We recently connected with Jennifer ‘JayBee’ Beasley and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer ‘JayBee’, appreciate you joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

Being misunderstood is something that a lot of people fear especially in an age of internet opinion. As someone who has made a lot of strides to be a pilar in the community and a role model for people who look like me and come from where I’m from, it’s hard to navigate being ‘perfect’ in the eyes of others that only see your accomplishments. If I could tell anyone, anything about being an entrepreneur, or having any type of public eye on you, I’d say to always remain true to yourself in all ways so that you don’t have to fake it. There are people out there that know how to spot a fake person and fake attitude. They just aren’t enough genuine people, or enough people to have encountered someone that isn’t out to get something from them in the world. Also, I would say give those who are doing the work some grace. Yes, you see and may even envy our accomplishments but behind closed doors, life is still kicking our butt.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Sure. I’m an emcee and community arts activist from the City of Compton. As the creator and host of the award winning Compton Open Mic, I’ve brought people from all over Southern California and abroad to Compton, California through arts and culture. I own More2JayBee LLC and give back to my community through engagement, events, mobilization and education on community awareness. I’m a youth mentor, event host, on-air personality and a cancer survivor recently profiling my life through my Ted talk “Celebrating Your Cancer” with TedxComptonBlvd.

I’m a stylish public speaker and have a curriculum called Survivor Studies where I teach elementary to high school students about on stage and in-life confidence. I also started a trademarked lifestyle brand, Compton Celebrity, that provides opulence to the underrepresented through clothing, styling and beauty products placed in neighborhood stores.

Lastly, I’m a Miss Compton pageant queen and have with multiple non-profits, provided free haircuts for fathers, allowed free vendor opportunities for up and coming local businesses and ran 10 charity miles for 10 deserving local mother’s during the pandemic garnering me the Lakers and Comerica Women of Diversity in Business Award for 2022. My book “Straight Outta Chemo, A Fight for Love and Life” is available on Amazon which aims to help people who have fought cancer and their families navigate such a difficult time.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Anytime I get a chance I always like to bring up my favorite book of all time. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is one of the most impactful books that I have ever read. The things that I was able to learn and implement after reading this book so many times seriously changed my life. Who knew that four sentences could make such a drastic change for me. The first agreement and not in a particular order is not to take anything personally. Peoples realities in perceptions of us are just that. They don’t make it a fact and you don’t have to conform to those opinions. Most of the time, it’s not even about us. The second agreement is to always do your best. On days when I don’t feel like I can give 100% I give my 50 and if that’s all I can do that day, then that was my best. The third agreement that I like, is to never assume. As a Pisces, I’m a true over-thinker. Not assuming the worst has been an ordeal for me. But, just like you can assume something bad, you can also assume something good. At the end of the day, it’s probably best not to assume anything, because none of us can tell the future. We’re just trying to protect ourselves from familiar fails. The last agreement is very critical. Always keep your word. I learned that keeping your word to others is obvious, but keeping your word to yourself is just as important.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I don’t think many people know how important it is to have self-esteem. Regardless of what other people say about you, it is much more important to think well of yourself. What you think of yourself, whether it’s by putting on make up or working out, should always take precedent.

 A mission that drives my creative journey is the fact that I don’t feel like Black people have enough esteem within themselves. If we really got more in tune with what we actually like individually, and not so caught up on societal views or standards that were never made for us, I think we would be in a much better space mentally, physically, and emotionally. With my brand, Compton Celebrity, I chose those two words together, so that Compton, where I’m from, would know that they are the ones that should be put on a pedestal and have greater connection and community with the people that they are around instead of those they see on the screen that may never help them in life. If we cared more about our community, we would treat it better. If we cared more about ourselves, we would treat ourselves better. Me included..

Contact Info:

• Website: www.more2jaybee.com
• Instagram: @More2JayBee
• Facebook: More 2 JayBee
• Linkedin: JayBeeMore
• Other: @comptoncelebrity www.ComptonCelebrity.com