Kadi Lee

We just had a great time. And people often think because it's, you know, an HBCU, all Black women that, you know, oh, is that like the only people that you guys spend your time with? But weirdly enough, we all came from like private white high schools. Yeah. And the fact that I went to Spelman and now, you know, known for like my blonde highlights is like, like no one's even surprised.

We just had a great time. And people often think because it's, you know, an HBCU, all Black women that, you know, oh, is that like the only people that you guys spend your time with? But weirdly enough, we all came from like private white high schools. Yeah. And the fact that I went to Spelman and now, you know, known for like my blonde highlights is like, like no one's even surprised.

College was like when we entered like the Flatiron era. But when I was in Connecticut, oh my gosh, my mom, A, did not have a lot of time to help me with any of this. So, you know, she's a housekeeper, still is, and was just busy trying to keep us afloat. So I was really, I've always been very self-sufficient, left to handle and figure things out on my own. So...

College was like when we entered like the Flatiron era. But when I was in Connecticut, oh my gosh, my mom, A, did not have a lot of time to help me with any of this. So, you know, she's a housekeeper, still is, and was just busy trying to keep us afloat. So I was really, I've always been very self-sufficient, left to handle and figure things out on my own. So...

Whether it be putting my hair in braids or, you know, just learning my texture. And I experimented with everything. I've worn my hair in every single hairstyle you could ever imagine on the planet.

Whether it be putting my hair in braids or, you know, just learning my texture. And I experimented with everything. I've worn my hair in every single hairstyle you could ever imagine on the planet.

Well, there's a town next, I grew up in Westport, Connecticut, which anyone that's familiar with Connecticut is like, wow.

Well, there's a town next, I grew up in Westport, Connecticut, which anyone that's familiar with Connecticut is like, wow.

Not really. Not really. No. I mean, my brother and I were two of maybe four Black children in the entire school system. So, and then immigrants, like, we were it. That was it. But quickly, obviously, lost the accents. And, you know, now I sound like a freaking Connecticut newscaster, but... When I'm back in Jamaica, I'm back.

Not really. Not really. No. I mean, my brother and I were two of maybe four Black children in the entire school system. So, and then immigrants, like, we were it. That was it. But quickly, obviously, lost the accents. And, you know, now I sound like a freaking Connecticut newscaster, but... When I'm back in Jamaica, I'm back.

There was a town next to Westport called Norwalk that had a bit more of a diverse community. And I started working as soon as I could have an after-school job. And I met a few girls that lived in Norwalk and then discovered there was a salon there that had these hairdressers that knew how to do my hair. So I think just learning... just by watching. But I never thought it would be a career.

There was a town next to Westport called Norwalk that had a bit more of a diverse community. And I started working as soon as I could have an after-school job. And I met a few girls that lived in Norwalk and then discovered there was a salon there that had these hairdressers that knew how to do my hair. So I think just learning... just by watching. But I never thought it would be a career.

Like I got to Spelman, I had fun doing it, like just playing with hair and then realized that I could like make money doing it. It became like the side hustle in the dorm. And I mean, to this day, my friends from Spelman will comment on some photos that I'll post on Instagram and be like, we cannot believe this is your job because you literally used to go to the pharmacy and just do color on us.

Like I got to Spelman, I had fun doing it, like just playing with hair and then realized that I could like make money doing it. It became like the side hustle in the dorm. And I mean, to this day, my friends from Spelman will comment on some photos that I'll post on Instagram and be like, we cannot believe this is your job because you literally used to go to the pharmacy and just do color on us.

They think it's the wildest, greatest manifestation of just your natural talent. I just always knew how to do it.

They think it's the wildest, greatest manifestation of just your natural talent. I just always knew how to do it.

I mean, I was an English major, so I maybe wanted to be a writer. I worked in PR briefly. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I lost my job after the self-recession of 2000 when people were just getting laid off left and right after I was done with Spelman. And I ended up back at my mom's house in Connecticut.

I mean, I was an English major, so I maybe wanted to be a writer. I worked in PR briefly. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I lost my job after the self-recession of 2000 when people were just getting laid off left and right after I was done with Spelman. And I ended up back at my mom's house in Connecticut.

And, you know, like all good Jamaican mothers, she's like, well, you're not staying here, so... She's like, what's the plan? Yeah, literally figure something out. And so my mom had this friend, Miss Lindsay, who used to take care of us, this older Jamaican woman who immigrated to Connecticut and was like a janitor in our school system.

And, you know, like all good Jamaican mothers, she's like, well, you're not staying here, so... She's like, what's the plan? Yeah, literally figure something out. And so my mom had this friend, Miss Lindsay, who used to take care of us, this older Jamaican woman who immigrated to Connecticut and was like a janitor in our school system.