After a decade of fighting to bring this story to life, Girls Like Girls will finally hit the big screen. The Nerds of Color had the opportunity to sit with writer/director Hayley Kiyoko and stars Maya da Costa and Myra Molloy to discuss their journeys as women of color.

Girls Like Girls is a romantic trip down nostalgia lane for millennials. But more than getting caught up in the fashion and technology of the early 2000s, the film follows a teenage Coley (Maya da Costa) as she grapples with the death of her mother, relocating to live with her once-absent father, and her new crush on popular girl Sonya (Myra Molloy).

What unfolds is a moving exploration of Coley’s ability to grieve while trying to dive into reciprocated love. This proves difficult when Sonya’s persona mostly relies on keeping up her usual (namely, heterosexual) appearances with her friends and family.

Writer and director Hayley Kiyoko channels much of her own experiences in this coming-of-age story. From her personal struggle with coming out in her youth to her relationship experiences, we get a glimpse into what yearning and passion look like when mixed with teen angst and coming to terms with one’s sexuality.

Maya da Costa gives us a raw and moving portrayal of the emotionally struggling Coley. In perfect contrast, Myra Molloy exudes a confidence that is mesmerizing, all while maintaining a subtle shimmer of insecurity and fear just below the surface.

Watch our full conversation below to hear how Kiyoko brought Girls Like Girls to life and how stars da Costa and Molloy breathed life into their characters based on their own sense of cultural identity.

Girls Like Girls hits theaters on June 19, 2026.