Meet Keliya Buddington | Model & Pageant Contestant

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

Hi Keliya, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
My whole life I’ve watched my parents keep going to make a better life for my sister and I that they didn’t have. They encouraged me to work for what I want and not give up on anything that I believe in. Everything I do…My aspiring model career, My pageantry experience’s and etc. my parents are always there supporting me which keeps my fueling pumping to keep going. How I keep going is because I know my parents didn’t stop and that is the same mentality that I have and will always have because I know what they have done for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Currently, my profession I see it as creativity and artistic. I am an aspiring model and a pageant contestant who loves to travel, you don’t really hear that often in South Florida but I am also a manager at my family’s Jamaican Restaurant called All Spice. Stepping out of usual activities like being a college student who goes to work and college parties, is way out my league, I am a type of person who steps out the box like doing my first pageant in September 2022 and currently on my second pageant for “Miss Teen Broward Petite”. I am most proud of stepping out my comfort zone and trying new things and not missing out of opportunities the world has so much to offer and I want to see every bit of it. Getting where I am, was not easy. I still have so much to look forward to, overcoming the challenges with trying to pay school tuition, saving money and trying to become something I never thought to be until now and I just have to keep pushing of course, with my family right behind me makes it 10x easier. The lessons I learned is don’t waste time, if you want it go for it, don’t let nobody ruin something that could be life changing for you so keep your head up and strive far.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spots are food spots, you can’t complain food is everyone’s first love but I have to say Applebee’s and TGI Friday’s. It is sad to say I don’t explore Florida as I should, I mainly travel out the country but if I was to chose my favorite city would have to say Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My favorite spot to eat there is “Nothing but wings” they have THE best wings hands down and it’s in a mall, my favorite place to go is “Las Olas Beach” this is a beach that everyone goes to when they are on vacation, they have multiple stores and many food bars with a long beach strip.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First off, I want to give a big shoutout to my family. They are a huge impact on my success in life and I can’t thank them enough for putting up with my new extracurricular activities every month. They support me with every decision I make and they lead me in the right directions if I start leaning left, they have always have my back along through thick and thin. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to my parents, My only sibling, My bestfriend/boyfriend you guys mean and do so much for me and don’t even know it so thank you again and most importantly thank you to the man above for providing me with life and with people who is there for me and everything that I do.

Website: https://keliyabuddington.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keliyabudd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089736428974

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4lQ9RgoGVxzRE16GTrrE4w

Image Credits
The photographers who took my pictures is actually Studio1, they give you an opportunity to build your modeling platform and modeling portfolio