Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashlee Mitchell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashlee, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I knew I wanted my career and life to take on an untraditional path. I pushed myself to study abroad in Korea before I had even taken a Korean class, and it ended up being one of the best decisions of my life. Studying abroad made me realize how independent I could be and cemented my love for entertainment and travel. I went to so many concerts and made lifelong friends, and when I returned home, I started getting involved in the music industry. This led to interviewing artists for major publications, and I began collecting bylines in magazines like Teen Vogue, Dazed, Grammy. com, and MTV News. After a while, I pivoted again when it became clear journalism wasn’t my long term goal. I started writing fiction, took acting classes, and eventually started my tiktok account which blew up quickly. From there, so many doors have opened simply because I bet on myself and my interests instead of letting a fear of failure hold me back. Now I know the path I want to be on as a storyteller and am on my way to achieving it.

Ashlee, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a writer, content creator, and actor. For me, starting with the basics and learning as much as I can through research has helped me in every creative field. When I wanted to make content, I took notes on what sort of content I enjoyed watching and how I could make it my own. For acting, I took classes and read interviews of successful actors, and from there got an agent and started auditioning. My writing has been a longer term thing, as I’d been recognized from my university and throughout my academic career for being a strong writer. I just took the time to figure out what stories I wanted to tell and got myself into a mentorship program to hone my skills further. I’ve recently fallen in love with reading again and it’s helped me a lot to understand the craft better. I’ve found mentorship, patience, and genuine interest in what you’re doing can go a long way.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The entertainment and media industries have changed so much over the years, and keeping up with it can be difficult when you’re just starting out. I already knew journalism wasn’t going to work for me long term, but it was hard turning down opportunities to earn money and interview artists. Once publications started to shut down and I noticed writers being laid off, I knew it was the best time to focus on building my own brand. I didn’t have the same excuses, and this allowed me to build in other areas that were important to me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I always like connecting with and inspiring others. I’ve met so many people who grew up in marginalized communities or without proper representation, and knowing I can contribute to helping them feel seen makes the work feel worth it. Every time I share something with the world, whether it be my writing, a video, or anything, it leaves some sort of impact. I always want to try my best to be positive and help make the world a better place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hoo.be/itgirlash
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashlee.luvv/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itgirlash

Image Credits

@popmediala, Meghane Collins, Kiki Shin