Today we’d like to introduce you to Nakeii “Nikki” Bell
Hi Nakeii “Nikki”, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born and raised in H-town, Texas! I remember taking my first flight, on my own as an unaccompanied minor, to Virginia to visit family. From that one flight, the traveler in me was rooted. I graduated from the one & only Prairie View A&M University, in 2003, where I majored in Business (Accounting) and started my career as an Accountant. In 2007, I had the opportunity to go work in Baghdad, Iraq as a Contractor working in the Finance/Accounting Department. I believe that sparked a fire in me for international traveling, outside of Mexico and the Caribbean. I worked overseas for four years and it was like a whole new world opened up for me, I wanted to go everywhere!! I traveled to Thailand and many places in Europe.
Throughout my early adult years, I would be the “friend” to plan all of our vacations (creating the itineraries and payment plans for the group), assisting family members with their own travel plans and giving recommendations to everyone in various cities they visit. Did I mention, I’ve always been the “PLANNER” and “ORGANIZER” for everything! lol No but seriously, it brings me joy to see friends and family exploring places outside of their city…there’s so much to discover in this world of ours.
In 2016 living in Honolulu, Hawaii I met a couple of black female Flight Attendants while exploring the beautiful waterfalls on the island. They sparked the interest of me becoming a Flight Attendant, I told them I had applied before but didn’t make the cut. I promised them I would start applying and pray for the best!! I did just that and by Summer of 2017, I received my CJO (contingent job offer) with a commercial airline. In September I started training classes and on October 11, 2017 I became a Flight Attendant!!!! Life would be different…a deep pay cut, commuting across the country from Columbus, Ohio to Las Vegas, Nevada…a whole new city with no family, just my coworkers. Being the free spirit and positive attitude individual that I am, I made the best of it and haven’t looked back yet! My husband thought I was insane for taking on this role, but it was time for something different. I was tired of sitting behind the desk…I wanted to be free at whatever cost.
Not even a year into being a Flight Attendant, I was having a conversation with a friend/former co-worker from Iraq and we decided to throw out there (on social media) a girl’s trip to Thailand. We received an overwhelming response, so we decided to jump on it and formed Royal Wanderlust (our travel agency) in 2018. In just six short years, we’ve assisted almost 1,000 travelers with domestic and international travels…along with a few curated international group trips to Indonesia, South Africa, Greece, United Arab Emirates, Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Surprisingly, the road has been pretty smooth from all of my transitions through career changes, city moves and the craziness of commuting across the country.
If I had to say anything is a struggle, it would be communicating and being available for my travel clients, while being a full-time Flight Attendant with a non-traditional schedule.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Flight Attendant Life…where do I begin?!? I live in Houston, Texas, but based in Las Vegas, Nevada; what a commute to work right?? lol I’ve been in the aviation industry for almost seven years and love every minute of it. It does get tiring, but seeing the smiles on my passengers faces when they board and deplane, makes me happy. You never know why they are traveling, but when you give 110% to your job and go the extra mile for them and in return you get a thank you for assisting me with getting to a family members funeral service or a Grandparent excited to go see their grandchild, it reminds you why you do what you do. A lot has changed since COVID in 2020 with passenger attitudes, but those smiling and very appreciative of you and your job makes it all worth it!
I think what I am most proud of is my positive attitude and willingness to adapt to any situation I’m faced with. I’ve lived in a few different states and overseas, each time I have made the necessary adjustments and have made life-long friendships in each place. When you have an attitude that everything will be alright and believe God will do just that for you, you can’t help but live life to the fullest.
What sets me apart from others is my personality, I’m bringing a big smile to every room I walk in! I’ve been blessed with a heart of compassion, determination and love…that has made me into the woman I am today. I have incredible people in my life that support everything I do because of my genuine spirit!!
How do you think about happiness?
Traveling, trying new restaurants, spending time with my family and close friends. I’m all about making memories that last a lifetime. I absolutely love taking people out of their comfort zone. Why does that make me feel so good? It’s something about seeing the excitement on their face when they’ve completed a task or adventure that they thought they couldn’t do. Life is about living and experiencing new things…if you’re doing the same thing over and over or not doing anything at all, how do you know what life/the world has to offer?!?!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.royalwanderlust.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalwanderlust
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalwanderlust
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/urtravelingdiva
Image Credits
Professional Photographs: M Photography – FB page: TheMBrandPhotography
Professional Makeup Artist: Sabrina Cross – IG page: @SabrenaCross of Cross & Co. Creative Studio
