Your Access Is an Asset

Kahlana Barfield Brown (00:04) Yeah, so I'm from Seattle, Washington, and then I left Seattle to move to DC to go to Howard University. And that transition within itself was just life changing because obviously Seattle is, there are many of us in Seattle. I I never, didn't grow up feeling so much like a minority in Seattle because I grew up in the inner city and there were a lot, where I grew up, it was black.

It wasn't until I left Seattle and got to DC where I was like, you know, this is black and, you know, saw people who look like me and just was so inspired. you know, Howard was a whole, you know, just a vibe on its own. I learned so much about myself, but I was really able to just express myself. And I majored in journalism. I'd always had a love for writing, but I also had a really strong love for fashion. And so I

I am minor in fashion merchandising, did my four years and after I graduated from Howard, moved to New York to intern ⁓ for Essence Magazine. And, you know, all my friends, probably you, like everybody left Howard walking into, you know, a paying, great paying salary job. And I left walking into a six dollars an hour paying internship. And, you know, that was what I had to do to get my foot in the door.

the fashion industry is very competitive and even more competitive for ⁓ a young Black girl trying to get her foot in the door. So I knew that I had to do what I had to do to get myself in. And I knew that one thing that I could do is outwork anybody. So I was just like, just give me an opportunity, just get my foot in the door, then I'll finagle this after I get in the door. And so that's literally what happened. I moved to New York.

I was sleeping on my line sister's couch because I was only making $6 an hour. ⁓ it was, you know, that I look back and I'm like, I was so broke, but I wouldn't trade that for the world. I think that that grit and that grind is what gave me really the juice to do what I do now. And really just, it puts so much into perspective, just the hard work that I took to

kind of rise over the years throughout my career. But, you know, those early years of just hustle and grind, waking up at five o'clock in the morning, being the first person to get into the office, being the last person to leave. Then I worked a part-time job on the weekends in retail because I needed to be able to have money to buy clothes to look the part, you know, in the office. So it was just a constant grind. And I think another thing we talked about this, you know,

I'm a Delta, Alpha Chapter Delta, and I think my experience of pledging at Howard really helped to prepare me. was like a preliminary course to my career because one thing that you had to do at Howard, obviously Greek life at Howard is super competitive. I think my rush had, I don't know, probably a thousand people at rush or board.

I think that being a Howard, you had to learn how to speak up. If you wanted to be noticed, there were so many people that wanted to be a part of these organizations and you had to be fearless in that even when it's uncomfortable to go speak to somebody that you don't know, you had to have the confidence to do it. And I think that that helped me in my career where I walked into these offices. I'm the only black girl, one of the only black girls in...

I see a fashion director who I'm super intimidated by, so scared of, but I wanna learn from. So I had to have the courage and the confidence to go up and introduce myself and say, hi, I'm Kahlana, I'm new here. If you ever need any help, I'm here. I would love to assist you. That was scary, but I had to do it. You only have one opportunity when you're in these rooms. And so I just took...

all opportunities to make myself known and to put myself out there. But yeah, that's how I started in fashion and I kind of started as an intern and continued to just kind of grow and rise ⁓ every year.

Exactly. But that was me too, because I, for a long time, you know, I majored in journalism, but it took me a while to kind of figure out the fashion piece of it. Because for a while, I just felt like, A, I didn't see anyone who looked like me really in the fashion industry. So I didn't even know that this was a possibility. But B, I just was like, OK, fashion, is that smart enough? You know, do I do I look dumb, you know, working in the fashion industry?

And ultimately it was the support of my family and my mother who was like, if this is what you want to do, baby, do it, you know, and do it to the best of your ability. And so I initially really wanted to go into design and I was like, now that's risky. So I kind of really shifted it and was like, let me figure out a way where it feels more safe for me, where I felt like, okay, if I get a degree in journalism.

I can concentrate in fashion, but if that doesn't work out, I can use that degree another way. So that's the way I kind of, you know, worked it. But I was nervous to work in fashion because I thought about perception and I had to kind of figure it out, figure out a way that worked for me.

It really came from my grandmother. I grew up with the flyest grandmother. Our time together, our weekends together was her picking us up, me and my sisters, taking us to Nordstrom, letting us pick out one thing, taking us to the Ebony Fashion Fair when it came to Seattle, her weekly nail appointment. So I was around a Black woman who was not only a leader within Seattle, a Delta, Jack and Jill. ⁓

principal in the Seattle Public School District, but a woman who was not only a leader within the community, but like always looked the part. You know, she was very big on the way she expressed herself with her personal style and just always putting her best foot forward. And so I had that example my whole career, my whole life. ⁓ And she was somebody that always wanted me to embrace my personal style. So.

When we went shopping, didn't pick out clothes for me. I always was kind of drawn to what I liked and she supported that. And so I just, I feel like even in high school growing, like I always looked different. I never wanted to dress like anybody else. I had super long nails. Like I would wear like this dark lipstick. Like I just had my own personal style. And fashion was a form of self-expression for me and I always enjoyed it.

Then when I got to Howard, you get there and you see all these fly Black girls, right? And it's like you have the girls from Chicago that, you know, put that on and then the girls from New York and the girls from LA. And so when I got to Howard, when it was when I was like, my gosh, like, I am so inspired, like I see so many young girls who look like me, Black women, you know, and I would say Howard really sealed the deal for me because

walking like every day, you wouldn't just throw on clothes. Like you got dressed for the yard. And so that was really for me at our HBCU. You know, I don't want to say it was a fashion show because schoolwork was very important, but we put our best foot forward. And I think that we all express ourselves through our style, our personal style. So I think fashion, I think the yard at Howard was really when I knew this is what I wanted to do for my career. For sure. Yeah.

Yes.

Yep.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm.

Mm-hmm.

Wow, think, well, when I first got to Essence, I think that is when, when I, my first day on the job, I was like, this is what I wanted to do. Like it was that whole goosebumps factor. Like I was like, I knew that this is, this is where my career is heading. Like being at a magazine and just the creative freedom, you know, it was very much like you walk into. So I never had.

It was corporate, a creative corporate job. So everybody wore what they wanted to wear. Everybody expressed themselves and dressed the way they feel comfortable. It's shiny, glossy, just creatives walking around, bouncing ideas off of each other. I just love the energy, right? And then it was like, okay, now it's time for me to, once I got there, I was like, I want to do everything I can to...

to make myself stand out. So I was just that intern that like would get there early, would stay late, was not above anything. What do you want me to do? Do you want me to go pick up your laundry? Yes. What time and where am I dropping this off? Like I was that girl. And I think the first time that I was actually called into a meeting with editors to get my perspective or my opinion on something. And I had to actually contribute to an idea around people who inspire me and who are

the senior level executives, that was the first time that I was like, wow, I'm here, you know, and I'm not leaving and I want to stay. And so I'm going to do everything I can to have a seat at this table. Yep.

I think it was just going above and beyond. It was literally that. was like, this is a job description. How can I do more than this job description? So funny story, how I really got my actual full-time job beyond interning, because I bounced around as an intern. I was at Essence, and then I left Essence and went to InStyle. And that was...

for so those two internships lasted a full year after I had my bachelor's degree after graduating from Howard and I was making literally pennies. ⁓ And then I was kind of when I got to InStyle, I was a general intern. So I didn't I wasn't in the fashion department. wasn't in the beauty department. wasn't in the arts department. I floated between all of the different departments whenever I was needed. So one day I would be in, you know, entertainment department. That's like music. The editors that write about

albums and the next day I would be in the home department, the editors that write about candles and couches and everything that is in a home. And I would next day be in the beauty department. So that's all the makeup. And so I would bounce around and the beauty assistant who assisted the beauty director, she went on vacation and she went on vacation for two weeks. And so I always tell people that are young and starting off, you know, in their career and their jobs, I'm like,

never go on vacation for two weeks. You're too young. This is too early in your career. Like you don't give your seat up that that that easily. And so that's exactly what happened. So she went on vacation for two weeks and I filled in as her boss's assistant. I filled in as in her job. And I was like, I'm just going to do everything I can to make this woman know that she needs me to be her assistant and she needs to fire the girl who went on vacation for two weeks. And that's literally what happened. So she would

get to the office, would get there, you know, our work day started at 10 a.m. I would get there at 8 a.m. I would have water on her on her desk. would whatever it was that I could do to show her that I could change her life as her an assistant. That's what I did. And she was just like, wow, like she I didn't know that she was, you know, picking up what I was putting down. But I, you know, I just was doing everything that I possibly could. And my internship ended.

Maybe a month later and I moved back to Seattle actually and I was going to start in the buying program at Seattle. Seattle Northstrom is I mean at Northstrom Northstrom is based in Seattle. So I was going back to Seattle to get a job ⁓ to start a job at Northstrom and she called me right before I started my job. I hadn't even been gone for a week and she called me and she was like, this is Amy Synnott from InStyle.

you know, would you ever be interested in coming back to New York to be my assistant? It's like, absolutely. And they flew me back and that's how I started my job. But she got rid of her assistant to hire me. And that was just for me going above and beyond the job description and doing the things that nobody else would do, really.

I never even wanted to move back to Seattle. Like for real, for real, I was not trying to leave New York. It just got to a point where it was like, I need to make money. ⁓ And so I was, you know, I was going to take that job, but I always wanted to be in New York. So it was a no brainer and it was so competitive to get in the magazine industry to like actually lock down a full-time job. And so, you know,

We looked at those opportunities like a once in a lifetime opportunity. So it was a no brainer. was, my bags were packed before my flight was booked. So, you know, I was just happy to get back to New York and then it was like, okay, I'm ready to rock and roll. Now let's start. You know, that was really the beginning of my career as a fashion and beauty editor. Yeah.

For sure, for sure. Yeah. And I feel like I got that from Howard, where it was kind of like, I learned at Howard, I wanted to be the biggest in whatever my career path was. was like, I wanna work in fashion, then you gotta move to New York. There's no option. Don't move back to Seattle to try to get a job in fashion.

living in Seattle, move to New York so that you can be the biggest and you can have the most possibilities. So, you know, New York was always the plan for me. I had just kind of exhausted my internships and I was like, okay, I have my degree. My mom spent all this money on me to go to college. Like I need a job. And so I was kind of settling by taking that job, but you know, it all worked out.

You know, I wish I could say like so many people tuning into this probably always have had a vision and just the foresight like I want to own my own business. I wish I could say that, but this really fell into my lap. You know, I come from a very traditional family. My grandfather would always tell me, don't you leave that good job. You know, he would talk so much about stability. And so in my magazine editor job, it was such a coveted job that like

I didn't really see myself leaving. I just saw myself continuing to grow and rise up the ranks, maybe one day being an editor-in-chief and retiring in the magazine industry. Because it really was a job for anyone who's seen the Devil Wears Prada. That was really my life. But as a Black girl, being in this space where there aren't many of us, but it is very luxurious, flying to Paris.

twice a year for Fashion Week, traveling with brands everywhere. And so it was just, it was very luxurious and fly, you know? So I always loved my job and really didn't see myself stepping away from my career in the magazine industry. But I would say, let's see, maybe 2014-ish things just started to change because social media became a thing.

At that time, there were so obviously, you know, I'm an editor, so editors really dictate the trends in fashion and beauty. And so when social media really came around, things started to change because now you have, at this time, they were called bloggers, now influencers, but bloggers really just started to create content and it started to get a buzz. And I remember as editors, we didn't take...

bloggers seriously at all because for us, we're like, you know, we're journalists. We have degrees. Like we work with these brands. We're front row at these fashion shows. We meet with we're in the labs with the skincare companies. So we kind of like, I'm not going to lie. Like we kind of laughed at bloggers. We didn't take them seriously at all. But shortly after things started to change and it was like, you know, we're at Fashion Week and

now these bloggers are being invited to the fashion shows, you know? And I was like, hmm, okay. And then it was like, wait, they're sitting on the same row as us now. And then it was like, wait, okay, wait, now they're influencers and they're sitting in front of us. You know, so it was like, for me, it was like a light bulb moment where it was like, okay, I have been doing this for years. I have the relationships, I have the knowledge. This is what I do. I would be a fool not to pivot.

and brand myself and to take up space in this. also have all the access. I'm going to the shows. I'm getting sent every single product for free on the market. I am meeting with all the designers. This is content that I could be creating and access that no one else has, especially from a Black girl perspective. I worked for a mainstream magazine where Black women weren't, I didn't work at Essence. I worked at InStyle, which

I loved being a Black editor there and to be able to write stories for us, right? But at the end of the day, I am a Black girl in a very white space and I have the access to be able to create content to show and bring people into my world and show people what this is like, right? What is it like to sit front row at this fashion show? What is it like to go into a lab with La Mer to see how they make

this special magical face cream, you know? And also to talk about the products that really work for us. That was a big part of kind of building my content. I had everything right in front of me, so all I had to do was take advantage of it. But in my industry, it was really about discretion. Editors did not take pictures of themselves. We're on set with Beyoncé at a cover photo shoot.

we wouldn't dare pull out our camera and ask for a photo. It's like, I want her to respect me as an editor, as a journalist. I'm not a fan, really. You know, I'm a fan, but I'm not a fan in that way. You know, in this, we looked at each other as, you know, equals in terms of our careers and just like, okay, I'm a journalist for this magazine. You are artists. You're on our cover. We're doing work together, but I'm not pulling out a camera to make you uncomfortable or to even, you know, make myself look like a fan. So.

that was unheard of to be creating content as an editor, right? I had to take that risk. I had to put myself out there no matter what other editors looked at thought about me. There were two other editors in the industry that kind of started to brand themselves and create content. So they kind of gave me the confidence that I could do it. But when I tell you, it was very uncomfortable because...

I would be at an event and I had to pull out my phone, you know, and everybody's looking at me like, why do you have your phone out? But they also knew why I had my phone out. They just didn't really have the courage to do it themselves because I think that that was the part no one wanted to look like they were trying, right? And they also didn't want to start, you know, it's like no one wants to just start from the bottom. And then it's like, you're exposed that you're trying.

And I had to have the courage in myself to do that. And I just saw that because of my access, there was so much opportunity. And once I started, it just started to pick up and pick up and pick up. that's kind of what got me here truly.

Absolutely. Even, you know, even my husband, like, you know, he did, he didn't want to take the pictures, like, you know, but I was like, this is going to work. Trust me. You know, I knew it was going to work. knew. And then I had my line sisters and just friends were like, bring me in. What did you wear to work today? I just want to see, like, we want to see, like people who told me they're like, we want to see this. And I'm like, really? Because for the, in the beginning, I was like, you know, I don't need to

what my life is, because I'm living my life and I know what my life is, right? But they're like, no, it's not about proving. We want to see it, bring us in. So once I just kind of got past the, you know, not the fear of just really posting and people not really wanting to see what I was posting about, once I got fear of just like that and I got past that, the sky was really the limit. And I think to access

I will say is being one of the only Black women in this space and having access to celebrities. There was so much support from Rihanna and Black women who I shot for our covers for the magazine. And they show up at a shoot and they see me and we just click off of.

just being black women and so their support, like they wanted to elevate me. They wanted to align and they wanted to support whatever I was doing. I made so many friends who supported me in that space. So sometimes it really is just about putting yourself out there and just kind of getting past that fear of putting yourself out there and just believing in yourself. Like I knew it was gonna work. I was just like, there's no one else.

my perspective is so different than what else is out here. And even just when I kind of started, because obviously I was this editor, so I grew my social, but then we can get into this later, but then it became, I kind of became a business within my role, my corporate job, where brands were reaching out to me for partnerships, but I still was an editor, you know? So it was just kind of like,

Even my content for a brand was different than working with an influencer because I am an editor and I do have the credibility to speak on these products with the right integrity and the knowledge about these products. So they saw me different than they saw an influencer. They saw me as an editor who created content. And so that worked in my favor

Yeah, I mean, I will say that for me, you know, I had to get comfortable with just like the pivot, right? So I had to kind of get out of my own head because I was exactly you. Like I was just like, I am very private. don't, you know, I don't really want to bring people into my life. And I am still very private. Like I put out what I want to put out, but I am not.

I don't have cameras in my house following my kids. know, my husband, like, it's not that type of party. Yeah, no, that's not happening. So, you know, for me, it was just kind of like, this is what the world is now, you know? So whether or not, you know, this seems like the most comfortable for you, I think it's like you have to do it, you know? And the longer you wait, it's like the more advanced it gets and the more you're kind of getting left behind.

you know, just figure out what feels comfortable for you. That's what I did. Like I didn't look at what everybody else was doing. I created what I wanted my social media to feel like, and I wanted it to feel authentic to me. So I think the starting point is to be like, okay, this is what I feel. If I'm gonna do this, this is the way I need to do it to make it comfortable for me. Instead of...

looking and seeing what everybody else is doing because once you try to do that, that's when it's going to be uncomfortable because it's like, okay, well, I don't want to do outfit of the day every day and I don't want to do that. That's not who I am. Don't do that. Like figure out a formula that a you can be consistent with and that B you feel comfortable with, but you do need to do it. You know, I think it's very important for personal branding. Like you said, it's not that piece of paper anymore. Your resume, if somebody's, if I'm a

looking for an assistant, my first thing is, okay, what is their name? And I'm going straight to their Instagram, to their TikTok, to their LinkedIn. I am not, you don't even need to send me a hard copy of a resume because, you know, that's, I can look on social media and kind of get and find out all that I need to know. ⁓ So, you know, I think it's just kind of like, get out of your head and figure out what feels comfortable to you. You know, it might just be, you know, it might be like, I don't feel comfortable speaking on camera.

you know, and don't figure out a way not to do that. But I think it's just like figuring out your formula and sticking with it. And for me, that was, you know, kind of differentiating what I did from what everybody else did. And so that I had something that my agent could say, this is what she does. This is what makes her different from her and from everyone else. And that worked for me.

I think that it's just, you you just have to start and I will tell you that looking at an influencer with 350,000 followers, million followers, you know, versus a micro influencer, someone with 10,000 followers, sometimes that influencer with 10,000 followers has more impact. And I can tell you that now as a business owner who works with influencers, who sends product to influencers,

The return on investment oftentimes comes with those smaller influencers, you know, because I think that the community is just more close knit. You know, a lot of times when you grow so big, it's like people follow you, but they're just scrolling. They want to see what you're doing, but they're not really engaged in what you're doing. But when you're kind of like the little man, little engine that could, a lot of times it feels more authentic because a lot of times it is more authentic. You're not being paid to say something. You're really just posturing.

posting what you're passionate about. And I think your community just rides a little bit harder. So I would say like, don't look at the numbers, you know? And now you can highlight counts, you can do all these things. I would just say like, put your stuff out there. Put your stuff out there. It's not gonna hurt. No one's gonna be looking at you like, you're trying, like, I think a lot of times we get so much in our own heads when it's like, people aren't even thinking about you like that. You know, just put yourself out there and start.

And don't worry about the followers, don't worry about the likes, just put your content out. For me, it's like quality over quantity too, you know, making sure that what I put out, I feel good about. So if no one sees it, I saw it and I feel good about it, that's all that really matters. And just keep doing that and it will grow and it will begin to start its own life. Like I just remember from starting from the beginning and like,

having no followers and no engagement to just like being consistent and then seeing the consistency pay off after over time and just like not consuming my over consuming myself with it just kind of doing it and so I would encourage everybody to just start and to make sure what you're putting out there is authentically you and you feel good about it and just releasing it and moving on.

in

Yes.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Yeah, for me, think the quality part for me comes from just like my magazine editor background. So, you know, I am a magazine editor, so everything had to look and feel a certain way for me. And I almost looked at my IG as my own personal magazine. It's like, yes, I work for this magazine, but if, you know, I work for a magazine, but if I were to have my own magazine, my Instagram is what that looks like. So.

for me, the beginning was investing in a camera, you know, and just like having a good quality camera so that my pictures aren't blurry. ⁓ and you know, now iPhones, the camera technologies is so great. You can use iPhone and sometimes iPhone pictures are getting even better engagement because they are more real than, ⁓ you know, overly, you know, glossy photo, but I invested in a camera and then, you know, I just.

I, when I posted, just made sure whatever I was posting, like really kind of circle back to whatever I was, whatever I, whatever I was super passionate about and whatever I was like, for me, if there's a common thread in my Instagram and just my work in general, like I'm very, very, very black. You know, like I show my authentic self, you know, I felt like in my corporate job, I was

always a black woman, but like my Instagram, it was just like, okay, I can play the music that I want to play. Like I just, you know, and I knew that like it will resonate with the people that follow me. You know, I talked about the things that I'm passionate about. I talk a lot about HBCUs. I talk a lot about young black girls. I talk a lot about just the things that mean something to me, but I'm also like showing my clothes and showing my style and my personal style and how it's uniquely different from anybody else's. So, you know,

I just had to figure out the content that mattered to me and that felt real and not performative. Like I'm doing this just because everybody else is doing it and this is how they're going viral. I never looked at it from that perspective. And sometimes like the quality part would be the part that like.

help me back because I wasn't putting anything out there if I didn't feel good about it. So it would be like, okay, I haven't been able to be consistent for two weeks because I don't have nothing that is worthy to post. So I just too, I really feel like if you're posting, make sure it's like you have something to actually say or something that, don't just post just to be posting. So I had to really sit down and then.

And then eventually I grew to the point where I needed help, you know, and I hired an assistant. I hired someone who could help me with that content and that investment like paid off, you know, but it just over time, you know, just take baby steps. But I would say the quality, not only content, but just even just like the, the meaning and the purpose behind what you're posting, like that will help.

you stand out and that will also help you feel good about what you're doing. So you don't, it doesn't feel like a chore because what you're posting about is meaningful to you.

So for me, was definitely that was it was definitely a thing because at the time editors, you know, we weren't we I don't want to say we weren't supposed to be on social media, but they kind of like didn't they didn't encourage us to grow our own personal brand at that time. Now, I think that they actually would love for you to have your own personal brand. But I was, you know, in the beginning, it is always different when you start. So, you know, it was there were a lot of

people, was like I was celebrated because brands were coming to, you know, to the magazine and wanting to work with me specifically. But at the same time, I think that there was a lot of resentment from some of my coworkers. Like, I don't think everybody was like happy. I think some people were just like, really, like just, they felt like they were kind of getting left behind. They were like, you know, they wanted to tap into it, but they didn't know how to. And so I felt that.

energy I did for sure. But they didn't have a say. did have to, when I very first started, I will run any opportunity past my boss. This opportunity, this opportunity, and she was really cool. And it got to a point where I knew that I had to make a decision where it was like, I'm not going to be able to stay in this job for too much longer and basically be running my own company on the side. Like I knew. And I knew

that if I had to pick one, as much as I love magazines, I was making so much more money on my personal projects and partnerships than I was in my job. Like, truly, I was. And so I knew that, like, I just was going to have to take a chance and bet on myself. And so that's exactly what I did. And to be honest, when I decided, when I made the choice, I was like, OK, I can't hold onto this job and do this.

and I knew that I had to leave when I made that choice. That is when everything went up. Like once I fully put my all into it and was like, this is what I'm doing. That's when everything, all the gloves came off. That's when everything started to, you know, really pop off for me because when I was in the job, there was only so much I could do. But once I started to, I was like, this is what I really want to do. And this is what I'm going to do. ⁓ I was able to put.

all of my attention in it. was able to get a full team. Opportunities were coming left and right. And that's when it all really began.

Yes!

Yep.

It did.

Yeah. Right. Like what I thought is what gave me fear to leave? thought, know, my Kahlana, you know, that signature in my email, I could pretty much get anything. Sending an email from my InStyle account, no matter if it's a hotel, whoever I'm reaching out to, could get a yes. I could get access to. And my fear was when I don't have this, will people respond to me?

Will people answer the phone when I call? That was like my biggest fear because I gave that, honestly, that title was a big part of my identity. Now I look back and I'm like, don't ever let this job be your identity. But it was, if I'm being honest, I would lead with that Kahlana from InStyle Magazine. That was my elevator pitch. ⁓ And what I realized when I left, those relationships that I built,

over that decade that I was at that magazine, those don't just go away. They really don't. And I had to give myself more credit. I had learned that I needed to give myself more credit in what I did in my role, who I was, the way I treated people. I sent emails right after I left and everybody responded. It did not go away. So it really...

you know, was a lesson for me in believing in myself and who I am and not letting a title make you, you know? So it definitely was, you know, a learning ⁓ opportunity for me to learn that, you know, you're going to be okay. Like you're going to be even more than okay when you walk away. You just have to have the courage to do it.

Mm-hmm.

Two years. It was two years. Yeah, like two years. I think it was two years into from like kind of when I start like open my IG to leaving. Maybe two, maybe three years. But in the beginning, wasn't like, I wasn't like fully into it. I was just kind of doing it. But like, I would say the last two years I was really into it. And probably the only one year of me kind of.

truly kind of doing like brand partnerships while I was in my role before I left.

think for one, I'm like truly representing myself and I did invest in an agent too. So that was like another thing. So I had help. wasn't like I was just, you know, out here by myself, but I had an agent.

Yes.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, for me, so I, you know, to be completely honest, I realize that, so I'm in the beauty space, right? I'm a beauty editor. I'm working with all these beauty brands and I'm seeing all these beauty influencers and I'm seeing they're on, they're on trips, they're doing all of these things and, you know, and they're getting paid. And I have a lot of friends who were,

know, publicists within these beauty companies that were telling me what these influencers were getting paid. And friends who were telling me like, you need to do this. Like it was a lot of friends saying, you need to do this. You, there is space, there's opportunity and there's enough money for everybody. You need to do this. And I'm going to connect you with this agent who is getting all these people these deals. And so that was kind of what happened was like, okay, well, I'm going to work with, I'm going to work with an agent who I actually, who has a track record of like,

access to these brands and these partnership deals. So we met while I was at InStyle, maybe my last year before, she was really one of the reasons why I left, but I signed her a year before I left and she showed me what she could do. And for me, I didn't come from a business background. So I'm not really the most comfortable talking about money, definitely not negotiating deals.

I don't wanna pitch myself. I don't want to do any of that. I want to be the creative. I need somebody to do all that. Take me out of the conversation when it comes to budget and negotiation. None of that was like, for me, I wasn't comfortable with doing any of that. So I knew that I needed somebody to represent me to handle that for me. So for me, that was the value of having an agent. Not only having someone bring work,

in for me, but also somebody that understood what I'm like, who I was and why I was different from who else, everyone else who was out there and someone who had access in relationships to know, you know, where the checks are. Yeah.

Yes.

Yes.

Yeah, so for me, ⁓ I had grew a significant social media audience when I first started to have the conversations with agents. I wasn't where I am now, but as an editor, it was a pretty significant audience. so I took the meeting and I was very different from a lot of the... So my agent, she reps...

a lot of influencers and I was her, she took a chance on me too because I was an editor. did not, you I wasn't creating content and I still don't consider myself an influencer. I still consider myself an editor who makes content, you know, and consults and does all the things with brands. But, you know, I was very different from, from her, for her too. And so she was taking a chance on me as well. But what she looked for was just kind of like what made me different from

I think her roster, you know? And so me being an editor, me having the credibility, like all of that helps. So I think it's kind of like just knowing, you know, what makes you special and what makes you different from what's out here. And that was really kind of what I think got me the first meeting and I kind of went from there. But I think it...

for me, the investment was great because, here's the other thing, like your agent doesn't make money unless you make money. So they're getting a, you know, a percentage of your, of your, of your fee. But it's, you know, if you don't, if you're not, if you're not working, they're not working, they're not getting, you know, a check either. So it was kind of a no brainer for me. Some people are like, I don't want to give somebody this piece of, know, but for me, I was like, I don't want to do that myself. I need somebody who has access and can help to, to,

to help build my brand and help put me out there and tell me what opportunities are out there represent me. And so I have a agent and then later I got a manager too. And the manager is more strategy to how to build your brand. Your agent is really negotiating the deals. Your manager is helping with your branding and your strategy. And then I have an attorney who, you know, protects me

So honestly, what happened for me, I, as an editor, I had already left, but I was still doing a lot of kind of panels and consulting with brands. And I, it was, I think it may have been Black History Month in 2020. I went to speak on a panel. It was a mix of editors and influencers in Minneapolis at Target's headquarters.

and kind of just talked about literally what we're talking about, you know, all the questions of kind of building a brand and just the, you know, social media space. And I met the Target team at that meeting. And afterward I met, you know, a woman and she was like, would you ever want to work with Target in the future? And I was like, of course. And she was like, okay. And I didn't think anything of it. Fast forward months later, she called me.

for an opportunity and this was to be their first design partner for this new brand that they were starting called Future Collective. And it was just a much more fashion forward, young, ⁓ trendy line of clothing that was owned by Target, but they were partnering with different content creators, influencers, editors for various collections. And they wanted me to launch the brand.

So this was huge because especially at this time, people had lived for Target collections. They would do different collections with different designers, but this was great because it really was much more fashion, much more fashiony than the selections that they had in the past. And I got to do it under my vision. And so that really was kind of the start of where I am today. I did this.

collection with Target, took off, black women supported me. Like it was beyond and I have four collections, they sold out and it was huge. And so once that happened, that also gave me the confidence to see like, wow, if I could do this for Target, what would it look like if I did this for myself? And that was the beginning of me building my own personal clothing line.

Yeah. ⁓

Mm-hmm.

⁓

Literally right after so it ended in 20 so we started launching 2022 in 2023 I was ready to rock and roll because they had approached me about doing it doing it again and My mentor like I knew I was like, okay I could do this again and I have a mentor who was like nope ownership

You know, she's like, the next thing you do, you need to own your brand. You know, you can continue to collaborate and collaborate and collaborate. But after a while, it's like, you know, you need to be collaborating for yourself. And so she was like, I don't think you do it. I think you, you know, I think you start your own brand. And so that was so this was literally right after because they had approached me about doing another collection. And I was like, you know what? I think I really want to do my own thing. And.

Not only, mean, the ownership part was huge, but it was also like Future Collective was still a Target-owned brand. So I was under constraints. You know, there was only so much I could do within their parameters. I did the best that I could do, but was it my best? No. Was it the possibility of what I wanted for my own brand? No. It was the commercial version of what I could do, you know, ⁓ with their, you know, using their fabrics, using their...

materials, like just staying within all of their size, sizing scale, like their fit. Everything was very target, but like kind of with my stamp on it. And so I knew that the next thing I wanted to do, wanted it to be authentically me. And so, you know, that was when I was just like, I'm going to do it.

Bye.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's definitely not. It's definitely not. And it looks like it is, but it really isn't because, you know, collaborating, it's like, you know, that was that was, you know, they I got my certain rate for that. And that was it. You know, everything else they paid for, they funded with being an owner. You fund everything, you know, you fund everything yourself. And yes, I have a purchase order and, you know,

my retailer buys into my product, I have to, if something comes up, I'm not calling my retailer, I have to put out fires, I have to fund everything. so that is a big difference, just like you are now responsible for every single thing and you have to be able to make quick decisions and things may be great one day and then the next day you're putting out a fire.

It is really, you know, it's really, really, really a lot, but it is also rewarding, rewarding to do it myself and for it to be mine and not me working for somebody else and, you know, somebody building up somebody else's legacy and not my own, you know, and having something that I can hand down to my children that I own. That was really important for me, but it is it is not easy. It is not for the weak.

Yeah, I mean, I think that, you know, ownership is amazing, but I also don't necessarily think it's for everyone. You know, I think it's like you have to really, I don't think you should just start something just to start it. You know, I think it's like find something that if you want ownership, find something that you're super passionate about because I think when you're just doing it just to do it, like it shows. But when you're doing it for a reason and for the love of something like that shows too. So.

For me, owning this clothing brand means so much to me. It's very authentic to who I am. It's very authentic to my style. And I also, you know, I saw a gap, you know, in the industry, in the fashion industry, where there weren't many options for high quality, really nice quality clothing at an attainable price point. ⁓ And that...

has a really inclusive sizing scale. I came in fashion where if you want a piece of clothing, if you're plus size, there's only so many stores that you can shop at and a lot of times those pieces aren't the most fashion forward. I wanted to change that. So I would say find something. you really want to own something, find something that is going to make things easier for people. And that's what I did with this brand.

But I think that I've learned so much about just kind of like, I've learned so much about business and I'm still learning, you know? And so I think it's like having that open mindset of being like, you're not gonna get everything right. And every day you're gonna learn something and every day is gonna be a challenge and you're gonna, you know, learn things and things are gonna be great one day and just know that it's a roller coaster. But the end result is super, super, super rewarding. Just having, having.

something to pass down, because I care a lot about my legacy. So for me, I would say, if this is something that you want to do and you want to step into ownership, do it. But find something that you're really passionate about, something that's going to help people and change the game, not something that's already overly done. And then just go for it. You never know until you put

put yourself out there until you try. Like for me, I could have had this idea in my head and just kept it in my head and waited for a time that felt safe and like no time is gonna be safe. Every time, there's no right time for anything. You just have to do. And so, you know, that's what I did with this. And that's what I would encourage everybody to do with your personal brand, social media, just do it, you know, and see what happens and then go from there.