We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kenyetta Cheatum. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kenyetta below.

Kenyetta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

I am a mentor as well as a pageant queen. In my organization I try and encourage youth of the community to give back because there is blessings when giving back to your community.

One of the ways that I try and give back is by having fashions to help raise awareness about self-confidence and bullying issues within our community and schools. The funds that are raise are poured back into the community through preparing meals for a local Salvation army and or providing things for the holidays. I often get with my pageant sisters as well to do community service events in different cities or community to give back.

Giving back matters because it shows and let those less fortunate know that regardless of your circumstances there are people who genuinely care about you. This also gives them hope that they can overcome the situations that they are facing. Taking for instance, we might not have been in their situations but one of us might know the right people to contact and help them get back on their feet. Some people just need that motivation or word of encouragement just to get them started on the right track.

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.

How I got where I am today was through a close friend and sister of mines by the name of Scheronda Thompson of the Curvy Diva. Scheronda introduced me to the world of pageantry. I started my shows back in 2014. The shows were created to give children an avenue to build their self-confidence as well as to meet like-minded other children they may or may not been going through bullying or self-confidence issues. With me bringing together other business owners to share their brand as well as offer exposure we were all able to create a plan that will let not only children, but adults know that we are all created different and have a style that is completely different from others as well. with me having shows it led to me being in the pageant world where I now have a platform. What better way to raise awareness and get the word of self- confidence and bullying out there.

I am working on getting my services together to create a program for youth within my community. I have only been able to do a couple of interviews here and there. I was an adopt school partner where I was able to go into the schools and talked to trouble teens about self-confidence and bullying awareness. My goal is to open up a youth center to help with children getting prepared for after school jobs readiness and career building. This will help them in the future to know what jobs are best for them as well as to give them a picture of what they career will be. I want to be able to offer resume writing and accountability coaching for them to have a plan for life after high school.

What I think that set me apart from others is being able to sit and listen to their concerns and offer potential solutions to their problems. I know sometimes in life we have to make decisions that we just don’t understand, and we need words of encouragement to help us move forward with our goals. What sets me apart from others is I have been through and have many connections that have been where the children are facing and we as a team can come together and figure out what is best for that child to get them on the right path.

I am most proud of being able to be transparent. I know what it feels like to be without or to not have that extra support that you need. Growing up being the only child for me was hard but somewhat easy being that you I was somewhat spoiled and got what I wanted at times. But having that support means a lot and can help open doors and more opportunity for others. What makes me proud is seeing someone that I mentored, and they appreciated the conversations and support to get them through whatever they were going through. It’s not about fame for me but when others see the good in you and love your heart and vision of what you are trying to achieve it makes a difference.
I can remember being out the other day and there was this young lady that remembered me from a parade year and years ago, it was something about me that she never forgotten. She ran up to me and spoke and gave me the biggest smile telling all her workers that she loves me, and she still had the picture of us together at the parade. I don’t know what she was going through or been through but to see that smile and light in her eyes meant a lot to me because she needed whatever I said to her that particular day. Moments where children look up to you as though you are the real-life princess, and she knows that she can be one as well is what makes me proud. Me being transparent let them know that no matter who you are you are still amazing as well.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I can remember when Covid hit that was a bad time for a lot of people because of the quarantining and masking. It took a lot from me, and I felt like I lost a of potential children. We couldn’t mee t and do events and go places because of all the restrictions. So being off really hurt. I really felt like I could’ve created a place or a program that we could have been in touch with one another still. Due to funding, it was really hard to maintain. I have since went back to school to get a bachelor’s degree in business management and I currently working on getting a master’s degree. I feel like this is needed for me to get the knowledge that I need to be the best leader I can for my business. I am currently revamping my program to come up with ways to make a successful plan.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most successful strategy for growing my business is getting myself out there with more exposure, sharing daily posts and possible events to attend so that people can know that I have this available or that I might can help with a certain topic. I have done many tv appearances as well as in person. I share my information via social media to let others know just in case someone mya need my services. I also believe me stepping out my comfort zone to do pageantry has help and motivated me also. I am connected with other women who have a different platform from me, but they support and give that word of mouth as well to help you spread your cause out there.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ceokenyetta?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenyetta.cheatum.9?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenyetta-cheatum-292881a5?

Image Credits
The photos that are listed was taking by my personal phone and/or camera