Meet Kayla Celeste Grant-Dixon | Executive Director of Celeste Beauty Academy Inc.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kayla Celeste Grant-Dixon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla Celeste, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After years of working in the club as a bottle girl and bartender and hustling as a makeup artist, I grew tired of feeling undervalued and the physical demands of the service and beauty industry. While I loved serving people and had always been passionate about all things beauty, I knew I wanted more—something that aligned with my skills, allowed me to help others, and positioned me for long-term success.

So, after graduating with my bachelor’s degree from FAMU, I took a leap of faith—I moved to North Carolina, far from my hometown of Milwaukee, WI, to start fresh. I had a dream and a business plan but needed to put the puzzle pieces of my experience together to build something greater.

From May 2023 to August 2023, I dedicated myself to prayer, isolation, fasting, and intense self-discipline. I worked out multiple times a day, attended every free business and nonprofit class I could find, and even drove four hours to present my business plan to a panel at the Women’s Business Center of Richmond, VA after completing an eight-week business bootcamp. I was hungry for knowledge and eager to grow.

By the end of the summer, I connected with a business coach to refine my ideas and package my experience into something impactful. That’s when Celeste Beauty Academy Inc. (CBA) was born—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization tailored to serve “beautypreneurs.” I wanted to create a resource hub for beauty entrepreneurs to help them scale their businesses through advisory services, brand consultations, scholarships, and professional growth opportunities like board positions and internships.

One of the best pieces of advice my coach gave me was to enroll in cosmetology school to obtain my license, especially since CBA’s long-term goal was to open as a school. So while attending Paul Mitchell The School in Charlotte, completing 1,500 hours, and commuting 45 minutes daily from Troutman, NC, I simultaneously built CBA from the ground up with the support of my board of directors.

Over time, we learned to pivot—especially as a fresh graduate, a 24-year-old entrepreneur, and a future licensed beauty professional. I founded CBA because I wanted to create the business I needed when I first started. If I could turn my struggles into solutions, then none of it would be in vain.

I live by the quote:
“You are most qualified to help the person you once were.”

Everything CBA offers ties directly to my journey:

-Vision Board Party – Setting intentions and goals for the year
-Beauty & Brains Networking Event – Connecting beauty professionals and entrepreneurs
-Entrepreneur Bootcamp – A hands-on guide to launching a for-profit or nonprofit business
-Holiday Giveaway – Providing self-care essentials to underserved communities
-Athleisure Line – A funding resource for our community initiatives and school launch

Since I was 13 years old, community service has been a core value, so launching CBA as a nonprofit felt deeply aligned with my spirit and purpose. As we continue expanding nationwide, we plan to open CBA’s first physical location in North Carolina in 2026.

CBA is more than an organization—it’s a movement, a story, and a purpose-driven brand that visionaries can relate to, grow with, and learn from.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Celeste Beauty Academy isn’t your typical nonprofit organization—it was founded on passion, creativity, and a deep desire to make sense of my professional and personal journey. At just 24 years old, Celeste Beauty Academy gave me a sense of purpose, so I created an organization that could provide that same feeling to the community.

Our five core initiatives reflect different parts of my identity and personal journey:

1. Vision Board Party (January) – Encouraging goal-setting and manifestation.
2. Beauty & Brains Networking Event (Spring) – Connecting aspiring beauty professionals and entrepreneurs.
3. Beauty & Brains Bootcamp (Summer) – Educating entrepreneurs and nonprofit founders.
4. Holiday Giveaway (Winter) – Supporting underserved communities with self-care essentials.
5. Athleisure Line (Year-Round) – A fundraising arm to support CBA’s mission.

Since high school, I’ve loved hosting vision board parties and goal-setting sessions with friends and family—not just to clarify my own direction but to create a space where others could share their dreams and aspirations. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my network. I truly believe your network is your net worth, and without my connections, CBA wouldn’t have achieved half of its milestones in its first year—especially as a brand-new organization in a state that isn’t my hometown. That’s why our first event, the Beauty & Brains Soirée, was a networking event in my hometown of Milwaukee, WI.

This year, I’m most excited to launch our athleisure line and Beauty & Brains Bootcamp. While laying the foundation for CBA and attending Paul Mitchell for 1,500 hours, I spent a year doing yoga at a Hot Yoga gym in Mooresville, so comfortable, all-black attire became my daily uniform. In one of my nonprofit classes, I learned that successful, sustainable nonprofits have at least seven sources of income, so I decided to launch an all-black athleisure line to fund our community initiatives and support CBA’s efforts to open as a school. This was my personal investment and a gift back to the organization that gave me a sense of purpose and propelled my professional career.

The Beauty & Brains Bootcamp will be open to all aspiring entrepreneurs and nonprofit founders. My mother has been an entrepreneur my entire life, but she always instilled the importance of education in my brother and me. Even though I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur early on, her career showed me firsthand how education can elevate your business. The bootcamp will be a step-by-step guide on starting a for-profit or nonprofit business.

One of my proudest achievements with CBA has been our ability to provide $500 scholarships for Paul Mitchell students who complete 10 service hours with us. While I was in school, my friend Alexis and I did a brand consultation and photoshoot for The Curly Esthie, an esthetician in Charlotte, under CBA. We created a brand guide for her, and in return, Alexis and I received a tuition discount through CBA, the very organization I founded while still in school.

I’ve gotten to where I am today by remaining a student in every room I enter. As long as I commit to learning, my businesses continue to grow. I overcome challenges through prayer and faith—God has carried me through unimaginable obstacles, which gives me the confidence to endure. When there is no risk, there is no reward.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is knowing when to pivot and when to let go—whether in business or relationships. Don’t attach yourself to the outcome; flow with the process instead.

When people hear about CBA, I want them to know: I never had an internship in college. I only served in service-based and creative organizations on campus. And I haven’t been employed since 2020. But when the world doesn’t give you an opportunity, CBA is proof that you can create one for yourself.

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?
My best friend, Lydia, is a Taurus, so our itinerary would definitely include nature, great food, and a mix of adventure and relaxation. She actually came to visit when I graduated cosmetology school, and we had the most beautiful experience horseback riding in Mooresville. The trail was peaceful and scenic—a perfect, metaphorical way to close out my 1,500-hour journey.

We originally planned to visit Crowders Mountain for a hike and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville for a wine tasting, but Hurricane Helene changed our plans. Next time, I’d love to take her to both!

For a mix of creativity and business, we had a branding photoshoot for CBA’s athleisure line, Celeste, with Amathis Photos—Andrea is an amazing photographer, and we loved working with her.

When it comes to food, I’m still learning Charlotte’s food scene, so I don’t have a go-to favorite yet. We grew up near Chicago and love a good hole-in-the-wall fried catfish spot, but I haven’t found one here that hits the same! That said, we enjoyed some great meals, checked out a few sports bars, and hit some nightclubs for a fun night out.

A perfect girls’ night itinerary for Lydia would include:

Middle C Jazz Club – For live music and great cocktails
Buho – For a chic wine-tasting experience
Merchant & Trade Rooftop – A stunning skyline view to end the evening
For a day out exploring, I’d take her to:

Fumée & Stats – Always a vibe
Coffee & Thompson Art Gallery – I once saw Mayah Dyson perform live here, and there’s a super cute clothing boutique inside
Mad Miles Run Club – Charlotte’s fun and energetic running community

I’m still a Milwaukee native learning North Carolina, but so far, these are some of my favorite spots. There’s so much more to explore, and I can’t wait to continue discovering new gems in the city!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In 2024, CBA was honored to be supported by United Way, Pretty Ponytails, Be You Be Great, Klean Clothes, SuccessTeam, Grant-Jones CPA PLLC, KKapri Studios, Utilize Time, Changing the Narrative, Bam Snowballs, Ronnie L. Bryant Leadership Academy, Paul Mitchell, Money Magnets Club, Frankie Mae Foundation, Project Out Pour, LH Realty, MFactor Style Company, Rise & Shine Motivations, Lewis Grant Writing Services, Amathis Photos, Joyord Sportswear, Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Our Community Cupboards.

Website: https://www.celestebeautyacademy.com

Instagram: @celestebeautyacademyinc, @celeste_kay

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/celeste-beauty-academy-inc/

Twitter: https://x.com/cba_incc?s=21

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557251552969&mibextid=opq0tG

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Celestekayy

Image Credits
The celeste athleisure photos can be credited to Andrea- @amathisphotos. She specializes in Portrait, beauty and brands!