Meet Kenita: From SAHM to Flight Attendant at a Major Airline

Kenita’s story is one of remarkable resilience. In 2023, she was navigating a divorce and reentering the workforce after 12 years, uncertain about what the future held. Now, in 2025, she’s living her dream—working as a flight attendant—and she doesn’t take a single moment of it for granted.

Name: Kenita

Occupation:  International/Domestic Flight Attendant for a Major Airline

Her First Attempt at becoming a Flight Attendant

Shortly after Kenita graduated from high school, she enrolled in a flight attendant training program with dreams of seeing the world. However, those dreams were halted when she was sexually assaulted by an instructor. The trauma and stress of the experience led her to make the difficult decision to leave the program.

What Made Her Start Again

Divorce. In 2023 Kenita found herself reentering the workforce after 12 years as a stay-at-home mom and driving for Uber. A friend reminded her of her long-forgotten dream of becoming a flight attendant—and something just clicked. She applied to a major airline.“ I applied, and everything lined up,” she said. “It felt like it was my time.”

In her application and interviews, she made a persuasive case that her experience as a stay-at-home mom—resolving conflicts, managing schedules, and working under pressure—had prepared her well for the role. She landed the job and, since January 2024, has been flying both internationally and domestically, traveling everywhere from Miami to London.

What She Loves About Her Job

For Kenita, it’s all about the people. “I love that I work with a different crew every time,” she said. “It never feels mundane.” Her favorite part is connecting—not just with crew members, but with passengers from all walks of life. She’s often told she has unusually positive encounters even in difficult situations, something she credits to the energy she brings on board. “I meet people with compassion,” she explained. “And they give that energy right back.”

A Typical Week

Kenita lives in Los Angeles but is based in Boston. Her week starts with being a full-time mom—school pickups, homework, and dinner—until Thursday, when she flies overnight to the East Coast. From Friday through Sunday, she works multi-leg trips that can include overnights in places like Miami and Las Vegas. “It feels like a mini-vacation every time,” she said.

Biggest Challenge

Her biggest struggle? Mom guilt. “Being away from my kids is hard,” she admitted. “But I try to involve them—let them see the uniform, hear about my trips.” Kenita has three children—ages 11, 7, and 5—and her youngest, a daughter, proudly calls her a superstar. Despite the distance, she’s grateful for a co-parenting setup that allows her to be present during the week and fly on weekends.

Advice for Aspiring Flight Attendants

Kenita encourages others—especially Black women—to go for it. “It’s never too late. You just need a village,” she said. She also stresses the importance of flexibility. “Sometimes you’ll miss a flight. Things won’t go perfectly. You’ve got to be someone who can roll with it.” Her biggest tip? Tailor your résumé to the job and practice for the personality assessments. And, above all, “walk in like you belong.”  Kenita said that even if you don’t feel confident, you can exude confidence.  She says that doing her in person interview, she walked in confidently calling the interview panels by their names, even though underneath it all she was quite nervous.

Fun Fact

Before flying, Kenita worked as a commercial actress. You may have seen her in a Choice Hotels ad or a local car commercial that’s still airing. She also runs a YouTube channel where she shares the behind-the-scenes of flight attendant life—and her kids are her biggest fans.

Social Media Platforms and Publications

You can find Kenita on:

YouTube: Kenita's Channel

TikTok: @krenee_flightattendant

Instagram: @lightscabinaction

She has also published two books on becoming a flight attendant, available here: Reclamation Publishing LLC