“I don’t think it makes sense to play safe in these times, the world needs fantasy, not reality. We have enough reality today.”
– Lee Alexander McQueen
When you first met me, I was probably laced into a corset, rocking blue hair, and making headlines for my love of extreme silhouettes. That girl? She still lives rent-free in my heart. But there’s so much more to the story.
I’ve always been obsessed with the art of transformation—whether it was slipping into avant-garde fashion or directing photo shoots that blurred the lines between fantasy and reality. What I didn’t realize at the time was that storytelling was my real love language. It’s what pulled me into the worlds of fashion, marketing, and advertising.
Modeling was my gateway into understanding the power of image, influence, and perception. But as social media exploded, I realized I wanted to be the one shaping the narratives, not just existing within them. That realization led me to pivot from being in front of the camera to working behind the scenes—transitioning into the world of marketing as a Creative Director for a leading beauty company. There, I learned how to take aesthetics and storytelling and turn them into strategy—how to craft viral campaigns, build engagement, and create brand identities that resonate.
Now, I’m bringing all of that experience into my next chapter. I’m still playing with bold aesthetics, still obsessed with beauty, and still exploring the unspoken power of image—but this time, I’m doing it on my terms. On my blog, expect deep dives into dark, unique fashion, the psychology of power in pop culture, the realities of beauty beyond your 20s, and travel stories from someone who believes life should be an editorial spread.
When I’m not creating, I’m lifting heavy things, spoiling my dog Nena, making questionable online shopping decisions, and occasionally making boys cry (only when necessary).
Welcome to my corner of the internet. Let’s get into it.
Trauma? You Mean My Lore.
Let’s rewind a bit. When I was modeling, I wanted to channel my alter ego. I never really gave her a name. I built a whole world around her. My bravery existed with her. To bring her from my fantasy to my reality I needed to give her a name. My father chose my name, Kelly. He said he just loved the sound of it. When I was little someone gave me a necklace with my name and it said it meant warrior princess of the fairy king but later found out it means “brave warrior” lol close enough. I resonate with kelly so much that I didn’t want to change my first name.
KELLY
My father named me Kelly simply because he liked the sound of it. When I was little, I had a necklace that claimed Kelly meant “warrior princess of the fairy king.” Later, I found out it actually just means “brave warrior.” Close enough. Either way, I’ve always resonated with the name, so changing my first name never felt right.
LEE
But I wanted something more—something that paid homage to someone who made me feel seen in my own individuality, my black sheep energy. Enter: Lee Alexander McQueen. His work was pure magic, a masterclass in blurring fantasy and reality. He made the surreal feel tangible, and his legacy whispered (or, let’s be real, screamed), Nothing is serious—so have fun.
DEKAY
Kelly Lee had a nice ring to it, but it still felt unfinished. And then it hit me—Pink Dekay, my old comic. It started with Sam, my very first alter ego, the one I sketched into my dream outfits, the one who lived out the scenes I daydreamed about. She was my version of Jessica Rabbit—brave, bold, and impossible to ignore. When I imagined stepping onto a stage or commanding attention in front of the camera, it was her energy I was channeling.
And so, I became Kelly Lee Dekay.
who is kld?
For many years, Kelly Lee Dekay was a persona I believed to be my alter ego, a creation through which I could ignite my imagination. However, it soon became clear to me that without my existence, Kelly Lee Dekay would not exist.
The truth is, Kelly Lee Dekay is me.
My father gave me the name Kelly and expressed his deep love for the moniker. As fate would have it, the name means “warrior,” a title that seems fitting for me. The addition of “Lee” to my name is an homage to Lee Alexander McQueen, who played a crucial role in helping me find my true self during my high school years.
Furthermore, my comic character, Sammi Dekay, was a source of inspiration for me. I would sketch her donning my dream outfits and placed in my dream scenarios. She embodies everything I aspire to be, a total badass.
KLD is not just a persona or an alter ego. It is a manifestation of my identity, a reflection of the person that I am.
KELLY + LEE+ DEKAY
MOOD BOARD
Here Are a Few of My Favorite Things…
FASHION WAS THE FIRST FORM OF STORYTELLING THAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH. I GREW UP ACCOMPANYING MY MAMI TO THE GARMENT DISTRICT. I WOULD WATCH WITH AWE AS SHE WOULD SKETCH, DRAPE AND CONSTRUCT. IN BETWEEN I WOULD FLIP THROUGH FASHION MAGAZINES, AND SKETCH MY OWN IDEAS. MY MOTHER IS MY FAVORITE DESIGNER. SHE INSPIRES ME ALONGSIDE THIERRY MUGLER, LEE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, MR.PEARL, THOM BROWNE, JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER, IRIS VAN HERPEN, AND GARETH PUGH.
ON HIGH ROTATION
ROSALIA
MOVIES
THE FIFTH ELEMENT
FAVORITE EATS
JOE’S SHANGHAI
My past is littered with the bones of men who were foolish enough to think I was someone they could sleep on.
– MICHELE ROBERTS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE N.B.A
‘People find my things sometimes aggressive. But I don’t see it as aggressive. I see it as romantic, dealing with a dark side of personality.’
-ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, HAUTE COUTURE DESIGNER
