If you've spent any time on TikTok lately, you might have seen a creator under the handle KaylaLaughsAlot popping up on your feed. Kayla Sansom, a business owner and influencer based out of South Carolina, became the center of a massive digital storm that honestly highlights the weird, often messy intersection of "hustle culture" and real-world hospitality. It's one of those stories that starts with a simple video and ends with a local restaurant chain issuing a public rebuttal that basically set the internet on fire.
For most people, Kayla Sansom was just another entrepreneur selling a dream—specifically, the dream of becoming a "mystery shopper." She wasn't just doing it; she was coaching it. She sold courses and posted testimonials, positioning herself as an expert who could help others make money by "auditing" businesses. But things got weird when a trip to a Chicken Salad Chick in South Carolina turned into a viral PR nightmare.
The Chicken Salad Chick Incident: A Timeline of the Drama
It all started when Kayla posted a video bashing a local Chicken Salad Chick location. Her grievance? She wasn't greeted fast enough. In the world of "mystery shopping" audits, these seconds matter, but her reaction felt, well, a bit intense to a lot of viewers. She didn't just leave a bad review; she bragged to her followers that her video and her "report" actually got the manager of that location fired.
Social media loves a villain, and for a minute, she was it. But then the restaurant did something most big chains avoid. They spoke up.
Basically, the restaurant's statement completely contradicted her narrative. They clarified that the employee wasn't fired because of her video and implied that her "audit" wasn't exactly the official, corporate-sanctioned deep dive she made it out to be. This is where the Kayla Sansom South Carolina story stops being about a bad lunch and starts being about the validity of the "influencer coach" industry as a whole.
Is the "Mystery Shopper Coach" Thing Actually Legit?
Let's talk about the business model. Kayla Sansom, through her platform, pushes the idea that anyone can become a high-paid mystery shopper if they just buy the right tools—meaning her courses. This is a classic "sell the shovels during a gold rush" tactic.
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Real mystery shopping exists. Companies like Market Force or BestMark have been doing this for decades. However, real mystery shoppers are usually told not to blow their cover. You’re supposed to be a ghost. Bragging about your audit on TikTok while it's happening is the literal opposite of how the industry works.
What most people get wrong about mystery shopping
- The Pay: You aren't getting rich. Most shops pay between $10 and $25 plus reimbursement for your meal or product.
- The Secrecy: If a business knows you’re an auditor, the data is useless.
- The Power: Auditors don't usually have the direct power to fire managers; they provide data points to corporate HR or operations teams.
When you look at the Kayla Sansom South Carolina situation, the disconnect is jarring. If you're an expert coach, why are you breaking the first rule of the job? It raised a lot of flags for people who actually work in the industry.
Carolina Soap Works and the Small Business Angle
Before the TikTok fame, Kayla was known in South Carolina for Carolina Soap Works, a family-owned business in Newberry. They make goat’s milk soaps and natural body care products. It’s actually a "Certified SC Grown" member, which is a legitimate badge of honor for local producers.
This is the part that’s kinda sad. There's a real entrepreneur there who built a tangible product. But the allure of the "digital product" and "passive income" coaching world seems to have eclipsed the soap business. It's a common pivot we see: running a physical business is hard, but selling a dream of a business to 100,000 followers? That’s where the easy money is—or so it seems until a controversy hits.
Why This Story Blew Up the Way It Did
People are tired. Honestly, that’s the simplest explanation.
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We are living in an era of "de-influencing." People are becoming hyper-skeptical of anyone selling a course that promises a "six-figure lifestyle" with "minimal effort." When Kayla Sansom posted about the Chicken Salad Chick manager, it touched a nerve regarding how influencers treat service workers.
In South Carolina, hospitality is a big deal. Attacking a local worker for a perceived slight in a greeting time—and then seemingly celebrating their job loss—was never going to go over well in a tight-knit community. The backlash wasn't just about the facts of the case; it was about the vibe. It felt like "punching down" for content.
Past Controversies and the "Paper Trail"
When someone goes viral for the wrong reasons, the internet does what it does best: it digs.
Commentary YouTubers and TikTok sleuths started looking into Kayla's past. There were whispers and reports about previous legal issues and convictions that didn't exactly align with the "polished professional coach" persona she was projecting. While everyone has a past, the contrast between her self-appointed role as a business "auditor" and her own history created a massive credibility gap.
It’s a reminder that if you’re going to position yourself as an authority who judges how other people run their businesses, your own house needs to be made of pretty thick glass.
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What You Should Actually Do if You Want to Mystery Shop
If you're reading this because you actually wanted to learn about mystery shopping in South Carolina, don't buy a course. Seriously. Don't.
Everything you need to know is available for free. You don't need a "coach" to tell you how to sign up for an app. Start by looking at the MSPA Americas (Mystery Shopping Professionals Association). They are the trade association for the industry. They have a list of legitimate member companies.
- Sign up for free: Legitimate companies never charge you a fee to join their database.
- Be realistic: Use it as a way to get a free dinner or a few extra bucks, not as a replacement for a 9-to-5.
- Stay quiet: If you want to keep getting assignments, don't post your "audits" on social media. Companies hate that.
The Kayla Sansom South Carolina saga is a perfect case study in the dangers of the "influencer-to-coach" pipeline. It shows how quickly a brand can crumble when the "expert" persona clashes with reality. Whether she bounces back or fades into the background, the lesson for the rest of us is clear: be wary of anyone who makes a living by judging others while selling you the "secret" to doing the same.
If you want to support a local SC business, go buy some goat's milk soap from a local maker. But maybe skip the "mystery shopper" masterclass. You'll save yourself a lot of money and a whole lot of drama.
Next Steps for You:
If you're interested in legitimate side hustles, research the MSPA Americas website to find vetted companies. If you're looking for local South Carolina products, check the Certified SC Grown directory for makers in your specific county to ensure you're supporting verified local entrepreneurs.