Layla McDaniel

**Layla McDaniel** is the main character in the novel series, *Sweet L.A. Life (Novel Series)*. She is a lesbian interior designer living in Los Angeles with her younger sister and best friend Callie. Her storylines involved taking in little sister, Callie, her conflict with her mother over her lesbianism, her affair with her girlfriend's mother, a relationship with the daughter of republican senator who doesn't approve of the relationship, and an on and off relationship with Celia Morales. In The New Generation series, Layla dealt with more serious storylines like her mother's cancer battle and her own, a reunion with longtime love Celia Morales, an affair with young real estate agent Olivia Davidson, and a feud with Olivia's ex-girlfriend, Erica Myles. Layla would go on to other relationship with high school teacher, Brooke Armstrong and magazine editor Debbie Gordon.

## Early Life

Layla is the eldest daughter to George and Gayle McDaniel, two middle-class hard-workers. She has a younger sister, Callie. From an early age, Layla was always a straight-A student and an artist. In high school, she began to develop feelings for her ex-boyfriend's female cousin and the two began a fling. This led to Layla to realize that she was gay. Layla continued with the affair after graduating high school and attended California University at Los Angeles. However, the affair ends when Layla is unable to come out to her parents. Unhappy with her major, Layla left CULA and transferred to the California College of Art and Design where she graduated with a B.F.A. in design. She went on to intern in one of L.A.'s major interior design firms, until se rose in the ranks as Senior Designer of the firm. However, Layla learned that her father had died and was filled with remorse that she didn't come out to him when he was alive. But because she and her mother had different views on how they feel about the LGBT community, Layla blurted out her sexuality to her mother. Layla's sister, Callie was the first to know about it. Gayle, Layla's mother was disgusted and that led to their estrangement.

## Prior to Sweet L.A. Life

Layla began a relationship with -- in the months after coming out to her family.

## Sweet L.A. Life

In the first episode, Layla experiences two tough situations. First, she loses an important client to a rival interior designer, and she is dumped by her girlfriend of two years, Lindsay Webster. Upset about losing both her client and her girlfriend, Layla stated to her friends that things in her life couldn't get any worst. Until she receives a phone call from her younger sister, Callie. She was coming into the city to visit her from Laguna Beach. Braden - thought Callie maybe another McDaniel who is a lesbian like her sister. But Layla told him that she was heterosexual and engaged to her boyfriend, Peter Grant.
The next day, Layla's friends are hanging out by the pool when they meet Layla's sister, Callie. They are surprised to see how hot and attractive Callie is in comparison to Layla. Layla greeted her sister and introduced her to her friends. It was clear by Peter and Ben, that Callie was flirting with both of them with her eyes. Showing that Callie is far different from her sister.

After Layla revealed to Callie that Lindsay broke up with her and she lost an important client, she congratulates her for having the better and perfect life. As Layla leaves the room, Callie, offended by what Layla said, attempts to leave the room to talk to her. Callie reveals to her sister that her life was far from perfect. She explains that her engagement to her fiancée Peter Grant ended after finding out he was a two-time cheater. What's worse, she had moved in with him before the engagement. And now she must move out and she had no place to live. She couldn't afford her own apartment and didn't want to move back with their mother. Hearing this, Layla offered Callie to stay with her until she can afford her own place. She decided that Callie should take her spare room.

## Notes

* Layla was originally going to be a photographer, but it was changed to interior designer.
* She attended the fictional California College of Art and Design and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design and interned for a successful interior designer.
* Layla has a strained relationship with her mother, Gayle due to their different views on the LGBT community and Layla being a lesbian.
* Layla was in a two-year relationship with Lindsay Webster whom she met during PRIDE month. They lived together prior to the start of the series. Their breakup paved the way to Layla's sister, Callie moving in with her.
* She has battled endometriosis since she was 18.
* She is left-handed.
* Layla and Sylvia had a strained friendship following the arrest of her former brother-in-law after Layla learned that Sylvia tried to play matchmaker with him and Layla's younger sister, Callie.