Photographer and social activist Celeste Noche and I first met while working at our university's coffee shop together and bonded over our shared love of food.
Through the years, Celeste's travelogues and photography of food, people and places have been a constant source of inspiration to me. She has the unique ability to capture tenderness, excitement, love and passion in a single photograph. And somehow the light is always perfect for her! As soon as I had the chance, I hired her to document my engagement, then my wedding, then my first pregnancy. And I'm counting down the days until COVID is over so we can get together for a family portrait session. In her seven years as a freelance photographer, I've seen her grow not only as a photographer but as an activist, advocating eloquently for human rights and fair pay of artists, especially People of Color. She founded the Portland in Color website and directory to highlight the many talented POC creatives residing in Portland. Her incredible work has been featured in Bon Appetit, BBC News, KQED and the New York Times, just to name a few. To know Celeste is to be in awe of her talent and passion, and I hope we can get to know her a little better today. It is my absolute privilege to share this All WOCs of Life interview with Celeste:
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Blaire Kimball of BKD Florals and I met at a Starbucks on a cold evening in December. My then-fiancé and I were six months away from our wedding and our families were driving us crazy. Plus, there was still so much to be done and I had no idea where to even begin.
The first things anyone will notice about Blaire when they meet her is her big smile, her infectious positive attitude and her passion for her work. The moment we started talking, I knew that we would be hiring her. Like I literally went home and told my fiancé that I had found “the one” haha. What set Blaire apart from other planners we had met with? She came brimming with ideas and excitement and we knew that with her over eight years of experience in the event planning industry, we could trust her to handle any situation planning our wedding would throw at us--which would end up being a lot. Hiring Blaire for six month coordination of our wedding was a no-brainer and the best decision we made for our big day. It’s crucial that you get along with your coordinator because they will be the person you talk to the most leading up to your wedding...other than the person you’re going to be marrying. She defused stressful situations with our friends, families and vendors; she helped us find and book affordable, talented vendors; she took our initial idea of a modern Renaissance wedding and ran full steam with it, not missing any detail (even attended the Ren Faire with us for inspiration); she talked me down during a late night freak out about our budget; and most importantly, she made sure that we totally, thoroughly, unequivocally enjoyed our wedding day that all couples spend many months and many dollars planning. She made sure my husband and I had moments alone to connect as a newly married couple, she made sure we ate food and drank water, she made sure we had no idea if anything was going wrong, she stood up to people who needed to be stood up to in the most gracious way possible, and she danced the final few songs with us as this amazing day came to a close. Even though Blaire lives every moment with zest and sparkle, the journey to get to where she is today was not easy. “Being a Mixed Chick--Black and White--from Ohio, it was a very, very hard road as a kid,” she said. “I looked different. My skin, hair, and eyes were all different than the traditional cultural norms of Black and White children. Even as an adult, to feel accepted and appreciated was always a striving goal.” But she kept fighting, being authentic to herself, and persevering to build an award-winning business. In this All WOCs of Life interview with Blaire, she opens up about her childhood and family dynamic, her struggles with identity confusion and bullying, and her hope for WOC in the event industry. Leaving her hometown of Seattle in 2011, Jihan Zencirli moved to Los Angeles to embark on the helium-powered endeavor that is Geronimo Balloons. Her official job description seems a little fuzzy; in addition to selling oversized balloons and party supplies online, she creates fantastical public art installations around Los Angeles.
On a recent Tuesday night, a group gathered in Geronimo Balloon’s bright and airy Echo Park studio to inflate balloons for a public balloon installation at Projection LA’s all-white “Bates Motel.” Pharrell William’s “Happy” was blasting on the stereo, everyone was dancing, and bright balloons were popping up all around. And just like that, a regular weekday was transformed into a party. When asked if any of her installations have ever gotten her in trouble, Jihan replied, “Never. People just like to feel like they’re a part of something. I once did an installation for Bobby Brown in Paris where I went around and put lipstick kisses on statues around the city.” We caught up with Jihan to get a glimpse into the inspiring Geronimo Balloons universe, including her tips for happiness, her most memorable art installation, and her love of tamales and Echo Park (admittedly, she hijacked the Q&A, but in the best way possible). Krystal Bee began working at hip-hop radio station Power 106 when she snagged an internship during her first year at Cal State LA. From there, she moved up the ranks and was eventually offered a full-time spot, right next to radio personality Big Boy on his morning show Big Boy’s Neighborhood.
On-air, Krystal is usually the one asking hip hop’s latest and greatest the tough questions (and redirecting queries about her love life). We recently talked with her about her favorite celebrity interviews and BIPOC artist, LA’s best music venues, and what she loves about life on the Eastside. What’s a typical day like for you? I wake up at 4 a.m. and go to the station. We start recording by 5 a.m. and we’re live until 10 a.m. After that, some days I go to record a few segments at Revolt (P. Diddy’s TV network). When I get time off, I like to go hiking. I should be asleep by 8 p.m., but I usually don’t go to bed until 11 p.m. or midnight. When and how did you know you wanted to work in hip hop and radio? I always knew I wanted to be in radio and entertainment, I just didn’t know how I would get into it. I would listen to Big Boy’s Neighborhood all the time. They sounded like they had so much fun and I was like, “Man, this is their job? I could do that.” You hear people say that all the time, but I knew that I really could do it. My parents tried to convince me out of it because they said it was too competitive. But I stuck with it and contacted Power 106 to see if they offered any internships. When I got the call offering me an internship, it was the best feeling ever. Who has been your favorite guest on Big Boy’s Neighborhood? There are a few. Nikki Minaj has come in a few times and she’s great every time. I didn’t know what to expect the first time because you read and hear stories about superstars being divas or too “Hollywood,” but she was extremely sweet. I love having her on the Neighborhood because she’s fun and has a great energy. I also loved having Magic Johnson on because I grew up being a huge fan. When I found out he was going to come in, I lost it. I had to call my dad immediately. Also, Usher performed a live medley for us. He has so many hits and I’ve seen him live, but to have him sit next to me and perform all these songs as I’m singing along and dancing and looking like a fool, but not giving one damn in the world, was amazing. What do you love most about living on the Eastside? Tacos, everywhere. It’s also so diverse and it’s becoming gentrified, but it’s where I’m from. All of my high school friends are still in the area and my parents still live here. I can be on my own, but I can still go over and raid their fridge. You said you like hiking in your free time. Tell me about your favorite trail. I like going to Eaton Canyon a lot, but I like the Griffith Observatory Trail the most. Where’s the best place to listen to live music? The Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theatre. Those are my two favorites because I love outdoor venues. A lesser-known spot is the Echoplex which has reggae and disco nights. Tell me about your favorite up-and-coming musicians that not many people know of yet. One of my favorites is an R&B duo called Jake & Papa. Their music is so soulful and sensual. My friend turned me on to them and I had the opportunity to go to a listening party. They blew me away. I also really like Jhene Aiko. She’s mostly known for being featured on Drakes’s track, but she now has an album of her own and it’s amazing. Where’s the best place to go for a drink? The Short Stop in Echo Park and Mohawk Bend to eat and to drink. I keep it simple with a vodka soda or something refreshing with cucumber and mint. What’s your favorite restaurant and what do you order? Sage is one of my favorites. It’s a vegan restaurant so I get the jackfruit nachos and the burgers. They also have really good vegan waffles and vegan ice cream. I could eat there every day. It sounds like you’re really passionate about vegan food. I am a vegan. It started as a challenge at work in January. We were only going to do it for 22 days. While we were doing it, I was training for the LA Marathon and I noticed how much my training was improving. And I loved it so I continued doing it. Describe your perfect Saturday in LA: Sleeping in, which rarely happens, and getting up around 8 a.m. Then I go to Marina Del Rey to Beach Camp which is a fitness camp run by my trainer. It’s perfect on summer mornings when the sun isn’t completely out yet and we’re by the water. After an hour of that and a shower, I meet my sister and girlfriends up for brunch and shopping. A lot of my shopping is done in boutiques around Echo Park, Silverlake and Little Tokyo off 1st street. What is one thing everyone in LA should experience at least once? The beach. To hang out, I like Venice. I run through the Strand that goes through all of the beaches. It starts in Pacific Palisades and goes to Redondo Beach. The best part is seeing how diverse the beaches are just by a few little miles. This interview was conducted in August 2014 for LosAngeles.com. You can now find Krystal Bee on 97.1 Amp Radio on Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. |
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