Meet Ky’Wuan Dukes | College athlete & Social Media Influencer/Brand Ambassador

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ky’Wuan Dukes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ky’Wuan, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Being able to see positive progress within myself and my personal brand makes me happy becuase it makes me take pride in the hard work I’ve put in. Also being able to bring happiness to my family, community, and people by leading by example and achieving things that may motivate them to do the same. Overcoming adversity and hard work makes me happy as well! Making my family proud means a lot to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a college athlete/social media influencer who promotes different brands and produce content for my audience and endorsements that I have received. What sets me apart is my versatility and hard working mindset that keeps me consistent and motivated to improve with each opportunity. Becoming a brand ambassador and member of many different companies/brands wasn’t easy at first. I’ve had to learn how to manage my time within school, football. family, etc which also helped me prepare better and become a better student. Overcoming the challenge of staying focused and separating school academic time from business, took for me to adjust and gain more self discipline. Lessons Ive learned would be to be yourself, and to never lose focus no matter how easy it can be to do so. What I want the world to know about me and my brand ”Strive to Elevate” is that it comes from my story and trials an tribulations that it took. Going through my mother being shot and gun violence in my community within the youth and in general made me want to Strive to Elevate and set a change of being different: by doing things like speaking at my past middle schools, giving out free Bojangles at my old high school, and hosting workout sessions on position drills and speed in agility in my city. Ive had my brand since my junior year of high school with my own merch and logo that I’ve sold and donated to some people in my community for free. My story comes from being at the bottom going through the struggle of life but never giving up! Striving to Elevate and do better inside my community and for my family was what I started to go with. My brand has websites and merch can also be ordered and shipped out.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, Martin Luther king JR park, I would hangout uptown and in lenox mall to get a great view of the city and the amazing people in it. I would love some recommendations for more fun spots to visit in the city though!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes of course! I’d like to dedicate my shout out to my family, supporters, and neighborhood for molding me to be strong and ambitious no matter the event or situation. If it wasn’t for my mother, grandparents, and extended family I wouldn’t know how to make something out of nothing and turn a negative into a positive. With them sacrificing things for me and showing me support kept me going at my lowest times and brightest moments. Id like to shed light on my teammates and University for encouraging me and accepting me on and off campus with nothing but love. Im thankful for my uncles mentoring me and keeping me focused and away from the streets in my city. I would like to dedicate my message to the community of Statesville NC and my family members no longer living.

Website: https://www.kywuandukes.club/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

Image Credits
Jorge torres