\tKJ Dillard is the definition of a multi-hyphenate. Before he became a Summer House fan favorite, KJ was a professional skateboarder, genre-defying musician, and model. How has he managed to achieve all of these dreams so fervently? He won’t allow anyone to put him in a box. Growing up in Kansas and Arizona, KJ learned early on how to adapt to different circumstances. Initially, he was part of a well-to-do community, but his parents' divorce shifted everything, and he soon found himself in an entirely new world. KJ leaned into his interests and started a band with friends from church, where he rapped and sang as their frontman. He also began to take skateboarding seriously, even though it wasn't very popular. KJ became engrossed in skate culture, obsessing over its rebellious nature and style. His interest blossomed into a nearly ten-year career as a professional skateboarder, during which he inadvertently invented a never-before-seen trick and attracted the attention of the entire skating community. Like that accidentally career-defining moment, KJ seems destined for greatness, no matter the medium.
\tAs the first Black male Summer House castmate, KJ had to learn to navigate the new world of reality television with millions of eyes watching. Ever graceful, he’s taking the lessons and carrying them into another season. In our conversation, we talk about what it means to give yourself grace when you live and date in the public eye, and how he manages the pressure of being “the first.” KJ models the kind of transparency he hopes inspires other men to open up and share more deeply about what they’re feeling. He opened up about his childhood experiences with living with undiagnosed ADHD and having to live with his grandmother. KJ shares that his love for skateboarding has never left him and now serves as a space for self-care. We also cover his return to music and how excited he is to try a new genre and sound. As is his nature, KJ is turning back to the creative outlets that brought him joy as a kid, except now he’s sharing them with the world.
Tune in as we discuss:
0:00 Welcome KJ
4:05 Preparing For The Spotlight
5:00 Growing Up In Arizona and Kansas
5:25 How His Parents' Divorce Changed Their Lives
6:25 His Early ADHD Symptoms
7:25 KJ’s Relationship With His Grandmother
8:10 Comparing His Life To His Cousins
9:35 Why He Chases Success
10:00 KJ’s Introduction To Skateboard Culture
11:50 The 90s Black Skateboarders Who Inspired Him
12:45 Unspoken Skateboard Rules
13:30 His Favorite Skateboard Looks
15:50 Iconic Skateboard Brands
17:45 Accidentally Inventing A Skateboard Trick
20:25 Navigating Reality Television
23:15 His Awkward Tyler The Creator Meetup
30:00 Pre-Public Appearance Prep
30:45 Why KJ Gatekeeps Some Things
31:50 His Signature Look
33:45 When He Became Interested In Music
39:15 Microagressions In The Fashion Industry
40:12 Dating In The Public Eye
41:25 What He’s Learning About Himself
42:20 Emotional Vulnerability Among Friends
43:55 KJ’s Self-Care Routine
45:45 When He Feels The Most Beautiful
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