Today we’d like to introduce you to Sade Spence.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m an entertainment reporter and style blogger. I’ve always been drawn to the popular culture and how the stories of actors, movies, celebrities, musicians reflect those of everyday people — especially people of color. Paired with my inquisitive nature, being the vessel to share these stories came naturally me. In my undergrad at UCLA, I hosted my own radio show where I’d book and interview promising talent on the rise. Some notable guests include Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Jhene Aiko, Kid Ink, Nipsey Hussle, and Bobby Brackins. I also began interning at KTLA 5 News in the entertainment department to learn more about television programming. From there, I began editing Sam Rubin’s Hollywood Uncensored on Reelz Channel. I then went on to receive a Master’s in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University because I wanted to learn hard news reporting skills and tailor them to work in entertainment. I decided to work in New York City for a few years where I contributed regularly to Variety and produced pieces with Billboard, The GRAMMYs, Al Roker Entertainment, Celebrity Page TV, Interview Magazine, HelloBeautiful and more. My love for fashion was further cultivated in New York City and I began attending NYFW, covering shows and events for acclaimed multicultural fashion magazine Fashion Bomb Daily. Now, I cover red carpets, movie junkets, and premieres in Los Angeles with notable talent to include Tyler Perry, Steve Carell, Tiffany Haddish, Keira Knightley, and Janelle Monae.
Has it been a smooth road?
My line of work is definitely a hard one to get into. Working in entertainment and fashion requires a ton of confidence, diligence, and faith because there is no blueprint to break into these industries. Every day is a learning curve. I strongly suggest you know your craft. Practice, get your reps in and be knowledgeable of what topics you are speaking on. That’s way more valuable than a pretty face. Of course, look great, but awe everybody with your skillset. There are a lot of pretty girls in Los Angeles and what you can bring to the table is valuable when you know what you’re doing. Also, networking is one of the most important ways of getting into the industry. If you are shy or lack confidence, practice interviewing people you know to get better at it. Honestly, I can’t stress enough how important networking is.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m an entertainment reporter and style blogger interviewing celebrities on the latest musings in popular culture. As I mentioned before, I’ve always been fascinated by the intersections of celebrities, culture, music, fashion, and film so I love being able to draw on one to highlight another in my work. I’m also known for my platinum blonde goddess locs. 🙂
As for accolades, I’m very proud of the Gracie Award I received in 2015 from the Alliance For Women in Media Foundation.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Whether you want to be an on-camera journalist or style blogger, I’d say put aside your worries over being perfect (because no one is perfect) and just start doing it. You’ll learn through the mistakes. Become knowledgeable and confident in what you do. Have faith and network, network, network!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/sadeaspence
- Twitter: twitter.com/sadeaspence
- Other: youtube.com/sadeaspence
Image Credit:
Simone Hamilton, @simoneyshot, Xilla Valentine, @blogxilla
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
