Meet Keila Nicole Dumas: Writer, Model, Podcast Host, & Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keila Nicole Dumas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keila Nicole, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
The Four Agreements. I have read it every year since I first received it in 2016. Each agreement has helped me develop a more mature thought process in all of the spaces that I navigate. If I gift someone The Four Agreements, I am really connected to their energy and want them to experience growth on their path. It’s a very important book to read when going through your twenties and even better when you revisit it in your thirties.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Right now, I am a Jill of All Trades trying to avoid being a master of none, I took a leap of faith after being let go from my job in property management to learn the art of curating. Why curating? My longest job was at the Black Archives Research Center at FAMU. I started as a volunteer and showed up every day until they created a position for me as a Program Assistant. From there, I assisted with putting together displays for notable Tuskegee Airmen, Jake Gaither, and The Kinsey Collection. I also was selected to write for the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences. Since I love everything about museums, artifacts, history, and black art. I vowed to go back to school for Museum Science and become a curator.

Little did I know, that once I got to Atlanta, nobody really cared about the school part; they just want to know who you know in the art world. So, in January of this year, I curated my first art show “If My Hair Could Talk” with the help of some major liquor and hair brands and over 20 artists from all over the US. Was it easy? Absolutely not. I’m still a novice and still find days where I have no idea what I got myself into. I am learning so many things along the way. I overcame obstacles by communicating my needs, understanding that faith without work is dead and that everything that’s for me will be. I really went the grassroots route. I made cold calls, sent emails, walked into barber and beauty shops trying to get artists and sponsors. I felt really annoying but I had to release my ego and trust the process.

My goal is to curate experiences for people who aren’t necessarily into things like museums and art shows/galleries. I bring folks who are artists in their own right like mixologists, hairstylists, photographers, you name it, and have them in one room seeing the depths of their impact in the room,

Since “If My Hair Could Talk”, I have been scouted to curate two more shows this year. I’m excited to bring these ideas into fruition.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Wow! Atlanta has so many options!

Morning time for breakfast, let’s hit Atlanta Breakfast Club. If you’re here on a weekend, let’s do a bottomless brunch at STK or Fellaship Cigar Lounge.

Afternoon sightseeing, let’s hit Auburn Ave to check out the historic sites or The Beltline. Plenty of dope sites to see, and we could also rent bikes and scooters to really explore. If outdoors isn’t an option let’s go to Ponce City Market and check out Village Market plus the food and drink options in there.

Evening, we can do dinner at so many places but lately, I have been loving The Betty in Buckhead. The artichoke risotto is my fave side and the Sunset in Guadalajara is my cocktail of choice.

Don’t like those options? Let’s circle back to lunch, and go to Eclipse Di Luna in Buckhead, We can also go to Pour Taproom on the Beltline and enjoy a self-serve beer experience and then eat pizza from Nina & Rafis next door.

We could also get a dope Black-owned speakeasy experience next door to Pour at The James Room and then head back to 12 Cocktail Bar in Ponce City Market to get specially curated cocktails from their super dope mixologists.

Honorable mentions: CRAVE for food then Bear and Honey Candle for a great candle-making date in Little Five Points. Pascha is a cool vibe too, then AZULE, and Whiskey Mistress for your nightlife vibes. I am also a sucker for karaoke so if you want to take it there, let’s hit Moondogs in Buckhead.

There’s so many places but this is just my list off the top!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Alongside my family, I have to shout out FAMU (Florida A & M University). We always talk about how we “chose” our dream college, but really FAMU chose me. The network is full of phenomenal beings, and the experience as a whole aligned me to be exactly where I am right now. My mentors, friends, and friends who became family are all a result of me stepping on The Hill in 2009. The love is really everywhere and there is no place I would have rather been for my college experience.

Website: www.itspronouncedkayla.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/itspronouncedkayla

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilandumas

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pronouncedkayla

Image Credits
Photo cred: @mwhitleymedia