Being married into a ballooning family and having a genuine interest in the rather predominantly male industry, Joyce Wairimu Beckwith broke through all odds into making it into the the first Kenyan female balloon pilot and black licensed female pilot. A hotelier by profession, born and raised in Nairobi, the ever smiling Joyce grew fond of the bush life from her regular visits and drives through the renowned game reserve. Falling in love with sights of the giant balloons floating over the wildlands, Capt. Smiles, as she is well known as, was privileged enough to attend 4 months of schooling at Albuquerque Balloon Flight in the United States where she graduated with flying colors as a commercially licensed pilot. Joyce Beckwith currently flies Hot Air Balloons in the Maasai Mara, something she describes as a passionate personal calling for her.