Mayci Neeley Shares Her Journey: From Exploring Her Past in a Bestselling Book to Bringing Harmony to the MomTok Community
The cultural impact of *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*, particularly through its cast of mothers, continues to resonate in today’s social media landscape. Among them is Mayci Neeley, a 30-year-old mother of three who, just days ago, celebrated her debut as a *New York Times* best-selling author with her book *Told You So*. Neeley is also the owner of a natal nutrition business, blending her entrepreneurial spirit with her role as a parent.
Mayci’s journey, marked by significant challenges and personal growth, has unfolded on-screen and within the pages of her book. During a recent Zoom interview, she shared her enthusiasm for the lighter moments of life, showcasing TikToks that make her laugh and recounting a humorous story about a twerking video that she and fellow cast member Mikayla Matthews found too awkward to post. Ahead of her book launch, Mayci reflected on her writing process, beauty routines, and her contributions to the viral MomTok phenomenon.
“Growing up, I didn’t love to write. There were times when I would write lyrics to songs and make weird stuff like that, right?” Mayci recalled. “Once you get into high school… writing sucks. Then in college, it changed to 10-page papers… I didn’t enjoy it, but I was always pretty good at it. I started enjoying it more when I got into my major, broadcast journalism.”
Mayci described her writing journey as a decade-long evolution. “I wrote a blog that briefly summarized my story, and in a black diary, I documented deep reflections during my pregnancy,” she explained. “Over the years, I’ve kept various notes because I always knew I wanted to write a book.” The culmination of her efforts required a full year to piece together, aided by material she had developed over the years.
She emphasized the importance of self-care through challenging times, stating, “As a mom, you’re so busy… Sometimes I’ll just tell my husband, ‘I need a minute. Let me go do a shower.’” She values the moments of solitude, whether it’s watching a show or taking a walk to listen to music, which she finds therapeutic during difficult periods.
Mayci described her personality as generally relaxed but acknowledges that her experiences have shaped her. “I feel like I’ve fallen into that role with this group of friends. Once I went through all my trials and grief… I became more chill and more understanding,” she said. However, she also acknowledged a more assertive side that surfaces during stressful moments, particularly while pregnant, as depicted in the upcoming season of the show.
“I think when people read the book, they’ll be surprised by the other sides they don’t get to see,” Mayci said. She believes that while viewers catch glimpses of her personality on the show, the book reveals deeper insights into her background and the challenges she’s faced, making her story relatable to many women.
On the subject of beauty, Mayci shared her favorite products, emphasizing her long-standing admiration for DIBS beauty products, particularly their contour sticks. “For brows, I love Anastasia’s brow pens. For lips, my go-to is Lawless. I’m obsessed,” she stated, detailing her makeup routine with enthusiasm. She also mentioned a fondness for the K-beauty products that help maintain her skin, especially during the dry conditions of Utah.
“Obviously, we love Botox. I want to start doing lasers again,” she noted. “I did it once… and my skin looked so good.” While she keeps her skincare routine adaptable, she does prioritize treatments like HydraFacials and remains proactive in her beauty regimen.
