The Edit Podcast

I don’t know about you but I love an uplifting quote online. I can’t help but share them.

My next guest Zara Khalique has built her lifestyle brand Keep It Bright on just that.

It’s a global online store featuring slogan clothing, books, and accessories, all built from her bedroom when she was just 15-year-old.

Now, the likes of Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, Miranda Kerr and more have worn her items.

Zara’s positivity is infectious, so much so she’s been deemed a “warrior of light”.

Despite her success, Zara isn’t money motivated and her aim is is to empower, uplift & encourage her audience.

I wanted to know how hard it is to resist trends as a small business owner and how to build an online audience based on positivity.

Today’s podcast was recorded on what they’re calling “blackout Tuesday.” Hundreds of social media posts have gone dark in solidarity with those protesting the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Yet another innocent black man killed by police.

The video horrified the world and the injustice further traumatised black people. We’ve seen this time and time again.

Right now, protests against police brutality reached has fever pitch in America.

Sparking solidarity protests in the UK, Berlin, Melbourne Australia, Kenya etc.

It should go without saving Black Lives Matter.

To grasp the magnitude of the events, I’m speaking to a friend based the US.

He is a musician from band RDGLDGRN

They’ve worked with Pharrell, Dave Ghrol and Method Man

He goes by his adopted colour “Red”

But before all that he’s a black man living in this America.

Let’s talk.

Illustrator Dom&Ink is overflowing with personality. Seriously.

I first met the Bolton native with a pen behind his ear, frantically drawing hundreds of people in Selfridges. He’s been booking huge gigs ever since and has created work for Cheryl, Little Mix, 'X factor', and 'Ru Paul’s Drag Race'. His work has also been featured in Cosmopolitan, Gay Times, Glamour, Buzzfeed, and more.

But more so, Dominic has used his growing platform to champion minority voices. Themes in his work include LGBTQ+ rights, mental health awareness, body positivity, and of course drag queens.

He recently released the journal 'Free To Be Me' — a Love Letter to the LGBTQ+ community, designed to help young people come out. It was published by Penguin and is soon to be released in the US.

I wanted to know how he built a brand that’s both sincere and joyful.

Let's just say, everyone in Manchester knows Jsky.

He's a musician, presenter, and reality TV show regular from 'First Dates' to Channel 4's 'Naked Beach' (where he actually got naked in aid of promoting body positivity). He's often papped wearing spectacular eccentric outfits with his celebrity friends about town.

From the outfits to the public appearances, Jsky is an unapologetic self-promoter but I wanted to know how much of Jsky is a character and what it really takes to "create yourself" online.

We talk about confidence, self-belief, and changing perceptions.

Welcome to The Edit by L'Oréal Blackett, the Podcast that asks what It means to have "influence" in today’s digital world.

My name’s L’Oréal Blackett, a journalist, magazine editor, and presenter from Manchester.

For the past 10 years, I’ve interviewed hundreds of successful people, from all walks of life. One thing they had in common is they had influence. On and offline.

Fast forward to now when influencers are a new phenomenon. It’s a billion-dollar industry - mainly led by young women carving out a world for their own. And it seems everyone wants to have a personal brand nowadays.

Let’s face it, I want in.

But, at what cost?

I interview successful people from all walks of life to ask just that.

This, is The Edit.