We planned to do a full-figure banquet for women of size. I felt like I had to keep the legacy alive. I needed to do something with my life. I picked up the yellow pages, which are huge in Chicago. The minute I opened it up to schools, I saw an ad for Beonair,com. I had been looking for a broadcasting school for years, but didn’t want to go to Columbia. I wanted to find a school that would teach me more than just radio, or more than just TV. I called them immediately, and the intake specialist was Joyce Brown. I’ll never forget her. I was so excited that I set an appointment for the next day. As far as me blinging everything out, one of my girls had a shop in downtown Chicago. One of her nail techs left, and gave me all of her stuff. It was at that point that I made my first blinged out birthday glass. There were so many people who thought it was dope.
U.G. Digital Mag: Talk about difficulty moving forward with everything?
Miss Bling: So many people told me it would be hard to get into radio. I had someone tell me because I was a woman, and plus-sized, that I would have to put my legs to my forehead to get by. It was actually a personality from Chicago that told me that.
U.G. Digital Mag: Wow. Are they still on the air?
Miss Bling: Yes (laughing). But I didn’t do it. I’m not doing that. I said I will show you better than I can tell you. I didn’t realize my power, but I knew I was talented. I didn’t have a mentor. My mentor was my brother. It’s crazy how it all fell together though because I was working as a program supervisor for people with disabilities. A client pushed me, and I got injured at work. At that point, I wasn’t really able to work because of the back spasms, so I went out on disability. My best friend passed away two weeks after that from cancer, and it just put me in a space where I had to really figure out what I was going to do with my life. Once I started school, I had to take some time off from there as well because of my back issues. In that time off, I started doing an internship with my brother. I met one of his friends who was with a lot of radio personalities. He and my brother were really my motivation. They really believed in me. I remember touring the school and seeing pictures of the stars on the wall like Mo’Nique, and so forth. This is something that was destined to be. I was on showtime at the Apollo in 2001. So that’s why I say it was destined. I begged my mom to help me get into this school, and the rest was history.
U.G. Digital Mag: Wow, Showtime at the Apollo! What’s you do?
Miss Bling: I was singing, and I got boo’d. [laughing].
U.G. Digital Mag: That’s funny, but it’s cool though. Getting back to radio, had you thought about working for any stations in Chicago?
Miss Bling: I actually pictured myself working with WGCI, and I applied for the internship and didn’t get it. I remember asking, how am I supposed to get experience if no one will give it to me?
U.G. Digital Mag: Funny because I encountered a lot of that as well. A lot of times, you realize that you really have to create your own opportunities and be creative with things. That’s what will get you experience along the way. It’s funny to because I had a different experience with the same school as you but in Cleveland. They weren’t as supportive to me as they were to you though. It’s unfortunate that you’ll often find people who want to sabotage you, and don’t want to see you make it. You get turned down for a lot of things you apply for.
Miss Bling: Right. I got a lot of “we regret to inform you’s”.
U.G. Digital Mag: Same here. But I think it’s why I speak so loudly about the things I’ve done, and continue to do. I worked hard to do the things I’ve done, and I know you have too.
Miss Bling: Right.
U.G. Digital Mag: Now getting back to the way you bling things out, it’s really awesome. I know you spoke earlier of the young lady who gave you her supplies, but what really got you started? How did it begin?