About
My name is Chelsea Simone
To sum up my 30 years, I spent the first 26 years warring with myself and the people around me trying to find meaning in the things expected of me, when in reality, the only thing that had meaning was my love of art. I love telling stories, and having the ability to visually display the stories in my head with my own two hands is what I can only call a gift.
After years battling a chronic illness, at 26 I received a liver transplant from my father. Faced with my own mortality and that of my father, who I can only describe as chronically fit and healthy, I had to make a choice. He asked me during our recovery what I wanted to do now that I was on the mend. The answer was and has always been simple: Art. The difference this time was that I wasn't going to allow others' projections of what was feasible and respectable dictate if I went for it or not.
It's sad that I am not alone in the idea that it takes a strong kick in the ass or even near death to get people to pursue life to its' fullest, however out of the ashes rises a phoenix. We will all eventually die, but when I do, I want it to be known that I lived too!
What are you supporting?
My Mission
Have you ever heard of "Manga"? What about "Anime"?
They're styles of cartoon storytelling that originated in Japan and have since taken the world by storm. Growing up, my love for these art forms made me "the weird girl" in class—in life really, the one always doodling anime characters in the margins of her notebook. Back then, it felt like a lonely passion. Now? It’s a global phenomenon—and my inner child is thriving.
As an entrepreneur, one of the most important questions to ask is: Am I entering an oversaturated market, or am I filling a gap?
Lucky for me, the gap I’m filling aligns perfectly with my passions. And when you love what you do, work doesn’t really feel like work!
Let’s talk genres for a second. When folks in the West hear “comics,” they think of Batman, Superman, or the X-Men. In Japan, “Manga” evokes Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Naruto. These stories often fall under Shonen, a genre filled with action and adventure, typically marketed to boys and men. Another well-known genre is Shoujo, which is aimed squarely at teenage girls.
But here’s where things get interesting: we—the girls who grew up loving anime and manga—don’t stay teenagers forever. We become women. And yet, much of the content marketed to us stays stuck in the teenage phase. The stories we adored in our youth don’t always grow up with us.
Enter Josei: the adult romance manga genre created for women. It’s beautiful, emotional, and real—but unfortunately, it’s a relatively small corner of the industry. That’s my lane. That’s where I come in and shine! ✨
There’s a demand for grown-up, diverse, and emotionally rich manga that speaks to women. But despite the obvious hunger for this kind of content, it’s not treated as valuable. The same thing happens with romance novels here in the West: they dominate sales charts but are still looked down on by the literary elite.
And while we’re talking about gaps in representation—have you noticed something else? I’m Black… AF.
In both Japanese and Western media, we see endless depictions of Japanese and white British/American characters. But respectful, authentic portrayals of Black people? They’re few and far between.
One of my favorite manga creators, Tite Kubo (y’know, the genius behind Bleach), is an exception. His character designs reflect a wide range of skin tones and ethnic backgrounds. You don’t have to guess if someone is Black, Asian, Hispanic, or white—it’s thoughtfully obvious. That kind of care and intention? We need more of it.
So here’s my mission:
✨ To bring relatable, inclusive, and grown-up manga stories to the mainstream.
✨ To center the voices and faces of women—especially Black women—in an industry where we’re often sidelined.
✨ And to do it independently, without handing over my creativity (or ownership) to big publishing companies who might water down or cancel my voice.
I’m building this from the ground up, and I’m asking for your support. Whether it’s sharing my work on social media, cheering me on, or contributing financially—every action counts.
Thanks for being here. Let’s create something magical together