We were lucky to catch up with Queen Sandruh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Queen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in a creative career or as an entrepreneur is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

This time last year, I was eager to relaunch my brands BÈLPAK/BÈL BEAUTY, get back to doing my podcast Queen’S Table full time and finishing up my first published book “I Don’t Know It All, But I Know Enough”. Then life hit me in more ways than one and I couldn’t recover. I couldn’t ignore that I had to start all over again and didn’t know if I could do it all while emotionally, mentally, physically and financially being done and exhausted. This is something that I am still battling with and dealing with to this day. In a way I didn’t want to do this interview because then I HAD to put on paper and on record that from my last interview 2.22.22 till presently, I have nothing but my own memories to show. That I didn’t in fact bring everything into fruition but instead having to be content with starting from scratch all over again. I eventually decided to do this interview to show other that starting over even when you didn’t think you would have to is okay, and may have been apart of the plan the entire time. I read a quote that said “Trust God with your tomorrow”. I needed that quote now more than ever because I felt defeated that all the work that I’ve done over the years are just in photos, videos and memories now. I felt as if I failed my younger self…when I’m not failing anyone. I’ve done it once and I can and will do it again.

Queen, 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?

Back in 2015 as an on-air radio personality host for the show “The Roundtable”, I fell in love with using my voice and QueenSandruh made her debut.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

On December 7th 2022, I received a call I hopes no one ever receives. My home for the last 9 years burned with nothing left to recover. All of my things from the last 9 years, through all my highs and lows of life and college, gone. Everything for Queen’S Table, BÈL/BÈLPAK, and my dog Oreo “Ori” also gone. Nothing was recovered but none of my siblings were hurt which was most important. This lost was a major lost for me and caused me to question how would I ever recover from such a lost without anything to pick up from. Then January of 2023, I took another devastating loss. My co-host from “The RoundTable” and a dear friend of mine lost his battle to depression something I nor anyone who knew him ever expected because of how beautiful his soul and spirit was. He was and will always be a star amongst the sky #LongLiveDaDon. If that wasn’t enough heartache for me, in Feb 2023 I lost one of my closest friend in a car accident a few hours after having my last conversation with her #4EvaTatisWorld #LLSlimB. I couldn’t dare recover from this and took a break from everything and everyone while trying to process what life looked like for me now after these tragic losses. From having everything and everyone in my life, to losing people that I though would always be around and having to start from scratch when it came to my brands, I needed to leave everything where it was at to make sense of my new norm. I used the time away to gather what was left of myself that I was able to hold on to. I found comfort in my faith and therapy and have now chosen to try and rise like a phoenix from the asses of my reality. Grief will always live in me, but while I’m still able to live, I have chosen to start doing that again.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part for me is being able to be true to myself and still have people support me and what I do. For a very long time, maybe even most of my life I was afraid of my own light, my own potential and my own power. I think society has taught us to be ashamed of our voices, dreams and aspirations especially if it doesn’t line up with what the world sees fit for you to be doing. I was afraid to step out and reveal myself and in a way be vulnerable to those who didn’t like my approach or the fact that it was coming from a Black Woman! But now who cares who don’t like me! Who cares who do! I love me and that will always matter more than anyone else’s option of me. But no shade to those who love me though. I love everyone who loves them some me now Lol!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/queensandruh
• Instagram: @QueenSandruh

Image Credits
Queen’S Table Logo by IG: TrellVisionStudio