From Miss FAMU To Music Maverick: K. Michelle Reflects On Her Rattler Roots & HBCU Hustle

Before the world knew her as the powerhouse vocalist with raw lyrics and a reality TV edge, K. Michelle, born Kimberly Michelle Pate,  was a yodeling scholarship student navigating life and finding her voice at Florida A&M University. And according to her, everything she’s achieved since then traces back to her time in Tallahassee.

“I bleed orange and green,” K. Michelle told OffTheYard with heartfelt pride. “I love my school, it means everything to me. It’s where learned who I was. It was my first time away.”

At FAMU, the former Love & Hip-Hop star didn’t just show off her vocal range, she also made an impact She was crowned Miss Florida A&M and proudly became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., joining the prestigious sisterhood known for service, scholarship, and social action.

That legacy came full circle in 2020, when her alma mater recognized her with one of its highest honors: the Distinguished Alumni Award. Held in Baltimore, Maryland, the FAMU National Alumni Association’s annual gala named K. Michelle among just nine honorees whose work has “brought honor to the College.”

“They have carved out a niche in their respective fields, and they have a genuine interest in changing the lives of others,” said FAMU National Alumni Association President Lt. Col. Gregory L. Clark. 

K. Michelle, who called the moment “truly humbling” in a heartfelt social media post, added that FAMU’s impact on her life was both foundational and enduring.

“I’ve been asked to teach a class there,” she shared. “That’s the type of thing that means everything to me.”

The pride she feels for her alma mater runs deep, and so does her family’s commitment to HBCU excellence. Unbeknownst to many her family has strong historically Black ties, so much so that it’s embedded in her DNA.

“My father is a college professor at an HBCU and has been forever. My mother was Miss Lane College, she was a college queen like me, I was Miss FAMU.” Said K. “The HBCU experience is in full effect in my entire family. It’s beyond important.”

Even now, K. Michelle continues to champion that legacy. “My son graduates from college from an HBCU this semester.”

Now she’s continuing in her latest chapter, starring in Jason’s Lyric Live, a theatrical reimagining of the beloved 1994 film. Michelle plays Lyric’s best friend and fans of Jason’s Lyric will recognize Marty’s fiery attitude and sharp-tongued charm.

“Marty has the same type of attitude, feistiness, pizzaz [as before],” said K.”She’s going through a relationship that she should not be in. And I have been there several times before,” she admitted. “Just bringing it to life, rewatching it, and just trying to take Marty to another level has been the goal.”

And yes, no matter where her career strides go next, the lessons she learned at FAMU still echo.

“What would college K. Michelle say to me now?” she mused to OffTheYard. “I would tell her: make sure you find your husband and not your baby,” she laughed. “I would tell her to believe in yourself. Stop second-guessing yourself and stop feeling not good enough for yourself.”

From rocking the crown as Miss FAMU to ruling the charts and now commanding the stage, K. Michelle’s journey is a living testament to how HBCUs mold greatness, and just how deep that Rattler pride runs in those who wear orange and green.