Rising Stars: Meet Shayla Fulton of Los Angeles / OC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayla Fulton.

Hi Shayla, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My Journey: From Tennis Champion to Entrepreneur and Community Advocate

My name is Shayla Fulton, and I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. My journey has been shaped by discipline, determination, entrepreneurship, and, most importantly, the importance of giving back to my community.

My story began when I was just six years old and started playing tennis at the Venus and Serena Williams Tennis Academy. What began as a childhood activity quickly became a passion that changed my life. Through hard work, dedication, and countless hours on the court, I became the number-one-ranked player in the state of California and held that title for a year.

At just 10 years old, I had the opportunity to meet Venus and Serena Williams and participate in an HP commercial with Serena Williams. When I was 12, I received a two-week scholarship to attend the prestigious Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. That experience was one of the best of my life because it allowed me to train in a highly competitive environment, learn from experienced coaches, and see what was possible when you committed yourself to excellence.

I continued building on that foundation throughout my college tennis career at El Camino College, where I earned MVP recognition and helped lead my team to the state championships. Along the way, I had opportunities to attend tennis banquets, meet professional players and legends such as Maria Sharapova, Billie Jean King, and Pete Sampras, and train with Sloane Stephens. Those experiences taught me that success is not just about talent. It requires consistency, sacrifice, confidence, and the willingness to keep pushing yourself even when things get difficult.

After competing at a semiprofessional level, my life began to take a different direction. Although tennis had given me so much, I knew I also wanted to explore my entrepreneurial side. In 2023, I began developing my skincare business, originally called She’s Winning Beauty, built around my motto: “My Skin, Your Skin, Our Skin.” I wanted to create a brand that represented beauty, confidence, and empowerment while encouraging people to feel good about themselves.

I developed a collection of eight products and grew the business to more than 500,000 in reported sales. Building my brand allowed me to apply the same discipline I learned through tennis to business. It taught me about marketing, creativity, customer relationships, and the importance of believing in your vision before everyone else can see it. I have always been a go-getter, someone who believes in taking initiative and finding a way to make things happen. However, I also recognized that passion and determination are only part of the equation. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of business operations, leadership, and how to build something sustainable.

That desire for growth is one of the reasons I decided to attend Santa Monica College and continue my education. In addition to developing my business knowledge, I began exploring homeless services because I wanted to understand how I could make a meaningful difference in the lives of people and the youth who need support and access to resources.

My passion for community service started long before college. Growing up, I witnessed how certain communities lacked access to resources, opportunities, and support. My mother played a major role in shaping my perspective. Twice a month, she would take my younger sister, Shanna, and me to volunteer at homeless shelters, food banks, or senior living communities. She taught us to remain humble, appreciate what we have, and remember that there are people facing circumstances very different from our own.

Those experiences stayed with me. They taught me that giving back is not simply about donating money or volunteering when it is convenient. It is about showing up, treating people with dignity, listening to their needs, and helping connect them with opportunities that can improve their lives. My mother showed me through her actions that service is a responsibility we can all share.

Today, I am working toward bringing my different passions together through a nonprofit initiative called To Serve & Inspire Tennis Foundation. My vision is to support children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 18 by using tennis as a tool for personal development, education, mentorship, and community engagement.

I want to create opportunities for young people to develop their athletic abilities while understanding that their future extends far beyond the tennis court. Through tennis training, academic support, mentorship, and community outreach, I hope to help young people build confidence, develop discipline, prioritize their education, and recognize their own potential. I want to be a resource for children who may not otherwise have access to the opportunities, guidance, and support they deserve.

When I look back at my journey, I see how every chapter has prepared me for the next. Tennis taught me discipline and resilience. Entrepreneurship taught me to take risks and turn ideas into action. My mother’s example taught me compassion, humility, and the importance of serving others. My education is helping me develop the knowledge and skills to turn those values into sustainable programs that can make a real difference.

Ultimately, I want my legacy to be about more than titles, accomplishments, or business success. I want to create opportunities for others, especially young people who need someone to believe in them. I know firsthand how much the right environment, mentorship, and support can influence a person’s future because I experienced that through tennis.

My goal is to continue growing as a businesswoman, community advocate, and nonprofit leader while using everything I have learned to serve others. For me, winning has never been only about being number one. It is also about opening doors, inspiring the next generation, and making sure that when I succeed, I create opportunities for others to succeed, too.

That is what To Serve & Inspire means to me, and that is the legacy I am working to build.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the most difficult experiences I faced was dealing with racism as a young child in competitive tennis. Growing up, my mother always taught me to treat others the way I wanted to be treated, regardless of their background. She would always tell me, “Kindness is the cure to a lot of things.” But at just 12 years old, I experienced a moment that challenged everything I had been taught about fairness and respect.

I remember playing in a tournament at Lakewood Center. It was the finals, and after a three-hour match in the cold, I was already physically and mentally exhausted. During the match, my opponent’s parents called me a racial slur, comparing me to a gorilla, while I was on the court. My parents stood up to defend me, and the situation escalated to the point that the referee had to intervene. I was also struggling with questionable line calls and what felt like unfair treatment during the match.

I was shocked. I had worked so hard to train, compete professionally, and respect the sport and everyone involved, only to experience something so hurtful at such a young age. I ended up losing the match, and I was so angry and disappointed that I didn’t even want to accept my finalist trophy. I walked to the car and cried.

My grandfather followed me and asked what was wrong. I told him I just wanted to leave because I didn’t want the trophy. I felt like I had worked so hard to prove myself in an environment where I wasn’t being treated equally. I was trying to understand how someone my age could be encouraged to win at all costs, even when it meant compromising fairness and sportsmanship.

My grandfather looked at me and told me something I will never forget: “Put your bags down, walk back in there with your head held high, and accept your award. It doesn’t matter what place you got. You made it here.”

Those words changed my perspective. I wiped my tears, walked back inside, and accepted my finalist trophy. Afterward, the tournament director called me back and presented me with a sportsmanship award as well. That moment meant so much to me because it reminded me that even when other people treat you unfairly, you still have control over your character and how you carry yourself.

That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life, from tennis to entrepreneurship. It has helped shape the person I am today and strengthened my desire to create opportunities for young people to feel supported, valued, and respected. Through my work and creation To Serve & Inspire Tennis Foundation, I want children to have access to positive environments where they can grow, build confidence, and learn that success is not just about winning. It’s also about character, integrity, and how we treat others along the way.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What sets me apart is that I’ve experienced different sides of the journey. I know what it feels like to navigate challenges as an African American athlete in a sport where I didn’t always feel accepted. I also understand the uncertainty of starting a business, building a personal brand, and creating opportunities from the ground up. Those experiences have shaped my resilience, perspective, and desire to help others.

There was a point when I had only $500 left, and I made the decision to invest in my vision rather than give up on it. I took risks, learned as I went, and continued building. That experience taught me that sometimes you have to believe in yourself before you have all the resources, connections, or answers.

Today, I want my success to mean more than personal accomplishments. I’m passionate about using what I’ve learned to give back to my community, which is why I’m excited to develop To Serve & Inspire Tennis Foundation. My vision is to give young people access to tennis, education, mentorship, and opportunities they might not otherwise have. I want them to see that their circumstances don’t have to determine their future.

Ultimately, I’m proud that I’ve continued to evolve while staying true to who I am. I’ve taken my love for sports, beauty, business, and creativity and turned them into something meaningful. My goal is to continue building businesses while creating opportunities for others, because to me, the greatest accomplishment is not just succeeding for yourself, but using that success to inspire someone else to believe they can succeed, too.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Every morning, I have a Bible scripture that appears on my phone’s lock screen. When I wake up, I read the scripture and then spend time reading the chapter surrounding it to understand its message. I call it my “time with God.” It has become a meaningful part of my daily routine because it allows me to start my day with intention, reflect on my actions, and remind myself of the person I want to become.

As an entrepreneur, real estate agent, and someone working toward making a difference in my community, I’m constantly learning how to navigate challenges and grow as a person. My faith reminds me that success isn’t just about what I accomplish, but also about how I treat people, how I respond to adversity, and how I use my blessings to help others.

Ultimately, my time with God helps me stay grounded, remain grateful for where I am, and trust the process even when I don’t have all the answers. It reminds me that personal growth is just as important as professional success.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shes_winning_?exln=MWFsMXJ6dnlsM3lzcw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576416729513&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayla-fulton-3a34383b5?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
• Other: https://linktr.ee/SFrealty