We were lucky to catch up with Kariatu Jalloh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kariatu, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Both of my parents were born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Their objective was to come to America for the opportunity to build a better life. Typically when you are born to immigrant parents, they project their fears and dreams onto you. My parents did the opposite and created space for my dreams to exist freely. They opened their minds to my aspirations and supported me the best way they knew how. Even when my plans were bigger than myself, they kept me grounded and made sure I knew God and put him first. That is the best thing they’ve done for me and the reason I know I can do anything I put my mind to.

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

My name is Kariatu Jalloh and I am the founder of Krowned Korner. Krowned Korner is the hub for all things life, laughter, learning, and love with an emphasis on relationships of all capacities. The brand started back in 2018 as a blog and I decided that I was going to merge my passion for journalism and writing with my passion for mental health. I started off with just telling my story, tackling different tough topics and providing an advice column for my supporters. Before I knew it my brand grew and I started to speak at events, hosting my own events, podcasting, and started a YouTube channel. I am now blessed with a community of people who invest their time, energy, and money into my platform.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My audience sort of built itself. I knew that I had to sit and think about who I was creating content for and what I wanted them to take away from my social media. I quickly realized that my brand wouldn’t be for everybody and that all I needed to do was create meaningful content and the audience would come organically. My advice to someone trying to build their social media presence would be: don’t try to please everyone, it isn’t a realistic goal and it takes away from the authenticity.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to bridge the gap between education and application as it relates to mental health. Being an African-American woman in America, I have watched my people suffer in silence when it comes to their mental health. I am determined to change the narrative and connect the dots so that people not only acknowledge their mental health but actually understand its complexities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.krownedkorner.com
• Instagram: @krownedkorner And @kariatu.j
• Twitter: @Kariatusj
• Youtube: KariatuJ