Who is MalaniKai?
For nearly two decades, Gracie Award-Winning media personality and basketball coach, MalaniKai has dedicated her life to training and mentoring youth and daring to speak her mind on the radio and television.
She made history as the first female to become a full-time talk show host on the 100 year-old legendary, #1 news/talk radio station in America 95.5 WSB in Atlanta. She became the first person from WSB radio to receive a prestigious Gracie Award.
Even off the air, MalaniKai is no stranger to making history. She has the distinction of being the first female elite men's prep basketball head coach and is well-respected among her male colleagues in the basketball world.
MalaniKai stimulates multi-cultural audiences with her witty, thought-provoking, and 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 people or engaging with her radio or in-person audiences.
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 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 and secured a full athletic scholarship to Syracuse University. The broadcasting major eventually transferred to Saint Peter's University in New Jersey. She also holds a degree from Liberty University.
Over the years she 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. She's helped train and mentor numerous professional and college basketball players.
She sits on the Board of Directors for RCA and Goodway Bakery. She has been recognized by The Alliance for Women in Media and Black Women in Radio for her outstanding work in broadcasting. MalaniKai also received a "Woman of Impact" Media Maestro Award from the Rotary Clubs United.
In addition to her appearances on local and national television, MalaniKai has appeared in movies and scripted television shows.
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 Notable Interviewees:
Dr. Bernice A. King, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., CeCe Winans, Teresa Edwards, Governor Brian Kemp, Shaquille O'Neal, Stacey Abrams, Steve Koonin, Marianne Williamson, Jermaine Dupree, Don Lemon, Herschel Walker, Sandi Patty, Kari Lake, Lamar Odom and more...