Hidden Gems: Meet Star Simmons of Vkind

Today we’d like to introduce you to Star Simmons

Hi Star, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Vkind is dedicated to showcasing the vegan and plant-based lifestyle in an aspirational and approachable way, creating a vision of a world where kindness is at the heart of daily living. Despite the plant-based movement facing backlash and misinformation from organizations resistant to change, we remain steadfast in our mission to inspire a shift toward removing animals from our plates and products. To support this movement, we built a platform featuring over 4,000 cruelty-free brands and shared content to raise awareness and spark meaningful conversations.

One of our standout initiatives is the pilot series Peeled, a plant-based cooking competition. This show highlighted how easy and rewarding it can be to adopt healthier, more sustainable eating habits.

Taking our mission further, we launched VKX—an immersive event themed “What If Plants Took Over the World.” Designed to captivate all the senses, VKX goes beyond preaching to the choir by creating an unforgettable experience that resonates with non-vegans, demonstrating the positive impact of embracing a kinder, more sustainable lifestyle.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting Vkind has been the most challenging journey of my life. There were countless moments when I questioned why I was doing this, and every time, the answer was simple: for the animals. Venturing into uncharted territory by creating a new type of event designed to appeal to an audience that wouldn’t typically attend a vegan event has been a path filled with trials and errors.

Our first event in Los Angeles in 2023 was a learning experience, but it came at a significant financial cost. Shifting gears and hosting the 2024 event in Phoenix was a smart decision. Our strong connections in the local community, especially among those who embrace plants as medicine, allowed us to reach a broader audience.

The response made every setback and sleepless night worth it. Hearing attendees share how the event opened their eyes to plant-based food’s incredible health benefits and possibilities was deeply rewarding. Knowing we’ve inspired positive change reminds me why this mission is so important and worth every challenge.

As you know, we’re big fans of Vkind. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Vkind is at the forefront of a transformative movement in plant-based living, uniting innovation, culinary artistry, and sustainability to reshape how people perceive and engage with veganism. At its heart, VKX2024 is more than an event—it’s an immersive celebration of a plant-based future. Featuring globally inspired, chef-curated tasting flights and a vibrant cultural experience with music and community, VKX2024 is a nexus for food enthusiasts, wellness advocates, and eco-conscious individuals. By highlighting inclusivity and creativity, the Vkind Company showcases the boundless possibilities of plant-based cuisine and fosters a community rooted in compassion, health, and environmental stewardship. This experience epitomizes the power of shared values, driving awareness and adoption of sustainable living on a global scale.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Organizing events during the Covid-19 pandemic has been uncertain, as the potential for sudden cancellations looms due to fluctuating case numbers and emerging variants. Leading up to our 2024 event, I was particularly concerned about the impact of rising COVID-19 cases. However, we were fortunate that the latest trends did not adversely affect our plans.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vkindexperience.com
• Instagram: vkx_2024 the handle will change to the current year annually
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@vkindapp
• Youtube: The goal of Vkind is to build a brand that showcases the plantbased lifestyle in a sexy way, encompassing a world where we live each day a little more kind. This movement has received a lot of backlash and misinformation that has been put out by organizations that would hurt the growth of a society where we begin to remove animals from our plates and our ingredients list. We did that by creating a website with more than 4k cruelty-free brands and sharing content that raises awareness. Vkind created a pilot series called Peeled which introduduced a vegan cooking competition, showing ways that people could incorporate more healthy and sustainable eating pratices into every day life. We also procured a short film that theatrically portrayed the human condition, relating it to the dairy industry. What I realized is the need to create an event where we create a curated menu featuring foods from all over the world bringing in inclusivity and different flavors focused on a whole food plant lifesytle. The entire premise of VKX (Vkind Experience) is “What if plants took over the world” We also know that alot of the events in the space have been going to the wayside this is due to people looking for more experiential events. It’s fun to go to the park and meet new vendors and visit brands, but it also doesn’t leave an impact because so many are only being exposed to the more junk food style type food rather than 5 star cuisine. This is where the food flights come in where you are tanalizing people with small bites and blowing their stereotypical views of what vegan food tastes like.