BHM Spotlight: Alicia Quarles

Photo: streetgazing

February is the special month in which we honor and celebrate African-Americans, past and present, for all their accomplishments in a variety of fields: music, television, film, fashion, business and so much more. Here at Glambergirlblog we want to do things a little bit different. Everyday throughout this month we will spotlight some of the glamberous African-Americans in the entertainment industry.

I’m two days away from wrapping up Black History Month Spotlight so I have to include another amazing talent directly in line with my field of interest, journalism. You may know Alicia Quarles from E! News as the New York City correspondent but what you don’t know is how much this award-winning journalist has accomplished by the age of 30!

Alicia grew up around the news field because her father is a newspaper publisher and President. Being use to the fast-paced and traveling lifestyle her father lived; she knew from a very young age she wanted to have the same one. Upon graduating from the University of Southern California, Alicia landed a job with the Associated Press, AP, as a producer and eventually worked her way up to such prestigious titles as head of the East Coast TV entertainment operations, the North American Video Editor and lastly, the Global Entertainment and Lifestyles Editor. Her nine years at AP were filled with overseeing editing operations, managing 75 people, editing video and print copy, painting her own walls in her office, covering the Oscars, Grammy’s, breaking news and even President Obama’s historical first inauguration.

Although all good things must come to an end, in Alicia’s case her good turned to greater. She left AP to expand her career at her dream job, and mines too, E! News. She landed a position as the New York correspondent and is busy as ever but still maintains a balance in her professional and personal life. So what are the keys that Alicia found to her success? “Be willing to do anything!!!!!” and good old fashion networking is what worked for her.

I honestly have a new-found respect and love for Alicia after reading this Haute Interview I discovered. And I’m not even a little ashamed to admit I cried. She’s a hard worker, compelling journalist and open to giving back. Simply amazing!

Fun Fact About Alicia Quarles: She knew she wanted to be a journalist since the 5th grade. She use to run home on Friday nights to watch 20/20.