Kieshawn Whaley of Atlanta on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kieshawn Whaley. Check out our conversation below.

Kieshawn, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve been on a sewing journey for the past year. I recently picked it up again and it’s driving my creativity to create again. Seeing clothes in my closet that no one else has and that are unique pieces speak to who I truly am. It’s been very fulfilling to take on a new passion.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kieshawn and I am an all out creative and lover of art. I love visual arts such as photography, painting and drawing. I love performing and literary arts such as acting, film making, writing scripts, writing novels, poetry and music. I’m also really in love with decorative arts such as fashion and creative DIYs. I have tapped into a lot of these growing up and in my adulthood.  However, I feel I thrive the most in the beauty community as I am a Makeup Artist and Licensed Nail Technician. Obtaining my manicurist license heavily inspired me to start my brand “Thee Nail Beauty Co.” in 2020. Like many others I had lost my job due to covid, and it made me inspired to tap into something that I’m truly passionate about. Thee Nail Beauty Co. is a brand that provides luxury acrylic based press-on nails and caters to the different perspectives and personalities of black women while uplifting era’s that impacted our lives the most. For example, the 80s, 90s and 2000s. We come in all different shapes and sizes, and I think that it is important to express to the world that we are not monoliths. My brand takes the term “ghetto” and “hoochie” and flips it into a positive representation for black women that proposes self-awareness, self-love and liberation. It hasn’t been an easy journey to get to my own self-awareness but through my own liberation I found art and creativity.  I have been able to gain some success in business by taking elements of myself and expressing that to connect with the masses. I’ve learned to always remain resilient, professional and true to myself as how I feel about myself reflects my business. I want the world to know that Thee Nail Beauty Co. originated from a young lady who never thought she had a voice and is now speaking to the world in the form of creativity.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up as the “fat” girl in school, I experienced a lot of bullying that messed with my self-confidence. This caused a lot of negative self-talk and made me feel that I wasn’t worthy of anything. I didn’t feel smart enough, I didn’t feel good enough for the world and things even went as deep as suicidal attempts. I remember in elementary school that there was sign that said “You Can. You Will” It’s taken a lot of pouring into myself, but this sign has always stood out in my head and stuck with me. So, I no longer believe that I am incapable. I no longer believe that I am not worthy. I pour so much love into myself that it makes it impossible for me to believe that I deserve anything less than the good things that life has to offer.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
This happened when I started to seek God’s approval rather than my own. I really took ahold of my self-confidence journey and realized that I didn’t want to live in the ‘funk’ anymore. When I started to pour myself into the things I love and see the fruit of my labor it was validating that there was strength inside of me. This allowed me to seek more self-improvement and helped to build more confidence as a person. It takes confidence in God to be fully assertive and sure about anything in this life. He is my power.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say that living in my truth and good moral character matters to me the most. Not only do I want to be remembered by my work but  I want to be remembered by how I treated others.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that people tell others how I was a positive light within their lives and that I aimed to spread that as much as I could. The things that I want for myself I aimed to spread to others in the most effective way possible. I hope that they tell others that I represent Love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theenailbeautyco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theenailbeautyco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theenailbeautyco