Conversations with Kailei Brown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kailei Brown.

Hi Kailei, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Every part of my journey has truly been a testament to just how good God is and how He will make a way—always.

My story really starts with 14-year-old me during my freshman year of high school. I knew I wanted to be my own CEO one day; I just had absolutely no idea what I wanted to be the CEO of yet, lol. During COVID in 2020, I actually went through two completely different business ideas before nails ever entered the picture. It was my big sister who first planted the seed in my head, and eventually I thought, “Why not?” and decided to give it a try.

I went on Amazon, bought the first nail kit I saw, my mom bought me my first practice hand, and that summer YouTube became my best friend. I practiced over and over, trying to perfect my craft. My older brother eventually paid for me to attend my first beginner nail class with Myaa Nicole Nails, and from there, I started doing a few people’s nails for around $20. Looking back, I’m extremely grateful for that stage because I had such a strong support system around me. So many people took a chance, essentially letting me experiment on their nails. LOL. Every person who took that chance gave me another opportunity to get better.

Even the name Madlei Exclusive has pieces of my story in it. “Madlei” came from combining letters from my first and middle names, Kailei Madisyn, and “Exclusive” was actually suggested by one of my classmates around 2019–2020. Something about it just stuck.

By 2022, I had built a pretty consistent clientele and was constantly booked, but I started realizing I didn’t want Madlei Exclusive to exist as just a name attached to my nail services. I wanted to build an actual brand around it. I connected with Rikki Lee Agency to develop the foundation of what M.E. was, what it looked like, and what I wanted it to represent, followed by my first official brand shoot.

Then came one of those moments that reminds me why I say God will always make a way. In 2024, after finishing my freshman year of college, I received a full-ride scholarship/sponsorship to attend nail school at Destiny Beauty Academy—and was even able to receive weekly pay during the program through Talbert House. I completed my required 200 hours, graduated, and on September 27, 2024, I passed my State Board exam and officially became a licensed nail technician.

But getting licensed was never the finish line for me.

Creativity has always been at the heart of Madlei Exclusive. I wanted it to be an outlet where I could push myself creatively while also giving my clients a space to express themselves. I’ve continued teaching myself new techniques, experimenting, creating concepts, and finding ways to make the brand as multifaceted as possible. That has opened doors to creative collaborations, including contributing to the late artist Uncle Kosa’s album cover, Sweetheart Shmist, in February 2025 —an opportunity I remain incredibly grateful to have been a part of. May he rest in peace. Rebranding M.E. on its fifth anniversary centering around creativity, boldness, authenticity, and creating without limits, and co-hosting my first event, “Pressed & Personal,” alongside Eden Davis, aka ThatSocialBlackGirl, in May 2026.

Pressed & Personal was especially exciting because it was an interactive experience centered around press-on nails, personal style, creativity, and connection. It showed me another way Madlei Exclusive could exist—not just as something you book, but something you can experience.

And honestly, that’s only a little glimpse into where I see Madlei Exclusive going. I’m exploring ways to merge nails with fashion, art, storytelling, products, experiences, and creative direction—and there are definitely some things happening behind the scenes that I can’t spill all the tea on just yet, lol.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m blessed enough to say that, for the most part, my journey has been pretty smooth sailing. Of course, there have been bumps in the road, but I truly believe that what God has intended for you to have will be yours.

Starting so young definitely meant there was A LOT I had to learn about the beauty industry, business, and myself. Thankfully, I had people in my family who had already walked that walk and paved the way so I could run, along with a beautiful support system that made things less heavy.

One of my biggest challenges has simply been balancing everything. Madlei Exclusive has grown with me through high school and now college, so I’ve had to learn how to be a student, a business owner, a creative, and still make room to just be Kailei. Sometimes one definitely gets a little more attention than the others, lol.

I’ve also had to learn that my imagination can be VERY expensive! I can envision an entire concept in my head down to the smallest detail and immediately want to bring the biggest version of it to life. I’ve invested money, time, and energy into ideas that didn’t always receive the attention or return I anticipated, which taught me that something can be creatively successful without necessarily being financially successful. Sometimes the vision needs to be scaled down, happen in phases, or simply go back into my notes for a minute.

Collaboration has been another learning experience. As my ideas have gotten bigger, I’ve had opportunities to work alongside other creatives and learned that having a great vision is only half of the job—you also have to know how to communicate it. Good collaboration requires just as much communication as creativity.

Then there’s me being my own worst enemy sometimes: perfectionism! Doing so much on my own can get overwhelming because I’m rarely short on ideas—it’s figuring out where to start and how to properly execute everything I see in my head. I can be extremely particular, so I’ve definitely spent too much time perfecting something, waiting for the “right” moment, or convincing myself I need everything perfectly aligned before moving forward.

I’m learning that everything doesn’t have to happen all at once or be perfect the first time. Sometimes you have to start with what you have, learn as you go, and allow the vision to grow with you.

So again, I wouldn’t describe my journey as a hard one. I’d describe it as a learning one. Every bump has taught me something about creativity, business, people, patience, and myself. More than anything, it’s taught me how to better steward what God has given me—and I’m still learning every day.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At the core of it all, I’m a nail artist. I specialize in acrylic, Gel-X, and structured gel manicures, and I’m currently perfecting my Russian manicure technique. I love being versatile because I never want to put myself—or my creativity—into one box.

If you know Madlei Exclusive, though, you probably know me most for my creative and artistic sets. I LOVE when someone gives me room to create. To me, ten nails are like ten little canvases, and that’s part of the fun, lol.

I’m also becoming more intentional about stepping into the editorial side of nail artistry. I want to create sets that become part of a bigger creative vision—whether that’s for photoshoots, campaigns, fashion concepts, or other visual projects. I love taking an overall concept and figuring out how the nails can add to the story rather than just complement the look. Editorial work gives me the opportunity to push my creativity further, experiment without as many boundaries, and really showcase nails as art.

What I’m most proud of is simply how far I’ve come. Sometimes I’ll scroll through my Instagram—which I consider my portfolio—and just sit in awe at the growth I can physically see. At the ripe age of 21, I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve accomplished while knowing there is SO much more in me that hasn’t even been seen yet.

What sets me apart is absolutely my creativity, but more than anything, it’s the spirit I carry and the vision God has placed within me. My faith and creativity aren’t separate. I believe my ability to create is a gift from God, and the Holy Spirit influences how I move, how I treat people, and how I approach what I’ve been entrusted with.

I don’t want Madlei Exclusive to only be known for beautiful nails—I want people to feel something when they encounter M.E. Nobody else has my exact mind, hands, experiences, relationship with God, or the vision He gave specifically to me. My job is simply to be faithful to mine.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I actually don’t have a mentor right now, but I can say that I am in a season of really putting myself out there, pushing fear to the side, and intentionally connecting with different people and creatives.

What I’m learning is to simply show up—go to the event, introduce yourself, send the message, and put yourself in rooms that may feel a little intimidating. Networking has also taught me to focus less on what someone can do for me and more on building genuine relationships.

I’m still growing in this area myself, but my biggest advice is to not let fear make decisions for you. Put yourself in the room and let people know who you are and what you do. You never know which connection God may use to open the next door.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://madleiexclusive.as.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madleiexclusive?igsi=MXJxOHc0d3FqNzcxMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@madleiexclusive?_r=1&_t=ZP-99QkZan8bZ1