Occupation: Fashion Journalist. Fashion Editor for Essence.com, Columnist Huffington Post, Blogger – The Blay Report.
First fashion memory: Wearing a silk-jersey blend pink and gray striped ruffled skirt with matching top – and no coat – in the dead of winter at seven years old on my way to America.
Inspirations: My mother. My sister. My aunt. My journey.
Last book read: Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch – Books one through three.
Favorite movies: The Color Purple always has an effect on me.
First job: Been working since I was 14. But my first official, salary, 401k, office, etc job was as Readers Editor for Seventeen Magazine.
Current car: New York City Taxi.
Favorite meal: Medium-rare steak with broccoli rabe and lobster mashed potatoes and a glass of Merlot.
Favorite ice cream flavor: Cheescake with graham cracker crust bits.
Childhood dream(s): To make my mother proud.
Greatest career moment: Haven’t reached it yet.
Most painful career moment: Deciding to leave my post as Womens Fashion Edtior at Paper Magazine. It felt like leaving my family.
Favorite designers: Might be more precise to describe the following as my favorite thinkers – who create fashion: Azzedine Alaia, Elsa Schiaparelli, Gabrielle Chanel, Rick Owens.
Musical tastes: Top 40 Listener.
Favorite TV show: Any reality show on VH1, which is currently the new BET.
Hobbies/leisure activities: Does sleeping count?
Embarrassing career memory: Asking my then 34 year old editor – when I was 21 – if she remembered High School. With no sense of irony.
Most memorable interview or event: Walking out of Atoosa Rubenstein’s, then Editor-in-chief of Seventeen Magazine, office after an hour spent talking about our hair, the immigrant experience and our fathers – and thinking I totally didn’t get that job. I got a call the next day.
Favorite quotation(s): “Do your best, then forget the rest.”
People qualities most admired: Knowing your limit – then exceeding it.
www.Zandileblay.com
Topics: Atoosa Rubenstein, Azzedine Alaia, Broccoli Rabe, Career Moment, Cheescake, Childhood Dream, City Taxi, Columnist Huffington, Conversations With God, Conversations With God By Neale Donald Walsch, Dead Of Winter, Elsa Schiaparelli, Fashion Editor, Gabrielle Chanel, Graham Cracker Crust, Immigrant Experience, Musical Tastes, Neal Donald Walsh, Neale Donald Walsch, New Bet, Rare Steak, Rick Owens, Silk Jersey, Vh1
Biofile with Zandile Blay | 