Meet Kelsey Hollis | Pageant & Interview Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsey Hollis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsey, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I always wondered how I would be able to positively impact lives once I wasn’t competing or holding a title anymore. I started realizing right before I started coaching that I never made a difference because I was Miss Georgia’s Teen, or Miss Georgia. The difference was made by the girl BEHIND both of those titles. Pageants have been apart of my life for so long and I just couldn’t imagine not being able to give back at some capacity to the industry that has helped to shape me. I’ve never been as concerned with the money aspect as much as I am with the influence I hope to provide, and I think that has been a huge game changer for my business. I was always taught that if you follow the path that God paves for you, He will take care of the rest. Honestly, I didn’t realize how much it meant to people who look like me that I was able to win Miss Georgia after 15 years of our state not crowning an African American woman for the title. Because I started competing in the Miss America system when I was 13 and definitely faced A LOT of adversity along the way being a black woman in pageantry within the south. So, I’ve always tried to make sure that I give a sense of validation and security to those who may be in the position that I was once in- trying to figure out how to learn and love themselves, while inadvertently being told that they aren’t enough. Coaching has given me the perfect outlet to do that. I have clients now who range from being 5 years old, to having a diagnosed disability, competing in different systems, of different ethnicities, and from all over the country from different walks of life; all facets of life that I once was or have always advocated for.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I currently work for Merle Norman in sales, but my ultimate goal after obtaining my PhD is to open a firm of traveling psychologists. I was able to officially get out of an extremely abusive relationship a few months before I won Miss Georgia in 2022 and once I was finally in a mental and emotional place to talk about it, my eyes were automatically opened to how many people not only silently go through the same thing, but also how drastic the healing process is in terms of how much it effects other aspects of your life. Mental Health is an ongoing problem in our society and being able to provide support, stability, and consistency to business professionals, celebrities, athletes, and even pageant girls who live all throughout the United States and travel often is something that I think could make the world of a difference towards the crisis that is continuing to grow in our country.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love art and history as well as engaging activities, so I would most likely take them to the High Museum of Art, Fernbank Museum, and the Georgia Aquarium. I grew up going to Fernback and the Aquarium with my family and always had the best time! In terms of food, I honestly am not super duper picky and love trying new restaurants so I would just try to make sure that we eat at places that are different than places they get go to when they are at home!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Chasity Hardeman-Smith (Miss Georgia 2008) and Thomas Barnette are two people who played a pinnacle role in my journey. They saw beautiful things in me well before I saw them in myself, and have always left me not only feeling inspired- but worthy. To follow in Chasity’s footsteps with the help of Thomas throughout the years was TRULY God’s work. Keith Pittman and Jonathan Anderson of Lasting Impressions Formal Wear have also truly been such a blessing to me during my reign, and after. I’ve been able to do most of my in-person coaching at Lasting Impressions and I couldn’t be more thankful. Be sure to check out their Columbus and Dublin locations! Then of course, my mom. She has been my rock through my toughest moments. I can’t thank her enough for not allowing me to give up anytime I felt defeated, but also raising me to remember that even in adversity, my priority MUST be to keep God first. I’m so blessed to have her as a constant reminder of how steadfast His intentionality really is.

Website: https://www.linktr.ee/coachkelc

Instagram: @_thekelc_ @coachkelc

Facebook: Kelsey Hollis

Image Credits
Hailee Morgan Artistry & Matt Boyd Photography