Nakeia Mechelle Staley began her career as a fashion designer and dancer at the tender age of seven.

After completing three seasons and serving as Captain for two years at Garrett Academy of Technology, she went on to obtain her BS in Business Administration from South Carolina State University, where she took classes in Fashion Merchandising.

Nakeia then moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2009 where she auditioned and reach finals for the Atlanta Hawks Cheerleaders and the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders. Her hard work and dedication paid off when Nakeia was selected to be on the inaugural team for the Atlanta Blaze Dancers where she served as Captain in her second season.

As a community servant, Nakeia was crowned as Miss Black Georgia USA 2014 in which she became a volunteer Ambassador for the Heart Truth Campaign. In 2014 and 2015 she hosted two charity fashion shows to raise awareness for WomenHeart. For each show, Nakeia designed red dresses to be featured and worn by heart disease survivors or their family members as the Red Dress is the national symbol for Heart Disease. From her two “Red Dress Collections” produced on her signature label Mechelle, two of her red dresses were selected to featured in the September, 2015 edition of Ellements Magazine.

BELLA DONNA DANCEWEAR

CHARLESTON CHARM + ATLANTA DESIGN

In 2010, Nakeia had the invaluable opportunity to work with Fashion Designer and Project Runway contestant Rafael Cox where he took her under his tutelage and introduced her to this incredible world of fashion.

Growing from this experience and embracing her passions for both fashion and dance, Nakeia birthed Bella Donna Dancewear - a dancewear line unlike any other where she creates couture style dancewear for all dancers.

Whether you’re a tiny dancer hitting the stage for your first competition or a young lady ready to leave it all on the dance floor at her first professional audition, BDD is here for you!

Bella Donna Dancewear seeks to gain an understanding of their clients needs therefore allowing them to sparkle on the dance floor.

"I'm a very restless person. I'm always doing something. The creative process never stops."

Oscar de la Renta