In Your Face

She’s sexy! She’s cute! She’s popular to boot! And yes, describing Kiana Foster merits that many exclamation points.

Kiana’s presence on campus and in the class of 2002 is about as obvious as the nose on your face, and that’s just the way she likes it. “I definitely want people to know when I’m at a party,” she says, giggling between her sentences, “I’m just kind of, like, out there!” And judging from the bright gold shirt, big gold dangly earrings, and the two high ponies sprouting from the top of her head, Kiana isn’t somebody who goes unnoticed.

Her resplendent smile widens as she launches into cuddly stories about her boyfriend and recounts goofy memories of dance parties, late nights, and memorizing ‘N Sync choreography with her group of “ridiculous, loud” girls. “I’m sad to be graduating” she says with a puppy-pout expression, “I feel like there are so many things I haven’t done yet.”

But actually, there are few things she hasn’t done at Harvard. Whether she’s pumping up the fans at a football game as the Crimson’s Head Cheerleader, or winning over prospective freshman and parents on one of her peppy Crimson Key Tours, Kiana is Harvard’s number one fan and is quick to sing Harvard’s praises, or, shout them, actually. “I like to make people excited about things,” she says making fast fluttery motions with her hands, her fingers expressing her excitement for all that she does as much as her boisterous voice and ear-to-ear smile. And Kiana fits the cheerleader stereotype, right down to her hunky football star boyfriend.

“I’m very serious about this boyfriend, which is a first for me,” Kiana admits, “I’m totally smitten by him.” But she’s quick to add that she’s “the most flirtatious girl ever.” Pausing as she realizes that she’s just revealed intimate details about her life, Kiana gets a look of brazen confidence on her face. “I have secret desires to be a stripper!” she squeals, and then breaks into hysterics at the idea. “But I could never really do it.” And it’s true. Although she doesn’t deny an intense craving to be the center of attention, she knows that at heart she’s a Daddy’s girl.

“I am the love of my Mommy and Daddy’s life,” she says, noting her parents’ utter pride in the fact that their only child is graduating from Harvard. “I’m the first person in my family to graduate from college. I’m gonna be one of those people with eighty people at graduation.” And they’ll be cheering her on the entire way.