The Spotlight – Page 2 – The Double Scoop

Cassia “Jonesie” Jones

Can you imagine being dumped by your live-in boyfriend of two years over text messages shortly after buying a wedding dress!? Well that’s what happened to actress, writer, and producer Cassia Jones. Instead of crying about the situation Cassia wrote about it which led to the creation of her blog and web series called “To Live & Date in LA,” which chronicles the dating life of a young woman in her early 30s.

I came across Cassia’s Instagram page a few months ago and I was instantly drawn to her vibrate personality. As an aspiring filmmaker and screenwriter I wanted to learn more about her career and the challenges she faces in the entertainment industry. In our interview Cassia discusses the difficulties of being a black actress and writer, her web series, and being single and dating in her 30s. She also gives advice to aspiring actors and writers.

Check out the interview below:

Amy Nicole: How long have you been acting professionally and how did you get your start in the entertainment industry?

Cassia: I started acting professionally in my early twenties with work as an extra, and a role in a documentary, then I kind of abandoned acting. I was pissed! Roles were literally nowhere to be found and if there was a role casting for a black actress, it was almost impossible to get an audition without a top-notch agent, so I felt defeated. Acting began for me in my childhood at church and school. I had lead roles in just about everything as a kid, studied piano, and even improv acting. After school, I’d come home practice piano, and watch reruns of old shows like, The Adams Family, I Love Lucy, The Carol Burnett Show and Sanford & Son. Then, In Living Color debuted when I was in junior high, and everything changed! Improv became all I wanted to do, and I would study it by watching Kim Wayans…she was amazing!

Amy Nicole: There is no secret that making a successful career as an actress is challenging? What challenges have you faced in the industry and how do you make yourself stand out from other actresses?

Cassia: “Making” it as an actress is almost impossible if you measure your success by the number of fans you have, or the amount of money you make. If I can inspire a young girl to write, act, produce or just not give up in any way, then emotionally I am filled with success. At this point in my career, I have so much more that I want to achieve, and feel totally confident that I will. I believe I make myself stand out by being relatable, open, funny and honestly, just being a badass that never takes no for an answer. I also use my talents in every way possible to make myself stand out. Writing has always been a gift, so I blog, wrote my series, am writing two screenplays, and wrote a series of children’s books I’m shopping to publishers. Acting is another gift and I use that to my advantage by creating a webseries I play the lead role in, and I recently started vlogging. All of this is a package I created, a brand, so that I can make myself stand out.

Amy Nicole: An interesting fact about you is that you write, produce and act in a web series called To Live & Date in LA, which is based off of your real life dating experiences. How did you come up with the idea for the show? Were you nervous at all about how people would react to the series?

Cassia: To Live & Date in LA is my baby. I began blogging after my live-in boyfriend dumped me over text message…yes, you read that right! Homeboy dumped his girlfriend of two years, that he lived with, over text. So, I cried for five minutes-literally timing myself-picked myself back up, partied a bit to shake off the pain, then started blogging. No one read it at first, but I kept going, and joined social media. That’s how I was found by the digital editor of Uptown Magazine, who read my posts and liked them, so they started featuring my posts as well as exclusive content from me on their site. People started commenting about relating to my experiences and the comedic way in which I told them, and would always say that it should be a show. I knew no one in Hollywood was going to beat my door down to give me a show, so I started writing once again. I wrote eighteen episodes in about two months, and started casting shortly after. I was nervous about creating the show, mainly because if it sucks, I get all the blame as the writer and creator, but who the hell cares! At least I tried! We create our destinies, and I know this is mine.

Amy Nicole: I read where you bought a wedding dress back in 2009 because your boyfriend at the time asked you to marry him. Although the relationship was tumultuous and you weren’t happy you still went through with the dress purchase. I know most women as they approach 30 feel this huge pressure to get married or settle down. Would you say that pressure is what made you stay in the relationship even though you weren’t happy?

Cassia: In my last relationship, I did in fact buy a wedding dress, on Halloween 2008. Why the hell I didn’t see that as an Omen, I don’t know! Of course I blogged about that huge mistake and many people identified with it. As a woman in my late twenties at the time, the pressure of being married started to mount. I felt as though the relationship was not the best, but it was better than turning thirty and having no prospects. How wrong I was! There is huge societal pressure on us to be married, with 2.5 kids, a home, dog, vacation property and luxury car by the time we are thirty years old. this is insane, but true.

Amy Nicole: In the web series you play a young woman in her early 30s who is navigating the dating scene. How would you compare the single life in your 20s versus in your 30s?

Cassia: Single life in my twenties was all about fun and desperation. Fun because you go out, party and have no cares, but also desperate because during those years we tend to seek validation from men. In your early twenties especially is when we are still forming who we are as women. Most of us are still trying to find ourselves and define our wants and needs. As we mature and grow, we realize we do not need constant validation from men, and we are willing to put up with less. In my twenties guys put no effort in and I put in an insane amount, or I would cut someone off with no explanation. As a single woman in my thirties, those are things I have no time for.

I am a woman looking for real love and commitment. That’s why I have been single for the last seven years-yes y’all, seven-because I am no longer willing to entertain a man who will not put effort into me, and who will not appreciate the effort I put into him. Also, I am not about dating multiple partners at one time. I deserve your attention, and you deserve mine. If you are not willing to just date me and see where this is going, then I wish you well…bye boo. At this point it’s like, “Hey, I like you, and you like me. No games, no ignoring texts. Let’s do this.”

Amy Nicole: What advice would you give to aspiring actors, writers and filmmakers?

Cassia: The advice I would give to anyone coming into the acting/writing/filmmaking game is this: If you can be deterred by what others think of you, then this is not the life for you. As an entertainer, people will hate you for being who you are. You will be gossiped about and your looks will constantly be judged, so your emotions need to be in check. You have to be confident in your abilities, talents and choices. I have failed way more then I have succeeded, and I haven’t even made it to the top of my mountain yet. I’ve been knocked down more times then I can count, but I keep persevering because that is what will sustain you. Work on your craft. Make short films, put them on your site or Youtube.

Make sure you have a website that displays your talents, and your strengths. Write your own stories, and reach out to people in your field, no matter how big they are. I kid you now, I sent Lee Daniels a DM on Instagram. Now, will he read it, probably not, but what if…what if he does. Never look to someone else to make your dreams a reality. I never have. I wrote To Live & Date in LA, did everyone’s hair/makeup/wardrobe. I edit all of the episodes. Luckily I cast great actors who brought the story to life. I shoot all my footage, and taught myself how to edit, light etc. I made an insane amount of mistakes, but the mistakes were all learning experiences. Put yourself out there, tell the universe and God what you want, but don’t sit around waiting for them to just hand it to you. Do work.

Amy Nicole: What are some upcoming projects that you are working on and how can people contact you?

Cassia: Currently my new site is up and revamped! My webseries To Live & Date in LA is into season two which can be seen on my site and on YouTube as well. My goal is to get To Live & Date in LA on a network, where it deserves to be. I am finishing two screenplays and will shop those as well later on in the year. The children’s book series I have written is currently being shopped to publishers, and I will later be working towards turning it into a cartoon series. To Live & Date in LA was just honored in the Women’s Fashion & Film Festival, and I am focusing on promoting it so that it’s viewership will increase. I recently created a line of custom quotable Coffee/Tea mugs, which are also up on my site and in my zazzle store: http://www.zazzle.com/toliveanddateinla*

It was great getting to know more about Cassia and I’m looking forward to seeing her career continue to blossom! She gave some great career advice which I hope is an inspiration to someone. One inspiring quote from her that really stood out to me was the one below regarding black women in film and not being good enough.

“I have been told by casting agents that I needed to, “talk more black” aka “talk ghetto” and I have been told I was not black enough. As a black actress you will never be first choice, you will have to write your own material, you will have to cast yourself, you will have to be fearless, you will have to work harder than everyone else. Just don’t ever think you are not good enough, because you are. You deserve to be successful, be a leading lady, be head writer, and be cast in major film and television roles”.

Sneakerboxx

Author: Ashley E.

They say anything great started off as an idea that was developed and put into action. That was the case for Mississippi native Terrell Winters, aka “Sneakerboxx.” Terrell started collecting sneakers back in 1999 and today owns over 400 pairs, hence the nickname. One day he looked around at his huge collection of shoes and decided he wanted to start making money for himself instead of paying somebody else for their products.

“I wanted to make money for myself so I created my first design which was a refrigerator with the words “Keep em fresh” on it. It was real simple and stupid but dope. I got 24 shirts made and sold each one for $25. I advertised them on social media and they sold out within 2 days.”

Terrell made the decision to turn Sneakerboxx into a business and brand in 2010 and in 2011 he got the brand trademarked. His business focuses on sneakers, screen printing and t-shirts. Early on he decided he wanted to become more self-sufficient so he decided to teach himself how to screen print by watching you-tube videos and by learning from some of his friends who were already in the screen printing business.

In 2012 he decided to take a year off to figure out which direction he wanted to take the brand. During that time he also thought about walking away from the business altogether because he felt like his screen printing skills weren’t improving. Fortunately Terrell stuck with it and his brand has really grown; he has gained consumers and sponsors in various states and he recently added photography to the Sneakerboxx brand. Even though he’s still new in the game, his photography is very polished and it’s hard to tell he hasn’t been shooting for that long. He still has a lot of ideas about how far he wants so take his brand but with consistency and his work ethic the sky is the limit in terms of how far he can go.

We got a chance to get behind his lens and rock his “supplied with dopeness” tee from his line.

Check out more of his work here.

Qulanda Moore

The chances of making a good living as a filmmaker or director are very slim since the entertainment industry is already over saturated with so many. This can be very discouraging for aspiring screenwriters or directors struggling to make it in the industry. My sister and I would eventually like to expand our writing careers to include film but we often times question whether or not we would be successful being that the industry is already overpopulated and because we don’t have any prior film experience. I recently came across a web documentary series called “The Indie Girls Project” which follows six female indie filmmakers in Atlanta, Georgia. After watching some of the documentary I discovered the profile of Qulanda Moore, a young writer, director and producer.

At only 28 years old Qulanda has quite an impressive resume. She has directed a feature film, started her own media production company, produced a web series, and served as a technical director for a Broadway play in New York. This year she and two business partners launched the YouTube channel MOQtv, which is an online distribution network that features original content from independent Film/TV/Web producers.

Because of my interest in film I decided to reach out to Qulanda to get some advice about entering the film industry. Check out her interview below.

Amy Nicole: What inspired you to pursue a career in film?

Qulanda: My love for reading started it all. Growing up, I ALWAYS had my nose in a book. I also always loved watching movies. So at some point I combined the two, and began writing poetry and short stories which soon grew into scriptwriting. There’s something on the inside of me that genuinely loves being able to see words on paper come to life on the screen.

Amy Nicole: You mentioned in your bio that after finishing school you had difficulty finding employment in the media/entertainment industry due to the competitiveness of the field. What advice would you give to aspiring film makers/writers who are facing similar challenges?

Qulanda: I would say find a way to surround yourself around people who are doing what you want to be doing. If you are an aspiring filmmaker, connect with other filmmakers who are working on projects. Volunteer to do PA (production assistant) work. You have to start somewhere, and a lot of times in this industry, that means starting from the bottom. I would also say use any downtime you may have to do what you love. If you are a writer, then write! Nobody can stop you from doing that. Eventually, opportunities will come, which are typically based on linking up with the right person/people at the right time. You just have to make sure that you have already been busy and not just sitting around waiting for someone to give you a job.

Amy Nicole: You recently rebranded your production company ChelleStar Production to QRMedia Productions LLC which focuses more on creative media. What are some of the benefits to having your own production company and what are some of the challenges if any.

Qulanda: Benefits would be having creative control of what you put out. There is a lot of content out there, and when you have your own production company, you ultimately have the say-so in what your brand produces. So if I want to tell certain stories, or inspire people, I can do that in my own way (which is always right! LOL) One of the main challenges is finance. When you do video SERVICE work, it’s easier to get a steady paycheck in for your work. However, when creating original content for entertainment, it can sometimes be challenging to actually profit from that.

Amy Nicole: Your web series “The Single Life” which is the first project under the new brand is very popular among fans. I recently watched the first season and I love the show! What inspired you to write the series?

Qulanda: Actually living the single life! One of the things that bothered me about a lot of shows and movies that claimed to “represent” what it was like to be a single woman, was that I couldn’t really relate to them. As most women do, I often get together with girlfriends and we share dating (or lack of) stories among each other, and it’s very entertaining! Our stories never really had the fairy tell ending, things didn’t always work out, and the truth is dating is not always cut and dry. So I wanted to create a show that told the ugly truth that a lot of single women face in their mid to late 20s, in 2015. I also wanted to be very careful to make sure that it wasn’t a man-bashing show. As women, we are often at fault for a lot of the negative things we experience in dating as well.

Amy Nicole: Do you have any upcoming projects?

Qulanda: We’ve actually just wrapped Season 2 of “The Single Life” this past summer. Our editor is finishing up the post production work, so the new season is slated to be released early 2016. In addition to that, I am also featured on a pretty cool web series called “The Indie Girls Project” which is a reality/vlog style show that follows 6 of us female filmmakers as we go through our day to day, some of the obstacles we face, how we uplift each other, etc. Our youtube channel, MOQtv will also have some new shows that I’ve worked as a producer on coming out 2016 in addition to the 2nd season of The Single Life.

Amy Nicole: How can people contact you?

Qulanda: I’m on Facebook under my name Qulanda Moore and on Instagram as @qstar7. They can also email me atqrmedia@icloud.com.

It was great getting to know more about Qulanda and I hope her success as a writer and filmmaker inspires others to keep pursuing their dreams!

Jeanine Daniels: The Mafia Boss

For most of us there are two paths to choose from in life; the path working to make someone else’s dreams come true, or the path making your own dreams come true. The latter path is so rewarding and fulfilling but there are many sacrifices that will have to be made and several obstacles that you will encounter before you can reap the fruits of your labor. A lot of people can’t handle those obstacles and aren’t willing to make certain sacrifices to turn their dreams into a reality, so they do like most and settle for the unfulfilled 8 to 5 and glide their way through life on a conveyor belt. Jeanine Daniels, an upcoming producer, writer, and filmmaker chose to take the road less traveled and although she has run into a few road blocks on her journey, she wouldn’t trade the life of living out her dreams for a life with no purpose or passion. I was able to catch up with the “mafia boss” (a nickname giving to her by a former mentor because of her loyalty) for a brief interview about her aspiring career.

Ashley E: I always ask people are they happy. Would you say you’re happy at this point in your life and what is your definition of happiness?

JD: I’m not “not” happy, if that makes any sense. I know what I love to do, I know who I want to do it with, I know who I am and I know what I can do.

But sometimes, I have difficulty making them all connect. And that can be beyond frustrating. As an artist, I just want to charge right into the things I want to do. But that’s not the best solution… all the time. I think being happy is largely knowing how to navigate your life between the ups and downs while maintaining a calm composure and feeling confident. Once you can successfully learn to do that, happiness is a default. So, I’m learning to navigate, but I’m using a hellafied GPS. Once I can ditch the gps and use only my gut, I think I’ll reach true happiness.

Ashley E: I saw a post you put on Instagram about feeling like a failure because you weren’t where you thought you should be in life. I can totally relate to that feeling at this point in my life especially when it seems like everyone around you is progressing and you seem to be regressing or at a stand-still. It’s surprising that you would say you feel like a failure because people like me are inspired by you and look at you like a success. Do you still feel that way or do you look at it more like you took an alternate route in life compared to most?

JD: There’s always this moment when I’m standing in a circle and everyone is talking about their careers & lives with so much vigor; how they just remodeled their bathroom, how their kids did the funniest thing yesterday, or how they have to get their car radiator fixed. While I’m standing there trying to explain what a “content creator” is, and “no, I don’t work for a TV network necessarily” and “no, I don’t really get paid” and “no, it’s more like a show that lives on the internet”… and the corrections go on and on. Not to mention the fact that, I don’t have a bathroom to remodel because I live at home with my mom, I don’t have kids, or a husband, or boyfriend, or even someone I’m dating for that matter, and the radiator thing? Well, I don’t own a car, but my mom does allow me to drive her 93′ Toyota Paseo. The doors don’t lock and I have to use a club to secure it, and its smokes up when I drive more than 55 miles an hour, but hey, I’m driving right?

I’m not going to lie and say this stuff doesn’t get me down. But, I also remember when I was on the other side with a consistent check, driving a nice car, and stuck at a desk 40-60 hours a week making someone else’s dream come true…I was sitting around missing the sun and happy hour every day, wishing I could work on my own stuff. So whenever I’m having a pity party, which honestly does happen more than I’d like to admit, I usually have to really think about which life I’d rather have: broke and free or balling and stuck.

I’m learning to take the good with the bad. And it took me to pack up my huge downtown LA loft, give up my car, move home and starve to realize I rather do this and be an artist, than ball out in the matrix. At my core, I’m supposed be an artist. It helps that I know that I’m good at what I do, and I know I love what I do. I’m quirky, single, broke, living at home, but I get to do what I love every single gottdamn day.

Ashley E: Black and Sexy TV is an independent network that was started on you-tube with a small budget. It has produced some amazing content, built a large fan base and is continuing to grow. How did you end up teaming up with the founders Numa Perrier and Dennis Dortch and how do you feel about being associated with a business that has become so successful?

JD: I was a big fan of Mr. Dortch’s movie “A Good Day to be Black & Sexy”, and the moment I saw it, I knew I had to find him out and see what else he had stored in that genius brain of his. I soon met Ms. Perrier and Kofi Oliver (an original founding member of BSTV) and Mr. Ali. We all gravitated towards each other and there was a unique energy we had between us. We did historic stuff together: sold web series to TV; sold pilots; sold content directly to audiences; made our own movies; green lit our own productions; and controlled the production process from beginning to end. I am blessed to have been on the ground floor of a partnership that changed the course of what independent TV is becoming.

Ashley E: You have produced a few successful shows; one in particular is That Guy. The show is one of my favorites off of the Black and Sexy TV network. What I loved about it is how realistic it was. It was like watching everyday people going through real life situations. What inspired you to create a show like that and how were you able to create a show from a male’s perspective so well being that you are a female?

JD: Being the lone female in a group of guys has its pros and cons, but one strong pro is hearing all the stories. Black men, regular every day Black men, are often dismissed and neglected in storytelling about relationships. I can’t remember a show since Martin that accurately represents Black men and their views, told from their perspective, from beginning to end. And it has always bothered me. So after the success of The Couple, I knew I needed to produce another show, but I wanted it to be from the male perspective. I started thinking about the dudes I used to date, two kinds in particular, and bam, I had an idea for a show, and just ran with it. I used my life as the foundation and often talked to my homeboys to make sure things were accurate. As a female who hung around a lot of dudes and had insider information about their secrets and emotions, I was pretty positive I had a handle on keeping things realistic, which is a big deal for me. And Jeremy McBryde was often my sounding board to make sure my theories on male behavior were correct, which they were 92.7% of the time.

Ashley E: That Guy became really successful. You created 3 seasons and even produced a movie for the show which was your first feature film. Were you surprised by the show’s success and why did you decide not to continue the show?

JD: I was extremely surprised by the overwhelming support of the show and the die-hard fans. The first episode did poorly, like super poorly; the audience, women, hated it. They said it was vulgar, disrespectful; a bad representation of Black men, and BSTV should have been ashamed airing it. I was speechless. But Jeremy McBryde encouraged me to keep going because he knew it was a hit, even though I felt like I got stabbed in my beating heart. So I pressed on and the tides turned, and EVERYONE had a different attitude about it by the 3^rd episode. The success of the second season and the movie solidified that my vision was correct about THAT GUY. After the movie I had no intentions to continue with the franchise. I was ready to move on and create something fresh, different characters, new problems, other obstacles and resolutions. But after a business meeting it was decided that because it was our most popular show with the largest and most loyal audience, it would be best for the company to do another season to jump start our subscription service. I reluctantly agreed. During the filming of the 3^rd season there were a lot of changes that I wasn’t happy with and a lot of decisions were made that weren’t in the best interest of the series or my vision. Yaddah yaddah yaddah. I left the company.

Ashley E: I know you are no longer a part of Black and Sexy TV and have started your own production company called nine27 Entertainment. What made you decide to start your own company and what type of content do you plan on producing?

JD: I actually created nine27 Entertainment a while ago, I just never did anything with it. I was blindly focused on what the team was doing at BSTV and loss site of certain things that I wanted to accomplish creatively. I knew that there were things in my career that I wanted to do I knew wouldn’t necessarily fit with what my former partners saw as the vision for BSTV. The company will allow me to showcase my knack for writing animation, sci-fi, fantasy, and edgier topics that don’t fit into the BSTV brand. I also knew that I wanted to work directly with musicians, and producers more which may lead to a full blown record label at some point. Nine27 Entertainment allows me to take all my eggs out of one basket and move them into one I get to fully control, monitor, protect, and watch grow and develop.

Ultimately I’ll be developing unapologetically creative content with a conscious across all platforms…that also has the best produced music out. Those without a soapbox will get their stories shared with the masses through nine27 ent.

Ashley E: Do you have any advice for the dream chasers and grinders out there pursuing their passions?

JD: My advice to all the dream chasers

Trust your gut
Get everything in writing
Be consistent
You’re only allowed 5 minutes a day to have a pity party, after that, get to work
Trust in your tribe to lift you up
Keep honest people around you who will tell you if your shit sucks (that’s really important)
Read something substantial every day, and memes or social media status updates do not count
Don’t force your creativity
ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT
Don’t complain about how much is on your plate if you said your goal was to eat.

CANDICE J: THE UNFADING BEAUTY

At only 24 years old Candice J. was diagnosed with ovarian cancer which is very rare for young women. She had to endure months of chemotherapy and lost so much weight that she weighed only 89 pounds. Now almost four years later Candice is a proud cancer survivor who uses her blog “The Unfading Beauty” to inform and educate women about ovarian cancer. In our interview she shares her story on how her experience brought her closer to God and family.

Amy Nicole: Cancer is not something that most young people have to worry about but you were diagnosed with cancer at only 24 years old! What were your initial thoughts when the doctor’s informed you about your diagnosis?

Candice J: Initially all I could think about was what had I done to cause it or not done to prevent it. It was one of the first things I discussed with my doctor. His response: it was “luck of the draw.” However, I can’t say I agree. I have always been a firm believer that every thing happens for a reason. So it wasn’t “luck of the draw” for me. Although the form of cancer is very rare in young women and girls, I’ve realized that there was purpose in that journey. Lessons to be learned and a testimony that needs to be shared.

Amy Nicole: You were diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which is a very rare form of cancer. What is some advice you can share with young women about getting cancer screenings and taking care of their health?

Candice J: Unfortunately, because the disease is so rare in younger women, there are no cancer screenings right now that detect ovarian cancer. Unlike cervical cancer, which women have a pap smear to dectect, ovarian cancer is not detected in the cells of the cervix. Therefore that test would be inadequate to dectect ovarian cancer in your annual checkups. Ovarian cancer can be detected by a specific blood test (CA-125) and by transvaginal ultrasound. These tests however are usually only conducted if certain symptoms of ovarian cancer are persistent. Many of which can be confused for normal female reproductive woes and are still only slightly recognizable in the late stages of the disease. The key is really in knowing your body, paying close attention to certain issues that are persistent, and knowing the symptoms of ovarian caner. Some of the symptoms are consant bloating, eating habits changing (loss of appetite), too frequent urination, and constant discomfort of the abdomen.

Amy Nicole: After reading about your story on your blog you seemed so upbeat and positive throughout your battle with cancer. How did you manage to keep such a positive attitude throughout the process?

Candice J: Lol. I wish I could say that was true! Positive? Maybe. On most days. Upbeat? Not at all. Having to go through chemo is something I wouldn’t even wish on my worst enemy. I was very sick the entire time and often very weak. But I had a positive outlook and faith! In the back of my mind I knew I would get throught it and my doctor gave me a great prognosis. In addition, I had a great support team! With God, great family, friends and prayer we can get through anything.

Amy Nicole: Did you ever get angry or question God about why this happened to you?

Candice J: Oooh you bet I did question God! At times I thought it was pay back for my rebellious streak and living outside of his will. But thats how you think when you dont fully understand that God is in control and our lives are planned for us. While we may take detours from the path he has for us (with all our crazy antics and shenanigans), God will put us back on the right track. Sometimes it takes something drastic. And for me it was cancer.

Amy Nicole: You launched your blog “The Unfading Beauty” over a year ago which discusses a lot about your battle with cancer. Discuss the name of your blog and your ultimate purpose for creating it.

Candice J: I launched my blog during the month of September last year which is the month of Ovarian Cancer Awareness. I wanted to dedicate that month to informing people about ovarian cancer and sharing my testimony. Up until that point, I didn’t speak in detail about it. I felt I needed to though and figured my blog would be the perfect outlet. The name of my blog, “The Unfading Beauty” was actually inspired by one of my favorite Bible verses. 1 Peter 3: 3-4. I knew for a few years that I wanted to blog. I just hadn’t figured out at the time what I wanted to blog about and the name. It wasn’t until I went through a rather painful break up that it all came to me! I went through a small state of depression after the break up. Like most women, i was left wondering what I had done wrong and was I good enough. The only thing that made me feel better was running to God about it. One night I was led to 1 Peter 3 and when I read through verse 3 & 4, something hit me! That was it! It helped me realize that validation from a relationship didn’t matter. What I did or did not do in that relationship didnt take away anything from the woman God was making me. He used that situation to grow me and and further prepare me to be a woman that was precious in his sight. From that moment forward I started my journey to becoming an Unfading Beauty. I wanted to produce something for women to know that in a society that “LIKES” us based on the pictures we post, how we dress, how beat our faces are, the relationships we so perfectly portray, and the jobs we have, we don’t have to be validated by any that. The purpose of my blog is to encourage women to work on and refine their inner beauty just as much as the outer beauty. I would love to see more woman who operate in Light and self-love rather than those willing to do anything for love, fame and a few LIKES.

Amy Nicole: How has your life changed/how have you changed after surviving cancer?

Candice J: Omg! I have a closer connection to God and my family. I learned the importance of both. I’m overall a more positive person and one less concerned about material things. It’s caused me to relinquish control of my life and walk in his will. After surviving cancer I learned that the things we go through are often not for us. Many times we are given a battle because we are strong enough to handle it. And our strength is needed to be seen by others so they they can know they can make it through too! Our stories encourage others. And I strive to encourage others daily!

Amy Nicole: Do you have any upcoming projects in the work and how can people contact you?

Candice J: I am currently in the works of revamping my blog. I have the desire to turn it from a hobby to a business. I have taken a hiatus from it in order to do a little more research and regain focus on the type of content I want to put out. In the meantime I can be contacted through my social media. Facebook Page : The Unfading Beauty; IG: @unfadingbeautyc

I really enjoyed learning about Candice’s story. Her perseverance and positivity is so admirable and we hope that her story inspires someone else who is currently enduring hardships.

Ni’cola Mitchell

As any aspiring writer will tell you, trying to make a full time career out of writing seems almost next to impossible. My sister and I left our unfulfilling careers over a year ago to pursue our love for writing and we have definitely encountered many obstacles on our path to success. We came across the profile of Ni’cola Mitchell, a published author of several best-selling novels, a blogger, and founder of the independent publishing company NCM Publishing. Much of her work revolves around complex relationship issues and Mitchell’s compulsive desire to see women overcome challenges.

I was able to get a brief interview with Ni’cola as she prepares to promote her latest novel “Pum Pum”. In our interview she discusses her love for writing, shares how she overcame obstacles, and gives advice to aspiring writers.

Check out our interview below:

Amy Nicole: Did you always have a passion for writing and how long have you been writing professionally?

Ni’cola: Why Yes!!! I have always had a passion for writing! Ever since I was little girl, I would write poems, stories, and my thoughts down on paper. I never knew though that I would be able to make a living off of writing growing up. It was not until I was preparing for graduation for my Bachelor’s degree, that I was dared to write my first novel and the rest was history.

Amy Nicole: The focus of most of your books is about relationships; why do you choose to focus on this particular topic?

Ni’cola: I write about relationships because it is about everyday life. Everyone can relate to the good and bad of relationships, and I use how I feel and people around me and create masterpieces.

Amy Nicole: What obstacles did you face as an aspiring writer and how did you overcome these obstacles? Would you say your race/sex played a factor in any of these obstacles?

Ni’cola: The obstacles that I faced when I started off was trying to get my books into new stores and getting the word out about me and my book. I mimicked how major publishers were doing their campaigns and recreated the same thing just with my twist. Race was not really a factor, but sex has been. When you are a woman and have a pretty face, it is a challenge for people to take you seriously in a man dominated field. You have to stand your ground and make it clear that you deserve to be here.

Amy Nicole: My sister and I both quit our jobs over a year ago to pursue a writing career and we have definitely faced many challenges. What advice would you give women trying to pursue a writing career but facing obstacles along the road to success?

Ni’cola: The advice that I would give you both is to not give up. As long as you give the same tenacity to your craft as you would for a “day job,” you will have tremendous results. Also remember an average overnight success is 10 years. Some have been blessed to become rich overnight but the money comes with your hard work.

Amy Nicole: You have several published novels, what would you say is your favorite novel and why?

Ni’cola: “Pum Pum” as of date is currently my favorite because it has so many different social issues inside of it.

Amy Nicole: You are currently promoting your new book called “Pum Pum”. Can you tell us what this book is about and about the title choice?

Ni’cola: My new book “Pum Pum” is a story about a girl that was framed for a drug charge and was deported back to Jamaica. She meets someone that teaches her to become self-sufficient on the island and to become a dancehall queen. I chose the title because it is a world play of many situations that a lot of women face when their back is against the wall. You know the phrase, “you have to use what you got to get what you want”? Well, in “Pum Pum”, instead of selling her body to survive, she is dancing.

Amy Nicole: Where can readers purchase your books?

Ni’cola: Readers can purchase my books on Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles, and Books a Million. You can also find me on Google Play, Nook, and I-Books.

At a time when it seems that the doors for African American female authors seems slim, Ni’cola Mitchell is proof that with hard work and consistency female writers can have a successful career. It was great getting to know more about Ni’cola and we look forward to reading her novels. To find out more about Ni’cola you can visit her website at http://www.nicolacmitchell.com/.

Kelvin Armstrong

Author: The Double Scoop

Rising artist Kelvin Armstrong is a singer/songwriter and guitarist from the small town of Irmo, South Carolina. Armstrong is really starting to make a name for himself in Columbia, South Carolina and surrounding areas; he released his EP “In Due Time” last month and recently charted #67 out of the top 100 on Itunes. We were able to catch up with him for a brief interview before he geared up for his album release party on August 23rd.

TDS: Was singing something that you always wanted to pursue growing up and how long have u been singing professionally?

KA: Being a singer was never in the picture for me growing up. I did sing in the church choir, that’s because my mom made me. I’ve been singing professionally roughly 2 1/2 years.

TDS: Who are your biggest music influences?

KA: My grandfather HT Armstrong R.I.P, my father Kent Armstrong and my sister Kyshona Armstrong . I’ve always had music around me.

TDS: While listening to your EP “In Due Time” we heard different genres of music such as soul, blues, a little country and acoustic R&B. Describe your sound of music and how does your music differ from other artists?

KA: It’s just as you described it. I can only explain it as a melting pot. I’ve always listened to all genres of music: gospel, alternative, R&B, country and also jazz. I guess that’s why when I write, it’s never coming from one style. Honestly I can only speak on myself and where my music is pulled from. I write from a place of truth and real life. When you listen to my music understand that you’re hearing my feelings and experiences.

TDS: We enjoyed listening to the EP and felt like every song told a different story. There was one song in particular called Falling that we really liked but had different interpretations of the meaning. I believed that the song spoke on finding who you are as a person where as Ashley believed the song was about the ups and downs of life. Can you tell us about the meaning behind this song?

KA: I’m glad you enjoyed it! You’re both right. That song was written in a time where my life was completely out of whack. I was in a deep depression and was really trying to fight my way out of it. Me writing the song was my therapy. I pray that the song does for someone else what it did for me. It gave me a release from all the pressure and weight I felt was on me.

TDS: Another song that resonated with us was Stones Throw as it spoke on struggles in life. What was the inspiration behind this song?

KA: Stones Throw came from the a question I asked myself: “With all the craziness in the world, senseless killings, unexplained deaths and the everyday struggle people may have with drug addiction ,when they pass on do those loved ones left behind understand that through it all, the good and the bad…. God was with them?

TDS: How far do you want to take your career?

KA: I’m setting absolutely no limits on how far my music career can go. Four years ago being a singer/songwriter was not even a thought. I feel like my purpose is to work as hard as possible to be heard. I hope my music can help someone, even heal someone’s pain or struggle they may be experiencing. It worked for me I know it can help others.

TDS: Do you have any upcoming projects and where can people buy your music and get in contact with you?

KA: I do. I’m having my album release show on August 23rd at Wet Willies in Columbia SC. I can’t wait, it’s really going to be fun. Hope to see some faces I haven’t seen in a long time. You can buy my music on ITunes, google play and spotify. You can contact me via IG & Twitter @kelvin6string and you can visit my websites http://www.kelvinarmstrongmusic.com/ http://www.facebook.com/kelvinarmstrongmusic

Raw Demand Productions photographed by Maurice George Columbia South carolina Photographer — Photo Credit:: Raw Demand Productions photographed by Maurice George Columbia South Carolina Photographer.

Author: Amy Nicole

Needless to say the natural hair movement is showing no signs of slowing down as women of color all over the globe are embracing their natural hair textures. Many naturals can attest that going natural can be an intimidating process so it is always nice to have a support system to get you through the journey. My sister and I are newly natural and we couldn’t agree more!

We were excited to find out about the Miss Naturally Crowned Carolina pageant which is held in Columbia, South Carolina. The pageant was founded by Jessica Boyd and Maureen Ochola who are the owners of Quench Natural Beauty Boutique based out of Columbia. This year marked the second year for the pageant and we were excited to be in attendance for the big event.The pageant was open to women statewide ages 19-30 who wore their naturally textured hair, and as part of the pageant guidelines contestants were required to submit a business pitch with a completed business plan. The winner of the pageant was awarded $1,000 in startup funding as well as marketing and branding services.

We caught up with last year’s winner Chanelle Johnson for a brief interview as she prepared to say farewell to the crown.

Last year you won the title of Miss Naturally Crowned. Describe that experience.

Preparing for the pageant really forces you to take a closer look at your strengths and weaknesses. I used it as an opportunity to refine my weaknesses, and to grow. Lolita Frazier, our pageant coach, was a huge component of helping each of us grow in the way that we desired to. One of my greatest take always from this experience has been understanding that your confidence is everything! Even if you are afraid, keep going. Never let fear immobilize you. Everything that you need is already inside of you, and my personal philosophy throughout life and the pageant comes from 2 Timothy 1:7 which states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Whenever I got nervous or thought that I was not good enough, I reminded myself of this scripture and that I am validated through Christ. I’m definitely not saying that I wake up feeling like superwoman everyday, but knowing what I have inside is enough to remind me to lift my head, fluff my fro, and adjust my crown. It still amazes me that because I decided to embrace my natural hair texture almost 6 years ago, I have been able to encourage women and girls to love themselves the way that they were made, simply by being me, the title was the icing on the cake to help me do so.

What made you want to be a part of the pageant and why did you decide to go natural?

I’ve always loved pageants! I used to watch them with my grandma when I was little girl. I loved the glamour, the poise, confidence, and grace of the women. I always thought that someday I would compete, but my family was not the “toddlers in tiaras” type, and honestly, we couldn’t afford the fees and expenses that come along with pageant competition. Therefore, I waited until I was in high school to enter my first pageant! I competed all 4 years, and actually earned the title of Miss Sophomore! I competed in 2 pageants during college; I had relaxed hair in both of these. Shortly after I transitioned back to my natural hair. I never thought that I could compete again. Most pageant contestants are notorious for having long, flowing, tresses, and I did not feel comfortable getting extensions just to compete.

I was intrigued from the moment found out about the pageant through the fabulous marketing campaign of @QuenchSC on Instagram and I was immediately hooked! Their values were so in line with my own that I was motivated, inspired, AND challenged! The manner in which the innovative and creative co founders Jessica and Maureen carried themselves and their brand, was just the fresh breath of “get up and get started” that I needed! This was before I had ever shaken either of their hands, and even after meeting them I have been continuously inspired! A pageant for women with natural hair AND a chance to earn some funds for my dream job?! Sign me up NOW! Entering the pageant was not a question!

As a winner of the pageant you were awarded start-up funding for your business. What type of business did you start and why did you choose that particular business?

The guidance and encouragement I received during the time that we prepared for the pageant was really what helped me to start my business. The start-up funding was the icing on the cake! Whenever I have been asked what is my ultimate dream job, I’ve always hesitantly said to become a photographer and to eventually travel the world capturing all things beautiful. However, this never occurred to me as something feasible. Photography has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember, but I boxed it into a pretty little “dream job box” and tied a bow. However, God is an amazing orchestrator! I found out about the pageant around the same time that I had decided to purchase my first professional camera and had begun learning the art photography. However, I still could not see it, my own a photography company?! The pageant required a business plan which my bestie, Candance played a huge role in helping me to design. This was the beginning of untying the bow and removing photography from the box. Although, I still have much to accomplish I am the proud creator of C. Heart Photography, LLC.

It was really nice meeting Chanelle as well as the founders of the pageant and we would like to wish this year’s winner Tra’Shon Howard much success during her reign as Miss Naturally Crowned Carolina. We think the pageant is an amazing idea as it promotes young women embracing their natural beauty and we are looking forward to seeing the continued growth of this event.

Check out footage from the pageant at Double Scoop TV.

Ray-Vaughn

Author: The Double Scoop

Working as a police officer and personal trainer by day and an R&B singer by night, Ray-Vaughn proves he is a man that can juggle many hats. The Mississippi native is breaking his way into the music industry and he is not letting anything stop him from sharing what he calls his “God given talent” with the world. Born into a family of singers and musicians Ray-Vaughn discovered his passion for singing at the ripe young age of 5. His talent allowed him to sing with several choirs over the years and even landed him a 4 year choir scholarship to Mississippi Valley State University. He recorded with the Mississippi Mass Choir as a child and in college he recorded the first album with the Mississippi Mass Adult Choir. Determined not to become content with mediocre success he moved to Dallas after college to join the police department and to explore more opportunities for his music career.

We were able to catch up with Ray-Vaughn to ask him a few questions about his life and blossoming career.

TDS: When did you decide to pursue singing professionally?

RV: During my 5th year with the department I was teaching a boot-camp fitness class and one of my clients asked “What would you be doing if you weren’t an officer and a personal trainer?” My no hesitation response was “I would be performing!” That lit a fire inside of me. Upon exploring the opportunities further my client introduced me to my first producer. It took off from there.

TDS: The music industry is very competitive. What distinguishes you from other artists?

RV: I am real. My music portrays me exactly who I am. Hence the name of my debut album Experience RayVaughn. When I perform or sing I don’t do it for the fame. Instead, I do it to show the world that YOU can do ANYTHING that you desire. I do it to add to the validity of my story when I tell the youth to shoot for the moon. I follow my heart, beliefs, and love for the craft.

TDS: You will soon be dropping your first album “Experience RayVaughn”. How long have you been working on this album and what should listeners expect?

RV: I worked on that project for a little under a year. My recordings were done in two months but I was extremely critical on myself and re-recorded everything over twice. Lol. My listeners should expect to hear and understand the sentiments of my heart in some tunes and life from my perspective in the others. Originality is my forte. I’m an emotional writer who has experienced my share of sunshine and more than my load of heartaches. My tunes are not only timeless but relatable.

TDS: Many say there is not much quality R&B out today. What is your response to that statement and describe your style of R&B.

RV: R&B still lives! Many R&B artist change to keep up with the times. That was my biggest battle. Do I keep R&B rhythm and blues or do I forfeit my feelings to attract the new age listeners? To stay booming in business, you have to transcend to the auto-tune and other modern day cliché approaches to music. I chose to experiment with the some of the modern to stay relevant to society but I don’t abandon my roots. I also like to put my own unique feels in each song.

TDS: You recently released a music video to your single “Smile” which featured your wife as the leading lady. What was that experience like shooting the video and including your wife?

RV: Smile Forever was written to compete with the “Bad Bi###” mentality. I’m a country boy with the heart of a gentleman. I still believe in real love and think that class is the sexiest thing about a woman. Chivalry isn’t dead….Women can still be catered to! Having the lead be my very own wife was interesting… Let’s just say, I’m embarking into a new realm of my life. No matter what life deals you, stay true to who you are and don’t allow pitfalls to hinder your progress. Instead use them as lessons and blessings or song lyrics lol!

Listening to Ray-Vaughn’s music you can hear the diversity in his sound. There are elements of pop, a little country and of course some sultry R&B. Some have compared his sound to artists like Chris Brown, Trey Songz and Usher. Ray-Vaughn definitely has a promising career and we wish him nothing but love and success on his dream chasing journey.

Check out more of his work here.

RayVaughn “Smile Forever”

Jay Smith

Author: Ashley E.

When you decide to pursue your passion or dream, it can cause you to make some serious sacrifices. You might risk losing relationships, stability, income, and even peace of mind. Jay Smith is an upcoming comedian and actor who decided a few years ago he wanted to pursue his passion. He got his start in the industry as a student at Jackson State University when he joined the MADDRAMA Performance Troupe. Over the years he has made a name for himself in his hometown and has also built a pretty large social media following. You can even catch a glimpse of him in the latest James Brown biopic Get on Up.

The Mississippi native recently moved to Atlanta, Georgia to broaden his career, but his journey to chase what he loves has been met with some highs and lows. I caught up with Jay recently to ask him a few questions about his dream chasing journey.

AE: When did you realize you were interested in comedy and acting?

JS: I always liked pretending as a child, making up little stories in my head and acting them out. I played Joseph (Jesus’ father) in a Christmas play when I was five haha..I guess it’s been a while.

AE: Does anyone in your family have a background in either of the two?

JS: My dad and his whole side of the family are funny. My dad has a dry wit/ asshole-ish in a nice way personality. I definitely inherited that personality. I have a cousin who does standup. As far as performing period goes, my dad was in a funk band in the 70’s and 80’s called Freedom so performing is in my blood.

AE: Do you think people underestimate how difficult stand-up comedy can be? I remember seeing you for the first time probably about a year ago at a show and thinking I would be so nervous. You have to stand in front of a room of people and demand their attention. I’m sure a 10 minute show could feel like an hour when all eyes are on you especially if the crowd isn’t feeling you.

JS: DEFINITELY….comedy is so hard, so hard that I don’t even tell people I’m a comedian…I say “I do comedy” lol. When a show is going well every second feels better than sex. Well not better than, but AS good as some good sex…and that’s really all you can ask for. When it’s going bad, the worst part is that you already know it’s going bad. It usually doesn’t get better when it’s bad, and that’s the worst part…knowing that it might get worse.

AE: What has been your worst show so far? I’m pretty sure you feed off of the crowd’s energy so I can imagine if the energy from the crowd is low than your performance isn’t the best.

JS: YEP…I was doing a contest to perform for Katt Williams when he came to Jackson. My material was geared toward people around 25 -40 years old. Everybody in there was way older than that and I wasn’t comfortable enough with my act to deviate from it. They didn’t know nothing about the stuff I was talking about. My neck was burning and voice was shaking. It was like being in a burning house. I just cut it short and said “that’s my time.”

AE: Are there any comedians in particular that influence you?

JS: Yes. Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Louis CK, George Carlin, Paul Mooney…man Paul Mooney is that guy. I listened to Paul Mooney going to sleep every night for like a year and some change.

AE: Explain T.R.U.S.T and F.I.N.E. You use those 2 words a lot in your videos.

JS: So, TRUST is something that came from a crazy teacher at JSU I had. He stuttered severely and had a very smart mouth. After he made a point he would say “TRUST”. It turned into a hashtag on twitter, lol. Me and my classmates all followed each other and made fun of him on twitter and always ended the tweets with #TRUST. It then turned into something deeper after a few life experiences along with people outside of our class wondering what TRUST meant. TRUST then went on to mean having peace and TRUSTing the process of getting down whatever road you’re traveling in life. TRUSTing your intuition, TRUSTing the struggle.

F.I.N.E. is something that started with me and my friends at Hinds Community College in Raymond back in 2005. Basically a daily mantra to live by in acronym form. (Focused Intelligent Negro Excelling).

AE: I watched your most recent you-tube video and I see that this past year was pretty challenging for you. You ran into a lot of obstacles: being broke, not having a job, having to move back in with your parents, a failed relationship, being arrested and moving to a new state are major life events. Do you ever feel discouraged about following your dreams and question if what you’re sacrificing is worth it?

JS: Honestly yes, I don’t know if that’s something that’s going away anytime soon. I have a feeling I’ll be by myself because my dreams aren’t the most secure career path to go about. Chicks don’t really line up for unpredictable situations. Sometimes I wish I’d be happy living a “regular” life but I know I wouldn’t be right now, at this point. I just try to look around and remember how unhappy other people are with everything that society says you should have and it reminds me I’m making the right choice. I pray. I know my personal relationship with God and I feel like I wouldn’t have the urge, gift, or opportunities to do this if it wasn’t meant to happen.

AE: How far do you want to take your comedy and acting career?

JS: I just want to reach my full potential. The goal isn’t to be rich or famous. The goal is to make a living doing what I love to do.

AE: Being that so many people are in those fields of work, do you find it difficult to find a place in the industry?

JS: I think if you truly are yourself and no one else then there can’t be another you. Thinking like that, I don’t really think about trying to find a place.

If you want to know more about Jay and his work check out his sites below.

Instagram

Twitter

Youtube

Category: The Spotlight