My Greatest Accomplishment:
One of my most recent accomplishments was having the opportunity to work on my first feature film, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Working as a costume production assistant eventually led me to meeting some of the most talented costume makers and fabricators, creating pieces that were seen on screen, and most notably getting to meet and work with my career idol: Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter! I was able to see my name in the credits, and many tears were shed. That accomplishment led to a career-pivoting opportunity: Ms. Carter hiring me as her assistant! Funny enough, my sister prayed and I manifested it once Ruth won the Oscar, so it’s crazy that it actually came to fruition. It’s been an amazing experience so far, and I’ve learned so much from one of the best.
How Drexel Helped Me:
Drexel’s fast-paced environment helped me to prepare for the many “make it work” moments in the world of costume design. There were many times in the URBN building where I had to quickly put things together and make it work for the assignment, and those moments still occur almost eight years later. I also learned how to ask for the job you want and not just take what’s suggested or broadcasted. That’s how I got my co-op job and that’s how I became Ruth E. Carter’s assistant and a union costumer for Marvel films.
Where I Hope to Be in Five Years:
I would love to be designing my first film and/or TV show. God has a plan for me, and I’m just happy to be on his ride! I won’t block whatever blessings will be on my path in the next five years.
The Change I Would Most Like to See in the World:
I would love to see a lot more progress with social justice and equality. There’s a lot of unlearning that all of us need to do. We first need to truly acknowledge that we were all raised in a society founded on white supremacy, especially in the United States, and do the self-work needed to unpack that and see the many ways that it has warped our way of thinking. There’s so much that I believe would change if we first truly acknowledged the faults of many of the world’s countries’ founders.