“Listened for financial advice, came away with relationship advice! It was the
podcast I didn’t know I needed. Loved it!” - HSR Angel
Krissy Cela (Founder of Oner Active & EvolveYou) opens up about scaling a $190M business — and why she refuses to build her brand around men.
From being homeless to building one of the fastest-growing female-founded brands in athleisure, Krissy explains the “immigrant mentality” that still keeps her in fight-or-flight mode, why she hired her mentor as CEO, and the 6-step rebrand that transformed her from fitness creator into a high-performance founder.
Along the way, she shares hard lessons about leadership, relationships, and why sometimes being called a “b*tch” is the price of protecting your vision and building something truly for women, by women.
What We Cover:
Her journey from homelessness to building a global activewear brand and developing confidence as a founder.
Balancing public image with real leadership and the pressures of scaling a company.
Growing the brand through smart hiring, product innovation, and breaking revenue ceilings.
Viral products, major sales moments, and designing activewear around women’s cycles.
Dealing with criticism, online hate, and the downside of internet fame.
Rebranding, setting goals, and staying motivated through challenges.
Personal views on partnerships, ambition, lifestyle, and moving from LA to Miami.
Oner Giveaway!
Today’s episode of HSR with Krissy Cela is one Maggie has had on her bucket list!!
In just five years, Krissy has built Oner Active from a startup to a brand that hit $191 million in 2025, and this episode really drives one thing home: no female-founded women’s activewear brand has reached unicorn status yet. Krissy is here to change that.
To celebrate her Hot Smart Rich episode, the team at Oner is giving away one full Oner Active look from their new Spring Seasonal capsule to one lucky Angel.
To enter, comment HSR + a 🪽 emoji on THIS Instagram video. One entry per Angel!!
The giveaway is open until end of day PT on Thursday, March 12, and the winner will be contacted directly by DM from @hotsmartrich on Instagram on Friday, March 13.
Will you share, are you a HSR podcat listener?
Krissy’s Top 10
01. The Uniform
The pieces I designed to make you feel confident instantly. They sculpt, support, and somehow work just as well inside the gym as they do outside it.
02. The Training Plan
Three strength sessions and two long walks every week keep my body strong and my mind clear. It’s a routine that helps me stay consistent, energized, and grounded no matter how busy life gets.
03. The Gym Bag
The bag that somehow fits everything. Gym gear, extra clothes, and all the little essentials that make getting through the day easier.
04. The Gym Staples
I never train without a few backup essentials. The small things you throw in your bag always end up saving the day.
05. The Morning Ritual
My husband makes me coffee and colostrum every single morning. It’s a tiny habit that makes the whole day feel better before it even begins.
06. The Real Self-Care
Spending time with my husband, my baby, and my dogs is the one thing that instantly resets me. No routine beats that.
07. The Recovery Upgrade
One of the best wellness investments I’ve made. Better sleep, better recovery, and waking up actually feeling rested.
08. The Workout Fuel
When I’m lifting heavy or training for longer sessions, I always keep something nearby to keep my energy up. It makes a huge difference.
09. The Training Boost
I always add something extra to my water and take something right before training. The right boost makes the whole workout feel stronger.
10. The Headphones
My absolute gym essential. They last forever on one charge, block everything out, and make every workout better.
Hot, Smart, Rich Tips
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a founder is that leadership requires clarity, not approval. When I started my first business at 21, I wanted everyone to like me, but trying to please everyone almost ruined the company. The real shift happened when I stopped focusing on being liked and started focusing on building something meaningful. Authenticity is your biggest advantage, especially if you are building a brand online. When I began sharing more of my real personality and being honest about my journey, the connection with my audience became much stronger. And when it comes to scaling a business, do not try to do everything yourself. The best founders understand the difference between the “why” person and the “how” person. I focus on the vision and direction, while my partners focus on execution. That combination is what turns an idea into a company that can actually grow.
Favorite Part of the Conversation
Talking about why building Oner into a billion-dollar brand matters to me. It is not about the money. It is about proving that a female founder can build one of the biggest athleisure companies in the world. I want girls who grew up like I did to see that they can create something massive too.
About The Guest
Krissy Cela - Creative Director and Founder of EvolveYou & Oner Active
Krissy Cela is an incredibly successful entrepreneur, wellness advocate, renowned Creative Director, and founder of two multi-million dollar businesses: the leading female fitness app EvolveYou and women’s activewear brand Oner Active. Known for her authentic approach to fitness and business, she built a global community by sharing evidence based training, mindset advice, and her journey from financial hardship to building thriving companies. Through her work, Krissy empowers women to prioritize strength, confidence, and long term health while redefining what modern fitness and female led brands can look like.