We recently connected with Kardi Diamond and have shared our conversation below.

Kardi , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

I think it takes persistence! Success doesn’t come easy. It comes with struggle, hurt, unhappiness, rejection, and fails. It’s how you recover from those things that opens the door to your success. It took for my life to completely fall apart, and for me to end up in some of the most uncomfortable situation’s to realize what my purpose was. It took God to forcefully, put me alone to figure out that I was worth more, and that I deserved more credit than what I was giving myself. Success comes with selfishness, this life isn’t about everybody else it’s about you.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Well, my name is Malik a.k.a. Kardi Redd Diamond I’m 29 years old. My pronouns are they/them she/her. I’m from a very small town in the state of Ohio called canton. I started in the queer entertainment industry As soon as I turned 18 years of age. I started out as a stripper and go go boy in the clubs and soon switched over to becoming a drag queen or female impersonator. When I was that young and just stepping into early adulthood, I struggled heavily. I was homeless. I was forced to live in a homeless shelter, and was told that I cannot live with my mother anymore. Reason being because as a child, I was manipulated into the legal system. And all I can say is as a black queer individual once put in a situation where your local legal system has you they can do what they want with you. I couldn’t get a job, I couldn’t get an apartment. All I had was me so I had to do what I needed to do to survive. When I found out what chosen family was and discovered the queer scene, I felt like I finally found my tribe, and I was no longer alone. Since I was a little one I have dreamt of being on stage, entertaining people and making people smile. I used to lock myself in my room and lip-synch to my favorite, female artist and dance until I couldn’t dance no more. Back then I didn’t know what drag was I didn’t know what a queer artist was I just knew who I was, and who I wanted to be. Of course a lot of who I was got suppressed by hatred, homophobia, bullying abuse, and a little self hate. A lot of the times growing up I never felt like I was enough for anyone, so I spent a lot of time by myself figuring out how to be enough for myself. I’m very proud and appreciative of my journey and the struggles that I went through because that’s what fueled me to become the artist that I am today. The one thing that I’m most proud of about being the artist that I am is that every time that I hit a stage I know I’m changing someone’s life. I know I’m giving someone the confidence to just be who they are unapologetically. The most important thing about being successful, and being at peace is living in your truth. Once I stopped living for other people, my light began to shine brighter. My influential reach into other individuals in my community became stronger, and that……I believe is my purpose. I’m a walking testimony, the naysayers, and this messed up the legal system that we have tried to put me away and tried to shut me down, but I did not let them. From the age of 19 till I was 23 I spent locked up away from everything that I knew.. you ask, did the punishment fit the crime? Absolutely not. But I had to do what I had to do. I was very young and very ignorant to the legal system but I soon found out that I wasn’t locked away because the system tried to label me something that I am not, I was locked away because I needed to see who I really was and I needed to find myself without distraction. I want my fans, my followers, the readers to understand that struggle is a good thing. And what I mean by that is it’s a part of your story, it’s what makes you the most perfect imperfection. Learn from your struggles, grow from your struggles, and let your struggles fuel you to be the best person you can be. I didn’t let my struggles define me, I use my struggles to get me on stages I only dreamt of being on. I let my struggles fuel my music, and now I have a EP out on all streaming platforms and I’m currently in the studio now working on my debut album. I host and produce drag shows, and queer artist all over the state. I’m a resident Showgirl and show host for one of the largest brunch companies in the tri-state area called Michigan Drag Brunch. I’m a resident Show producer at an establishment that will be one of the largest LGBTQIA establishments in the country called Studio West 117. Trust me, this is only just the beginning for me and for the individual reading this, it’s the beginning for you too. Don’t sit and wait for something to be handed to you. Dreams can’t come true unless you fight for them, go out there and achieve them. No Pressure, No Diamond!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Well, in my profession, they wouldn’t be called clients they would be called followers fans, or show producers. The best source of gaining a bigger following is networking as an independent artist. It’s very hard financially, but you just have to stick your neck out there and go for it. This industry is about sacrifices so make sure your face is seen everywhere go support, other shows go see other queer entertainers. A close mouth does not get fed.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson that I had to unlearn in this industry is selfishness is OK. Always know your worth. There’s a few times where I second-guess my worth because I’m thinking about the other person and how they feel and that’s not OK. Being too selfless will get you manipulated and taking advantage of.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekardiredddiamond/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malik.jackson.3914207?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_KardiGorgeous
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kardi-redd-diamond/1574356761