Meet Trailblazer Kewana Christina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kewana Christina.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In January 2012, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. UC is inflammation and deterioration of the large intestine. It beat me down so bad, I had to transfer home from college to take care of my health. From 2012 to 2016, I was on over 20 different medications from steroids to enemas, to opioids. From 2014 to 2016, I had three major surgeries and one minor surgery and lived with a colostomy pouch during that time. In between time, I never stopped! I transferred home to a new college, I had multiple jobs when I was able to work, and I still had a great social life! One thing I did not have was the ability to physically dance. Before I even knew how to walk, I knew how to dance. Dance has always been there for me in my dark and light times. My very first job after transferring home, in 2012, was choreographing at Woodland Middle School in Fulton County for their basketball season dance team. It brought me so much joy!

As time went on, however, my health started declining more and more until eventually, spring 2014, I had to call it quits. Soon after ending my time there, I embarked on a three-part series of surgeries to remove my large intestine and rectum to rid me of the disease. Because I had a loop ileostomy, part of my small intestine was exposed on the outside of my body and I had to learn how to work around it. I got around very well and took great care of it but it hurt so bad when I attempted to dance. Ironically, in the days of my recovery, the show “Bring It,” a dance team from Jackson, Mississippi aired and I got my LIFE every Friday night living vicariously through Coach D and her Dancing Dolls! My ancestors knew exactly what I needed to help me get through my recovery! It motivated me so much and I came up with notebooks FULL of ideas on how I was going to make my comeback and give back through dance! Since that time, it has been quite a bit of a struggle rebuilding my strength, confidence, weight, and mentality to stay consistent in my endeavors. I’ve taught seasonal dance teams in between time, adult jazz and heels classes but nothing has seemed to stick. But no more! I have hidden in the shadows and been passive about going for my dreams long enough!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road AT ALL! The largest obstacle has been my ego! When I say ego, I don’t mean arrogance; I’m talking about that GINORMOUS “BUT” that always stops me in my tracks. “But I don’t have enough money” “But I don’t know where to start” “But am I REALLY that great of a dancer?” I have been my own worst enemy. Yet that’s the blessings of it all. It’s only my own mind! No one is out to get me. As soon as I stood firm in that, the sooner abundance started to flow. My advice to Goddesses, including myself, is be firm and not hard on yourself. Be firm because being your own boss means creating your own schedule and you have to stick to the plan as best as possible but do NOT be hard on yourself. When’s the last time you stayed on a job with a shitty boss?!

We’d love to hear more about The Other Side of Pain.
I am embarking on an awareness movement called “The Other Side of Pain.” It brings awareness to ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases as well as spotlighting people who have overcome physical, mental, spiritual and emotional setbacks by finding their joy on the other side of pain. I will be doing Vlogs, teaching dance, holding wellness events, and so much more to raise awareness. Also, I will be spotlighting products and services that have been beneficial to my health, mind, body, and spirit! This is ONLY the beginning!

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Goddess, your ONLY competition is yourself; no one or nothing else. The biggest barrier in female leadership is not knowing how to own our worth yet instead, compare it to the next God(dess) to feel better about our own path. Your light can only be enhanced by another sister’s light if you embrace it! We have a collective responsibility to enhance our existence but we can’t do that while being “crabs in a barrel.”

Contact Info:

• Email: othersideofpain@gmail.com
• Instagram: @_Theothersideofpain
• Other: @kewanachristina

Image Credit:
Z3 photography

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