Kristy Lloyd: Overcoming Adversity and Building Friendher, a Community for Women
written by SPARK member Kristy Lloyd, Founder of Friendher
Kristy Lloyd’s story is one of incredible resilience, transformation, and her unwavering belief in the power of connection. From battling addiction and escaping a domestic violent relationship to founding a thriving community for women, her journey is a testament to the strength it takes to rebuild not just yourself, but also to lift others up along the way.
Kristy’s early 20s were marked by a difficult period of drug addiction and personal struggles. Her battle with meth addiction lasted for 3.5 years, during which she endured not only substance abuse but also the loss of a child and a domestic violent relationship. In a life-threatening situation, Kristy knew she had to escape to save her life. She made the brave decision to pack up her entire world into a small Mazda 3 and leave everything behind, she secretly packed her life into her car, put it on a truck to Darwin, NT, and hopped on a plane in search of a fresh start.
In Darwin, Kristy found more than just a new beginning. She found herself surrounded by a welcoming community, where she quickly made friends and began the process of healing. From there, she embarked on new adventures, living and working all over Australia—from the coastal town of Yamba, NSW, to the big city of Brisbane. But after returning home to Western Australia due to a family tragedy, she found herself feeling more isolated than ever.
The COVID pandemic only deepened Kristy’s feelings of loneliness. Struggling to find her tribe in Perth, she decided to post vulnerably in a Facebook group, asking if anyone else was looking to make new friends. The response was overwhelming—15 women came together for what they jokingly called “blind dating for friends.” That one post became the catalyst for Friendher, a community dedicated to helping women build friendships, support each other, and have fun in a safe, welcoming environment.
Friendher: A Community for Women
Over the nearly three years since its inception, Friendher has grown into a vibrant community that has helped over 3,000 women across Perth connect and create lasting friendships. The heart of Friendher lies in its diverse, judgment-free events that encourage women to be their true selves while forming meaningful connections. Friendher runs a variety of monthly social events, including picnics, wine tours, boat parties, wellness days, mini retreats, and paint and sip sessions.
But it’s more than just a social calendar. Friendher is about creating a space where women can invest in themselves, whether they’re building confidence, strengthening their mental health, or simply meeting new friends. Kristy believes that investing in yourself by attending these events not only makes it easier to show up but also encourages personal growth.
One of Friendher’s standout offerings is the Friendher Fit series, which creates a safe, inclusive space for women to explore the fitness world without fear of judgment or gym anxiety. The series is designed to help women focus on their health while building friendships in a supportive and encouraging environment. From wellness days to CrossFit meet-ups, these events show that getting fit doesn’t have to be intimidating—it can be fun and filled with new connections.
A Ripple Effect of Friendship and Giving Back
Through Friendher, Kristy has not only fostered thousands of new friendships but has also built a platform that gives back. Friendher proudly supports Worthy Australia, a charity dedicated to helping women and children who have escaped domestic violence. Every event is an opportunity for women to invest in themselves while also contributing to a cause that uplifts others in need.
Real Stories of Friendship and Transformation
The impact of Friendher can be felt in the many testimonials from women whose lives have been changed by the community. Michelle Falconer, one of Friendher’s members, shared, “Such a fantastic and life-changing thing to be a part of. As someone who moved to Perth as an adult and struggled to make friends outside of work, I was so grateful when Kristy started Friendher and I’m so glad to have found such a great circle through it.”
Lacy Sharpe echoes this sentiment, saying, “Friendher has literally changed my life! I always felt like I couldn’t live life fully because I didn’t have many friends to go out and about with. Then I found Friendher! I’ve made some amazing connections, and I love knowing that every event I go to, I get the opportunity to make more.”
For many women, Friendher has become more than just a social group—it’s a lifeline. Ladonna Ho shared how a Friendher wellness day shifted her perspective: “I’ve been feeling so horrible about my self-worth over the past couple of months until the Wellness Day with Friendher. It was so uplifting to meet other women going through their own journeys of self-discovery. Having a community by your side who genuinely understands the struggle makes you feel a sense of belonging, immense love, and support.”
Looking Forward
Kristy’s journey from overcoming addiction and escaping a domestic violent relationship to building a thriving, inclusive community is nothing short of inspiring. Friendher continues to expand, helping women across Perth find their tribe, make meaningful connections, and live their lives more fully. And with every event, Kristy’s mission remains the same: to provide a space where women feel supported, empowered, and connected.
For Kristy, her past is not something to regret—it’s something that shaped her into the person she is today. It’s why she’s so passionate about creating spaces where women can come together, grow, and thrive.
If you’re in Perth and looking for your own tribe, Kristy invites you to join Friendher. The next great friendship or life-changing moment might be just one event away.
