Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Princess J

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Princess J. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Princess, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I wake up around 4am, pray, run a mile on the treadmill. And hopefully fit in some more exercises, but I gotta get my mile in to be happy.

I check my board to see if I have a trip “I’m a flight attendant now”, shower, eat and make my way to the airport.

I spend the day flying and then enjoying my layover (eating, drinking, of course going dancing, hiking etc) just now I’m doing these things all over.

I come home, do laundry, tape any auditions I may have, eat, sleep, repeat.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey!! I’m Princess!

My career? Luvbugs, it’s been a whole journey. I started out as a professional dancer—blood, sweat, & rhinestones. Got my degree in dance and Then I slid into acting, because clearly I wasn’t done entertaining folks. LOL!

On top of that, I teach dance too! Shoutout to every muffin who actually kept up with my “5-6-7-8” without side-eyeing me. LOL! Love yall!

I teach private lessons to many dance muffins in SoCal, Philly and Houston. My approach is loving and tough and geared towards results and loving dance.

Now, I’m a flight attendant, which low-key feels like a remix of everything I’ve ever done—performance, improv, teaching, & keeping everyone calm when turbulence hits.

If the right gig calls, I’ll be on that stage or set faster than they can say “Places, Please!”

Until then, the sky is my stage and trust & believe, my passengers always get a show!!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That I’m difficult.

As a child, I thought speaking up, asking questions, or not just “going along” made me hard to deal with. But I’ve learned that I’m not difficult—most people are just comfortable bending, blending, or falling into line. That’s never been me. I don’t shrink myself to fit. And that doesn’t make me a problem; it makes me a rare diamond, not just another piece of glass.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
I miss dancing every single day—more than anything.
I miss taking class, pushing my body, and moving in ways words just can’t touch. I miss booking shows, slipping into a costume, getting in hair and makeup, and stepping on stage feeling that rush and magic. I miss the freedom, the performance, the energy—it’s pure me, and even when I’m not on stage, that part of me never goes away.

I miss the part of me before the industry broke my heart. Loving dance, not social media numbers, skin tone, or popularity. Moving around the stage and visually creating movement for stages, not camera phones.

Movement is so short now. Everyone doing the same exact dances, on the same 45 seconds of the same song….like where’s the creativity??

I miss dance before it became what it is today.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs:

I believe in and ride for Black women. Our brilliance, our voices, our stories we deserve to be seen, heard, & celebrated. I don’t just support us, I make sure we’re honored, defended, & never overlooked in any space I’m in.

Funny how everyone dismisses higher education now that black women hold the highest degrees.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
At the beach. Any beach. Any country.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @eyezbprincess

Image Credits
Nora Schaefer