GGBTV Presents: Philly’s Phinest 2013 – The Wrap Up

Photo: Glambergirlblog.com

Well that’s all Glamberous Ones!

Throughout the month of August I gave you exclusive sit downs with some of the prominent young talent from my hometown Philadelphia.

It was great meeting and interviewing all of the participants for this year’s Philly’s Phinest that I may consider doing a second edition next year. Speaking with all the men and women I interviewed got me to thinking about my own journey with Glambergirlblog.com and as promised I’ll share a bit of my story below.

I started my blog back in April 2011. Back then it was a platform I was using as an online portfolio to get a job as an entertainment news reporter. Writing and reporting has been something I loved to do since I can remember. I loved the idea of Hollywood and celebrity; movies and television, it was just my thing. While kids were playing outside I would run in the house because “my show” was on or there was an award show on TV. I knew all the actors and actresses, who was related to who and what other stuff they played in and I’m not even sure how I gained that knowledge but I knew that the world of entertainment and the realm of Hollywood was where I belonged.

Upon graduating from Delaware State University in 2010 I was determined to get to New York. That was the path I knew would take where I wanted to be career wise. Financially I wasn’t able to move when and how I wanted which made me very sad. I was stuck in Philly with a BA in Mass Communication working at a small company as a social media coordinator and I hated it; I needed New York so I applied to grad schools there. I figured my only golden ticket to get to The Big Apple was to get into grad school so I could live off financial aid. I know I don’t need a masters in my field but I was willing to risk the shitload of debt I am now in, in order to live my dream of working in media and living in New York. In November of 2010 I got my acceptance letter to The New School, let my job know I was leaving in January and headed to NY soon after.

My dream of working in media wasn’t as easy as I thought after moving. I knew a few people in NY but I was essentially alone which was a bummer and really didn’t take advantage of living in the city as early as I could have but after starting my blog I started to get a feel of where I wanted to take my career so I applied for an internship with MTV. Luckily I got it and that started my continuing connection to the Viacom brand. I love, love, LOVE working for MTV and I can’t say enough good things about it. I had two internships within the Viacom brand and have been brought on as a production assistant on several projects. Through that I’ve been able to connect with some amazing people who have helped me along my journey and continue to be unofficial mentors when I feel I lost my way.

Being in New York really did wonders for my blog because I was able to cover events like movie premieres, New York Fashion Week, the Tribeca Film Festival and more. Plus I was able to meet some of my favorite celebs like Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Kellan Lutz, Johnny Depp, Amanda Seyfried, Will Smith, The Wanted, and so much more. Although there’s more I could soak out of New York I feel Hollywood is where I need to be right now which is why I made the decision to move to Los Angeles next year.

What I’m saying now is only a fraction of what I’ve been through to get here; that doesn’t include the many rejection letters from colleges, the “nos” from a job I really wanted, the countless tears I shed feeling like a failure and that I wasn’t good enough and the stats on my site being at zero for a month when I first started but I’m still here fighting for my dream because if I won’t who will. I’m going to be an exceptional and successful writer and reporter because I won’t have it no other way.

I’m always amazed at one person that would read my work let alone hundreds so everyday I’m grateful for my audience, my readers and for all of you that take the time to interact with me through social media or on the site. My journey with the site is just getting started and I hope you all remain with me on the trip.

A special thanks to all of Glambergirlblog.com 2013 Philly’s Phinest participants. Be sure to check out and re watch all the interviews in the links below. BONUS: Also check out an outtakes video at the bottom.

Blair Sandlain of PNKElephant Boutique

Kia Denise of From My Style 2 Urs

Garron Gibbs of Concretecakes.com

Carmena Ayo-Davies of 3BG Marketing Solutions

Maryam Sherif of Indique Hair Philadelphia

Nafeesa Bilal of Cravegirl

Melanie White of Melanie Marie Accessories

Koty Ducketts of OlSkoolCustomFrames

Bones of Hustler Records

Syreeta Martin of SincerelySyreeta.com

Mah Jing Wong of Mah Jing Wong Clothing Brand

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