For nearly two decades, Gracie Award-Winning media personality, producer and basketball coach MalaniKai has dedicated her life to training and mentoring youth and daring to speak her mind on the radio.
She is the first African-American female to become a full-time talk show host on 100 year-old legendary 95.5 WSB radio in Atlanta. After 2 years of co-hosting M-F, MalaniKai was given her own talk show. She's also the first female to become an elite boy's prep basketball head coach.
MalaniKai stimulates multi-cultural audiences with her witty, thought-provoking, and sometimes humorous opinions on social issues, sports, politics, family, and current events. Her message of determination, self-reliance, and personal responsibility resonates whether she’s training and coaching young men or engaging with her radio audience.
The Troy, NY native has served in numerous staff positions at AM and FM radio stations from New York to Atlanta. MalaniKai also spent 13 years behind the scenes at Turner Broadcasting. She's known for her unique approach to interviewing newsmakers, politicians, athletes, CEOs, artist and more.
MalaniKai still holds her high school's all-time scoring record in basketball (38 ppg) and secured a full athletic scholarship to Syracuse University. The broadcasting major eventually transferred to Saint Peter's College in New Jersey. She also holds a degree in Theology from Liberty University.
Over the years the PK (preacher’s kid) has remained grounded in faith and stays motivated by a work ethic instilled by her parents, who founded one of only a handful of international African-American owned boarding/prep schools in America, Redemption Christian Academy. MalaniKai is currently head coach of RCA's national, elite boy's prep team.
The Gracie Awards recognize exemplary programming created by women, for women and about women in all facets of media and entertainment.
Previous Gracie award winners have included:
Faith Hill, Melissa McCarthy, Taylor Swift, Meghan Markle, Gayle King, Mariska Hargitay, Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters, and Betty White.
A few people I've interviewed over the years:
CeCe Winans, Dr. Bernice A. King, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Teresa Edwards, Governor Brian Kemp, Shaquille O'Neal, Stacey Abrams, Monica Kauffman Pearson, Steve Koonin, Marianne Williamson, Jermaine Dupree, Xernona Clayton, Don Lemon, Herschel Walker, Sandi Patty, Kari Lake, Lamar Odom and more...
Atlanta, Georgia, United States