Kimberly Michele is a NY-to-NC transplant who moved to the small town of Asheboro as a child. Feeling like an outsider early on, she found creative solace in candle making—a craft that became her quiet sanctuary by the time she reached high school. The flicker of the flame became her guide, gently illuminating a path toward self-discovery.

Before college, she had developed a reputation for making long-lasting, clean-burning candles that brought light and peace into any space. She went on to study Biochemistry at UNC Greensboro, but when she became a mother in 2007, Kimberly experienced a powerful shift. She realized that what she wanted most wasn’t a career that demanded her absence, but one that gave her the freedom to say “yes” to her children when they needed her most.

This clarity was rooted in her own experience growing up with a hardworking single mother and an emotionally distant father who lived nearly 700 miles away. The ache of that absence shaped her deep commitment to being present—and became the guiding light behind her business decisions.

In 2010, she made the brave choice to leave college and focus on building the career she dreamed of—one that could sustain her family while allowing her to mother on her own terms. Sincerely Candle Company was born from that decision, officially launching in 2009. She poured her energy into growing Sincerely while balancing service industry jobs and becoming an active homeschooling mother.

In 2015, after the birth of her second son, Kimberly felt a renewed fire within. She reshaped her business with fresh purpose, and turned her gaze toward running the business full time with a newly found vigor in order to meet the demands of her growing family and soon to purchase their first property.

This season proposed many challenges for her—both personal and professional. She found herself clinging to the ways she was used to working and struggling to meet the financial needs of her new, big life. But to the flame, she returned, nonetheless. Deep in the chaos, burned to the bone, new ideas were born. What felt like a breakdown became the breakthrough that allowed her to rebuild her business in alignment with the woman—and mother—she was becoming.

Kimberly began sharing her candle-making skills with others, channeling her passion for service into uplifting, hands-on experiences that invite people to explore their own creativity. As her children grew more independent in their studies, she felt called to return to college and continue her own educational journey—fulfilled by the joy of learning and empowered by the freedom she had cultivated through entrepreneurship.

Rather than return to the UNCG, she chose to deepen her understanding of the flame—its history, its sacred use, and its potential to heal. She decided to focus her studies on essential oils to begin to create candles for healing. With plans to graduate as a certified Aromatherapist in January 2025, Kimberly now combines science, spirituality, and storytelling to inspire others.

Sincerely Candle Company has been the steady flame through every season of her life. More than a business, it’s been a sustainable source of income, freedom, and fulfillment for her family. Her mission is to help others find light—within themselves, their homes, and their own ventures. Whether through sacred rituals, entrepreneurship, or simply slowing down for a moment of peace, Kimberly aims to be a Beacon for others.

You can follow her journey on Instagram @kimberlycr8s.