August 1st - National Girlfriend Day! It is through these initiatives and others including The Entrepreneurship Experience, that Khnuma highlights the power of collectivism and the role of women in the growth and success of local and global communities.
In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Khnuma also served as the Executive Director of the V.I. Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Council (DVSAC) and the former Fiscal Review Coordinator at the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development. She also serves as the Federal Programs Coordinator at the Law Enforcement Planning Commission and as a mental health advocate with Beautiful Dreamers Behavioral and Educational Center where she can engage in the art of empathy, love and compassion for people within her community.
For more information on Dr. Simmonds or her work through Girlfriendism International, please visit her brand website at www.girlfriendism.com