Meet Aleyah: Domestic/International Flight Attendant

Aleyah grew up in a small town in North Carolina with a limited view of the world. Now, with faith and confidence, she has traveled across the globe, met incredible people, and experienced diverse cultures. She’s a powerful reminder of what can unfold when you move through life with both faith and confidence.

Name: Aleyah

Occupation: International/Domestic Flight attendant for a Major Airline

Background

Growing up in the small town of Eden, North Carolina, Aleyah never imagined a life in the skies. Travel wasn’t a part of her early years—she had only been on a plane twice before applying to Delta. But something inside her craved exposure—to the world, new cultures, and new people. “I wanted to be exposed more and also expose the people around me,” she says. That desire led her to take a leap of faith and apply for a job that would change everything.

How She Started Learning Her Craft

Interestingly, Aleyah was a career coach before becoming a flight attendant. That experience helped her navigate Delta’s notoriously competitive interview process. Despite thousands of applicants, she landed the job on her third-ever flight—flying from Greensboro to Atlanta for her interview. “It was one of the easiest interviews for me personally,” she recalls. Her natural confidence, positive energy, and clear communication skills helped her stand out.

What She Loves About Her Job

Aleyah beams when she talks about the people she’s met—passengers, coworkers, and even celebrities like Jeezy and Viola Davis. “One part I love about my job is meeting people,” she says. “I met my best friend on the first day of training. We’ve traveled to Senegal together!” She also loves the sense of freedom and adventure her role offers. She’s worked international flights to Ghana, France, Italy, Colombia, and more—all within her first two years on the job.

Biggest Challenge

Commuting is the hardest part. Aleyah lives in Greensboro but is currently based in Detroit, meaning she often uses her days off just to get to work. “It’s tough,” she admits. Another challenge is the inconsistency of her schedule, which makes maintaining a routine—especially with fitness and sleep—a constant juggling act.

Typical Day/WeekFlight attendant schedules vary wildly, especially for junior crew members like Aleyah. One week she may be flying domestically to Charleston and St. Louis, and the next, she’s on standby for last-minute international assignments.

Advice to Other Black Women Who Want to Do What She Does

“Follow instructions,” Aleyah emphasizes. Whether it’s dress code or interview prep, attention to detail matters. She also recommends studying the airline’s core values and reflecting those values in your answers. “Confidence is key. Even if you don’t feel it, act like you got it,” she adds with a smile. Her HBCU background, she says, helped build that confidence. “It taught me to represent myself well—in how I dress, how I speak, everything.”

Future Goals

While Aleyah loves her job, her dream is to create a beauty brand and work as a content creator in the makeup and hair space. She already has a hair page, and during one flight, a passenger who happened to be a celebrity makeup artist complimented her makeup.

Fun FactAleyah lost 75 pounds in one year through lifestyle changes and now loves to run. “Running makes me feel like that girl,” she says. “It builds my confidence.” Her story is a powerful example of what can happen when preparation meets faith—and you trust yourself enough to show up.