KJ Dillard on Skateboarding Aesthetics, Sunscreen, & Getting Emotional as a Man

KJ Dillard is the definition of a multi-hyphenate. Before he became a Summer House fan favorite, KJ was a professional skateboarder, genre-defying musician, and model. How has he managed to achieve all of these dreams so fervently? He won’t allow anyone to put him in a box. Growing up in Kansas and Arizona, KJ learned early on how to adapt to different circumstances. Initially, he was part of a well-to-do community, but his parents' divorce shifted everything, and he soon found himself in an entirely new world. KJ leaned into his interests and started a band with friends from church, where he rapped and sang as their frontman. He also began to take skateboarding seriously, even though it wasn't very popular. KJ became engrossed in skate culture, obsessing over its rebellious nature and style. His interest blossomed into a nearly ten-year career as a professional skateboarder, during which he inadvertently invented a never-before-seen trick and attracted the attention of the entire skating community. Like that accidentally career-defining moment, KJ seems destined for greatness, no matter the medium.

As the first Black male Summer House castmate, KJ had to learn to navigate the new world of reality television with millions of eyes watching. Ever graceful, he’s taking the lessons and carrying them into another season. In our conversation, we talk about what it means to give yourself grace when you live and date in the public eye, and how he manages the pressure of being “the first.” KJ models the kind of transparency he hopes inspires other men to open up and share more deeply about what they’re feeling. He opened up about his childhood experiences with living with undiagnosed ADHD and having to live with his grandmother. KJ shares that his love for skateboarding has never left him and now serves as a space for self-care. We also cover his return to music and how excited he is to try a new genre and sound. As is his nature, KJ is turning back to the creative outlets that brought him joy as a kid, except now he’s sharing them with the world.

Tune in as we discuss:

0:00 Welcome KJ

4:05 Preparing For The Spotlight

5:00 Growing Up In Arizona and Kansas

5:25 How His Parents' Divorce Changed Their Lives

6:25 His Early ADHD Symptoms

7:25 KJ’s Relationship With His Grandmother

8:10 Comparing His Life To His Cousins

9:35 Why He Chases Success

10:00 KJ’s Introduction To Skateboard Culture

11:50 The 90s Black Skateboarders Who Inspired Him

12:45 Unspoken Skateboard Rules 

13:30 His Favorite Skateboard Looks

15:50 Iconic Skateboard Brands

17:45 Accidentally Inventing A Skateboard Trick

20:25 Navigating Reality Television

23:15 His Awkward Tyler The Creator Meetup

30:00 Pre-Public Appearance Prep

30:45 Why KJ Gatekeeps Some Things

31:50 His Signature Look

33:45 When He Became Interested In Music

39:15 Microagressions In The Fashion Industry

40:12 Dating In The Public Eye

41:25 What He’s Learning About Himself    

42:20 Emotional Vulnerability Among Friends

43:55 KJ’s Self-Care Routine

45:45 When He Feels The Most Beautiful

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