We recently connected with Kejuana Beneby and have shared our conversation below.

Kejuana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I transitioned from having a regular job into fulltime “creatorship” as I like to call it when I was 27. I had been working at that job for about 10 years before I left to be a fashion designer full time. While working my 9 to 5 It taught me a lot about other people and how I interact with them, how to show up and serve and be of service to the customer. How to anticipate their needs and how to be a model employee. Working as a full time creative now, I’ve learned so much about myself and how I can show up for me. Creatorship has brought out so many elements of my personality that I wasn’t even sure that I had. Being on both sides of the spectrum I can say with confidence that I’m more happy as a creative than I was at my regular job. And as surprising as it may seem I actually liked my job and I was really good at too.

But in hindsight I don’t think I would’ve learned everything that I learned about myself on that job. When you’re working for someone else, for a company or cooperation there are parts of who are that you can’t nurture because all of your energy is reserved for making that product or providing that service. Now there are those people who thrive in those situations and who find joy and fulfillment in those spaces, but I realized that I wasn’t one of those people.

When I left my job I made a promise to myself that I would give fashion design my all and that if designing and making clothes was what I was going to pursue, that I would fully commit to what the journey would be bring me. When those difficult moments came, when I was low on money or when I couldn’t figure out how to make a garment work, or dealt with a difficult client I had moments where I thought about what going back into the work force would mean. And there were times during my fashion career that I took breaks and tried working for people again and those situations only ever lasted a few months at best.

After the last job attempt didn’t work out I renewed that promise to myself that I would have to take whatever this creative journey had to offer me, both the good and the bad. Going back into the working field I realized that there was no way for me to balance showing up for myself in my most authentic way and also showing up to work as an employee. All of my efforts and energy is being put into my overall wellbeing and into my craft and doing that has made me feel the most fulfilled that I’ve ever been. I take better care of my body now, my mental health has vastly improved and even the relationships that I foster in my personal life and with my clients are only getting better. I can honestly say that I’m the happiest that I’ve ever been.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Kejuana Beneby and I’m the owner of KBAD Studio. KBAD Studio is the umbrella of creativity that houses my other creative brands, KBAD Thrift & Vintage Shop, KBAD Custom Closet and very soon The Apothecary Case. The studio itself is where I create custom high fashion pieces and provide fashion styling services. I specialize in creating looks for entrepreneurs, fashionistas and other creatives who want to show up as the best version of themselves, wearing looks that are vibrant and speak to the best parts of who you are. My styling services include personal shopping, Onsite wardrobe management for photo and video shoots, style guides and Mood boards. What makes KBAD Studio so unique is that I’m able to fully cater to the unique needs of my clients. My creative portfolio allows me to provide a creative one-stop-shop, when booking with me you’ll receive a one-on-one client consultation either in person or virtually, where we discuss in detail how I can create a custom KBAD look or provide fashion styling services for you.

What I take pride in most is that fact that not only am I knowledgeable in the realm of Fashion but my artistic and creative background has provided me the opportunity to transform all of my hobbies and interests into skills that I use to deliver true concierge service to my clients. I’ve had to step in as a hairstylist, makeup artist and creative director for different events and occasions. I’ve also been able to provide photos, videos, graphic design content, logos and social media management not only for myself but for clients as well. In this line of work I think its so important to be as well rounded and versatile as possible, with that and a little bit of innovation its the recipe that has made me one of the leading Fashion and Design Studios in the Bahamas.

I’ve recently expanded the studio so that I can continue to meet the needs and fill in the gaps in an ever expanding market. KBAD Thrift and Vintage shop was created so that I share all of the goodies that I accumulate through thrifting and bargain hunting. The shop features a variety of 2nd hand pieces that are curated by me along with upcycled and reimagined fashion garment, jewelry, accessories and home décor. If you enjoy thrifting and have a love for any thing pre-loved or repurposed fashion then KBAD Thrift and Vintage would be a treasure trove for you. We release collections twice a month and provide an easy shopping experience through our Instagram Page.

KBAD Custom Closet is my luxury clothing brand and aims to be the space where I share custom looks from my personal taste and style. The closet is filled with Island vibes, lots of resort wear, retro inspired jumpsuits, high waist wide legs pants, comfy cut out tops and vibrant prints colors and textures. Each look that’s added to the closet is custom made and will be a one-of-one exclusive piece so it’s where all the gems are found. The 1st edition of the Custom Closet launched last year and is almost sold out. I’m looking forward to adding plus size and even men’s wear to the closet very soon.

KBAD Studio as a whole has grown and changed so much over the years, and I’m most excited to see what the next few years has to offer. I’m proud of myself for creating a brand that’s a true reflection of the love and dedication that I have for being a true creative.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I learned the importance of what authenticity means to me and my brand. Early on in my career I worked along with other designers and in watching and learning from them I thought that I had to follow the exact steps that they took in their careers paths, otherwise my own experience would be “unauthentic” to what a Fashion Designer looks like. That thought process fed so heavily into my imposter syndrome and fostered so many doubts in my mind about my craft. Because I was modeling my career after what my peers and colleagues were doing I wasn’t being my authentic creative self. Comparison really is the thief if joy and I learned that, the moment I stepped away and started to work on the ideas that I thought were crazy or on the pieces that were never done before, or with the models that no one else liked I started to feel more confident in my work and more confident in myself. Its something that I’m still working through but now I create and design because I feel like it, when I feel like it and how I feel like creating it. I’ve released myself from the unspoken expectations and I no longer look for external approval to validate this path that I’ve chosen to take. I feel so much more secure in my craft now, because building your life, your career, your creativity, your anything on the choices that other people have made in their own is not sustainable. You will end up feeling like you have to wait for permission or approval to do the thing that makes you feel most alive. That was my experience anyway, and I’m so glad that I was able to recognize that and now I’m on the path to unlearning that and it feels so liberating.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I wish I had written down what my business goals were when I started, so that I can remember exactly what my Initial goal was because it really has changed so much over the years. My overarching mission though is to move towards leading a purposeful life and honoring my truest self. I truly feel like being a creative person is my purpose, the process of creation is taking ideas and bringing them into reality. You make something out of nothing, and to be able to do that well is not only a talent but a blessing and I think its so important to honor that. The moment I started to pursue a creative led life it felt as though the Universe and God showed me a big fat yes! Every time I did something that allowed me to express myself creatively it turned out to be a win for me, it opened a door, it made a connection or something in my life changed for the better. I felt more and more like myself, with each painting, or drawing, through the sculptures and costumes, in the patterns and fabric, everything felt aligned. And through this creative journey I realized that the only time I’ve felt sad or unsure about myself, or felt like I should be somewhere else or that I wasn’t good enough to be in this space, was when I was focused on other people’s perception of what I should be doing. How my creations should look or how I should go about creating them, down to how much I should be making from what I create. Every time I put those thoughts to the forefront of my mind the mission feels harder than it needs to be. When I create from my heart and from the part of me that just loves to bring all of my ideas to reality, my life just transforms in all of the best ways. God has shown me time and time again that this has to be my purpose so moving towards more of what that means is enough of a driving force for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kbadstudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbadstudio/
• Other: KBAD Thrift & Vintage- https://www.instagram.com/kbadthriftandvintage/ KBAD Custom Closet- https://www.instagram.com/kbadcustomcloset/