Today we’d like to introduce you to Kateeshaa Adams.
Hi Kateeshaa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home alongside my mother, father, and three sisters. As the youngest in our family, I was undeniably the baby and yes, I was a little spoiled and quite accustomed to getting my way. More importantly, I was raised in an environment where family, faith, values, and presentation mattered.
From an early age, I embraced what I would now describe as my feminine spirit. I was a true girly girl who could spend hours playing with my dolls, completely content in my own little world. I loved getting dressed up, whether I was going to school, attending church, or preparing for a special occasion. Looking my best was never about seeking attention or impressing others. Even as a child, I understood that when I felt good about how I presented myself, I carried myself differently, with confidence, joy, and a sense of pride.
One of my fondest childhood memories is receiving my very first pair of heels from my mother. She patiently taught me how to walk in them, encouraging me to place one foot carefully in front of the other. I must have walked from the kitchen to the hallway at least fifty times, determined to master those little shoes. At the time, it was simply a mother teaching her daughter how to walk in heels. Looking back, however, I recognize it as one of the earliest moments in a journey that would eventually become so much bigger than I could have imagined.
That love for presentation followed me into high school. While many of my classmates preferred casual clothing, I often chose suits, dresses, and heels. My classmates would tease me and jokingly call me “the teacher” because of the way I dressed. I never allowed their opinions to convince me that I needed to become someone else to fit in. Even at a young age, I was comfortable standing apart from the crowd.
But like many young people, I entered adulthood before I fully understood how deeply certain decisions could shape the trajectory of my life.
While I was in high school, a friend introduced me to a young man who would eventually become my first husband. At the time, I was drawn to the lifestyle I believed he could provide. I loved nice things, and my friend captured my attention when she said, “Girl, he’ll buy you whatever you want.”
We began dating, and my father strongly opposed the relationship. He saw things I was not yet mature enough to recognize for myself. But, as many parents discover, telling a young person what not to do can sometimes make them even more determined to do it.
I became pregnant, and because of the values I had been raised with, marriage seemed like the responsible thing to do. I can still vividly remember standing at the altar. Even then, I had doubts. My attention was drawn elsewhere, and something within me questioned whether I was making the right decision. Yet, I proceeded.
Soon after we were married, the reality of the relationship began to reveal itself. The person I thought I knew became someone I barely recognized. What I believed would be the beginning of a lifetime together quickly became a season marked by fear, control, and abuse.
There is one night from that period of my life that I will never forget.
It was a little after 1:00 a.m. when my husband told me he was leaving the house. I did not know where he was going, but something deep within me told me that something was wrong. Despite that feeling, I got into the car with him.
He drove for what seemed like an eternity, barely speaking. Then, without warning, he stopped the car, opened my door, and pushed me out onto the side of the road.
I remember walking those streets terrified and crying, unsure of what I was going to do. After some time, a police officer pulled alongside me and rolled down his window. He told me that my husband had stopped him and asked him to give me a ride home.
I got into the patrol car. I do not remember every word that officer said to me, but I remember the message clearly: I needed to leave the relationship.
There are many details of that chapter that I could share, but they are not the focus of my story. What matters is that eventually, I found the courage to leave.
Leaving, however, was only the beginning.
I had physically removed myself from the marriage, but I still had to confront the emotional and psychological impact of what I had experienced. My confidence had been deeply affected, and somewhere along the way, I had lost a sense of who I was. The woman who once felt comfortable standing apart from the crowd had become uncertain of her own worth and identity.
What I did not realize at the time was that God was not finished with me.
He was preparing to restore parts of me that I didn’t even realize had been broken.
Several years later, my oldest daughter participated in the annual Delta DOLL Pageant hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. As I helped prepare her for the pageant, something began to awaken within me.
I found myself genuinely enjoying the process. I loved helping her select the appropriate wardrobe, preparing her for appearances, and making sure she felt confident and ready. At home, we practiced her walk, introductions, posture, communication, and the way she carried herself. What began as a mother’s effort to support her daughter soon became something much more significant.
I had caught the pageant bug.
Looking back, I believe God was using that experience to reintroduce me to a part of myself that had been dormant for years. Pageantry gave me an opportunity to once again explore confidence, presentation, communication, and personal development, but this time, I was not simply learning for myself. I was learning so that I could pour into someone else.
My daughter continued competing in pageants throughout her high school years. And when her pageant journey eventually came to an end, I realized something unexpected:
Her journey had introduced me to mine.
I began volunteering with a community pageant organization, where I served for two years. During that time, I gained invaluable experience and discovered that pageantry was about far more than crowns, gowns, and competition. It was an avenue for teaching young women how to carry themselves, communicate effectively, develop confidence, and recognize their own potential.
And somewhere along the way, pageantry began transforming me as well.
God used that experience to give me my voice back. He restored confidence I did not realize I had lost. He taught me to stand boldly, to embrace my experiences rather than be defined by them, and to recognize that the very things I had survived could become part of what equipped me to serve others.
In 2017, I founded The Little Miss Community Pageant as an independent pageant organization.
I had never led a pageant before, but I knew I had discovered something I was passionate about. So, I committed myself to learning. I researched pageants throughout the state, attended competitions, participated in pageant coaching and training, and sought wisdom from individuals who had years of experience in the industry. I was intentional about learning because I wanted to create something that extended beyond a single event or a moment on a stage.
I wanted to build something that could make a lasting difference in the lives of young girls and their communities.
As the vision grew, I understood that I could not build it alone. I assembled a committed team of volunteers and established a board of directors who shared the vision and believed in the mission. What began as an idea eventually grew into an organization that has crowned young women in both Berrien and Kent Counties while creating opportunities for leadership, service, confidence, personal development, and community engagement.
Through pageantry, I discovered that I was not simply preparing young women for a competition. I was helping them develop qualities that would remain valuable long after the crown was removed.
Confidence.
Character.
Communication.
Grace.
Leadership.
Self-awareness.
That realization opened the door to an even greater calling.
I began asking myself, “What if I could take these same principles beyond the pageant stage?”
I wanted to do more than prepare contestants for competitions. I wanted to equip children, teens, and adults with the confidence, character, communication skills, and social awareness necessary to navigate life successfully.
That desire led me to pursue professional training in etiquette and related areas of personal development. I invested in additional education, earned professional certifications, and continued expanding my knowledge because I understood that if I was going to teach others, I needed to remain committed to learning myself.
In 2025, I officially established Paramount School of Etiquette.
What began as a lifelong appreciation for presentation had evolved into something much more meaningful: a platform for transformation.
Over time, I came to understand that etiquette is not simply about knowing which fork to use, how to set a table, or which way to walk into a room. Those skills have value, but etiquette is ultimately about how we conduct ourselves, how we communicate, how we treat others, how we manage challenging situations, and how we show up in the world.
That is what makes Paramount School of Etiquette distinct.
We teach more than social etiquette. We help individuals develop the confidence to navigate professional and personal environments, communicate with intention, build healthier relationships, manage conflict constructively, and understand the impact of their presence.
My own journey has shaped the way I teach.
I know what it feels like to lose your confidence. I know what it means to have to rediscover your voice. I know what it means to rebuild your identity and learn how to stand confidently in who you are.
That is why my work extends beyond etiquette.
I believe education can be transformative. I believe accountability matters. I believe people can grow beyond the circumstances that once defined them. And because of my own experiences, I have developed a particular heart for working with individuals impacted by domestic violence, including offenders, with the understanding that education, accountability, personal responsibility, and behavioral change must be part of the larger conversation around healing and restoration.
Today, Paramount School of Etiquette represents far more than a business. It represents a journey of restoration, purpose, and transformation.
The little girl who walked back and forth across her mother’s hallway in her first pair of heels could never have imagined where those first steps would lead.
But I understand now.
Those were never just steps in a pair of shoes.
They were preparing me to walk into purpose and to help others find the confidence to walk into theirs.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey is just beginning, and I have learned that when God gives you a vision, the path will not always be easy. There will be challenges, obstacles, and moments that require more faith than certainty. But I have also learned that challenges can be part of the preparation.
One of my greatest challenges has been helping people understand that etiquette is not a lost art. In today’s increasingly casual and digital world, some question whether etiquette still has a place. I believe it does, perhaps now more than ever. Etiquette is not simply about rules or formality; it is about confidence, character, communication, respect, and how we intentionally show up in the world.
I have also learned never to become complacent. Every class, workshop, and event is an opportunity to reflect, grow, and ask, “How can I make this even better?” That commitment to continuous improvement continues to shape how I serve others through Paramount School of Etiquette.
Most importantly, my faith remains the foundation of this journey. When things do not go as planned, I remind myself that God’s timing is greater than my own. My responsibility is to remain faithful to the vision He has given me, continue pursuing excellence, and trust Him to open the right doors.
The journey is still unfolding, and I am grateful for the opportunity to see where God leads next.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Paramount School of Etiquette is more than a name; it represents a commitment to helping people grow in confidence, character, and purpose.
When many people hear the word “etiquette,” they immediately think of dining manners and social graces. While those skills are certainly important, I believe etiquette goes much deeper. It influences how we communicate, how we treat others, how we navigate conflict, and how intentionally we carry ourselves in everyday life. At its heart, etiquette is about character and the way we choose to interact with the people around us.
What makes Paramount unique is our commitment to personal development beyond traditional etiquette. We work with children, teens, and adults to develop confidence, character, leadership, communication, and practical life skills that can serve them personally and professionally. Our programs include etiquette, professional branding, healthy dating and relationship skills, conflict resolution, anger management, pageant coaching, and domestic violence intervention. Each area reflects my belief that meaningful transformation begins from within and should ultimately influence how we live, lead, and serve others.
My own experiences have deeply shaped this vision. I know what it feels like to lose confidence and what it means to have it restored. Because of that, I approach every class, workshop, and program with a genuine desire to equip people with practical tools while encouraging them to grow in character, purpose, and confidence.
Since launching Paramount School of Etiquette, God has continued to open doors and expand the vision. In 2025, I was honored to receive the Entrepreneur Award from SpringGR in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That same year, I published two books: Crown Culture: Etiquette and Character for the Next Generation of Queens and Kings, which combines relatable stories, biblical principles, and practical reflection to help young people develop healthy relationships, make faith-centered choices, and lead with kindness and respect; and God First, Together Always: A Family Devotional for a Healthy Equilibrium, which offers families practical tools for intentional living, spiritual growth, and cultivating harmony and purpose together.
In 2026, Paramount launched its first summer camp in partnership with Grandville Community Education. During the four-day experience, students developed skills in dining etiquette, public speaking, confidence, and poise through the vehicle of pageantry. Watching their confidence grow in such a short period of time was a powerful reminder of why this work matters to me.
More than anything, I want people to know that Paramount School of Etiquette is a place where they are seen, valued, and encouraged to grow. Whether someone participates in a workshop, enrolls in a program, or partners with us to serve their community, my hope is that they leave with more than knowledge. I want them to leave better equipped to live with confidence, character, purpose, and genuine consideration for others.
I believe one lesson, one conversation, or one opportunity can influence the direction of a person’s life because I have experienced that transformation myself. My journey has taught me that our past does not have to determine our future. Through faith, intentional guidance, and a willingness to grow, we can become more of who God has called us to be.
Ultimately, my vision for Paramount School of Etiquette is not simply to teach people how to present themselves well. It is to help cultivate individuals whose character is evident in how they speak, how they lead, how they treat others, and how they carry themselves. My desire is that, through this work, people are not only equipped to navigate life with confidence and purpose, but are also encouraged to reflect Christ in the way they live and serve others.
That is the heart of Paramount: helping people grow in confidence, character, and purpose while becoming more intentional about the lives they were created to live and the impact they were created to make.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this: do not wait until you feel completely ready. There will always be something else to learn, another certification to pursue, or another reason to postpone taking the next step. If God has given you a vision, have the courage to begin and trust Him with the process.
One thing I wish I had understood when I was starting out is that you do not have to have everything figured out on day one. I once believed I needed to have all the answers before I could move forward. The truth is, clarity often comes through the journey itself. I am still early in my own journey, and I continue to learn, grow, and discover new things every day.
One lesson I have embraced is that growth requires humility. Be willing to listen to feedback, remain teachable, continue learning, evaluate what is working and what is not, and make the necessary adjustments along the way. There is always room to grow, and excellence requires a willingness to keep becoming better at what you have been called to do.
Most importantly, do not compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Stay focused on your own assignment, celebrate each milestone, and trust that consistent faithfulness produces results in its proper time.
Success rarely happens overnight. What may appear to be a sudden breakthrough is often the result of countless steps taken in faith, preparation, and perseverance. Keep moving forward. Every step is preparing you for what God has ahead.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mailchi.mp/8ccce76d…/paramount-school-of-etiquette
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066700820413
