Gina Rodriguez from Jane the Virgin started Movement Mondays on her Instagram to garner support for working Latino actors. She points out that the studios feel more confident in hiring Latino actors for high-profile roles if the numbers back it up. The TV shows and movies with Latino actors need to pull in higher ratings and more revenue. This approach is the same for all minorities.
Her observation extends beyond the acting community and into all aspects of creative professions. Inspired by Gina, I am starting the series Monday Meetings to highlight Asian movers, shakers, and makers. We should be seeing them and hearing from them more often—not just sporadically.
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Meet Joanna Gaines, the real housewife of Waco, TX, and by housewife, I mean she is a married woman who tackles major house improvements on the HGTV show “Fixer Upper.” With her (adorable and funny) husband Chip leading the construction team, she flips outdated homes and transforms them into neighborhood gems. Every episode is a You made that out of that? moment.
Joanna has a way of implementing her clients’ personalities while keeping the house refined. She’ll add a funky touch like ornate chairs and bold tiles but keep it classic with French doors and shiplap. Chip and Jo love shiplap like I love bacon. They put it on everything.
The crown moulding moment though is her background in…you did not guess it…communications. No interior design schooling, just talent. Further proof that there is hope for mass comm majors (like me) to make something out of this decorative degree. Don’t let your school loans debt define you, just your paycheck.
I’m always more intrigued about the development stages—how did the new Bey and Jay build this empire? So, I’m stoked that the Gaines’ book The Magnolia Story, comes out in October. Chip + Jo 4evs.
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