Lean on Mi Feature of the Week: Jasmine Goodwin

1. Tell me a little about yourself and your background ? How has life been since graduating Hampton?

My name is Jasmine Goodwin. I am a 23 year old recent graduate of the 2015 class of Hampton University. I was raised and currently reside in a suburb just outside of the city of brotherly love, known as Abington, Pa. Ever since I can remember, I’ve always qualified myself as a creative. There was never a moment in time when I didn’t want to be on a stage, in front of a camera or learning about others. I would also consider myself as multifaceted. I have a passion for fashion, music, storytelling, acting, directing, and more! So as you can probably imagine, life after graduating from college has been a bit of a journey. The journey for the last year has been all about finding my place in the world, learning who I am as a woman and taking ownership of that, and doing what I think is best for me and my path. That’s why I decided to attend Philadelphia University for graduate school to pursue a masters in Global Fashion Enterprise. Why not go to school for acting, film or for any of my other passions? Fashion has always been my way, more than anything else, to express myself. The passion for fashion runs deep in my blood line, inherited from my retail professional parents.

To truly answer the question, life after Hampton has been an eye opener. Hampton was an education for lifetime. Thanks to Hampton, I won’t ever dim my light for others to shine. I will hold my head high as the young black professional, as a Hampton woman, as a woman of the HBCU community, and no one can take that away from me. No matter what naysayers have to say, I know that I will always be qualified to do whatever I put my mind to, thanks to Hampton University. As we know, racial tension is real outside of Hampton University’s walls and I had the privilege of not having to face that divide for four years. I guess that I can say that I had always known that black lives mattered prior to Hampton, but thanks to my unified experience there, I am empowered to make sure that black lives, black careers, and black voices/representation matter in a world that implies it doesn’t. (I am also an intern for Skai Blue Media, a multimedia agency based in Philadelphia, whose CEO is a black woman that’s dominating the PR industry.)

2. You are now a graduate student at Philadelphia University. What has been a pivotal moment or event, while being in school?

A major pivotal moment for me at Philadelphia University was my opportunity to travel abroad to China. It was my very first time out of the country and just another thing to add to my lists of firsts for myself and my family. While I was in China, I walked the great wall, visited clothing manufacturing companies, and fully embraced the Chinese culture for two weeks. Within the span of the short course, we traveled from Shanghai to Beijing, and Shenzhen to Hong Kong. Going to China for me meant stepping outside of my comfort zone. Now, I can always say that I have been to China and back. I mean, how many people can say that they’ve been to the Great Wall!? My parents were so petrified, but excited for me. I have been living the life that I think they’ve always wanted to live, but have been too scared to do so. They both aren’t college graduates and my mom has never been outside of the country. So, my journey really is not my own. I devote it to my family, also.

3. You are currently the host of "Getting the Goods with Goodie". What was the inspiration for these videos? What do you hope to accomplish with these videos?

I am so excited to be the host, producer and director of my very own vlog series. The inspiration behind “Gettin’ The Goods” is really my love for all of my passions. The vlog encompasses just about everything that I love to do and speak on. When you tune into “Gettin’ The Goods”, you’re not just watching me as the host. You’re watching me as the director, as the producer, as the fashionista, as the storyteller, as the budding entrepreneur and future mogul. Sounds cocky, but I’m just invested in my brand. I wanted this project to be different from what you usually see. I didn’t want to do a blog that was focused on me and my fashion advice. I wanted to highlight the fashions and stories behind others. I thought that that would be way more interesting than hearing about my boring outfits or trend forecasts. Behind every fashionista, there’s a person and a story. That’s the message that I’m hoping to convey with GTG.

With these videos, I hope to pave a way for my own business and a successful career in television. I would love if people were to begin tuning in and it become a form of entertainment for them. Also, I hope to be a role model for black women with a similar dream. Ultimately, I want to be apart of diversity on television that’s so necessary for not only young black children to see, but as well as the world. They need to know that black women are more than capable of being successful and that we are a diverse group. Being a black, educated, creative, serious yet bubbly woman, is okay to be. We are layered and versatile individuals.

4. How do you stay driven, when it comes to promoting your passion for fashion and style?

Well, when it comes down to it, I don’t believe that I ever really promote my fashion or style. I’m really promoting who I am. Fashion is just an extension of that. It comes with my personal brand. Fashion has always been a part of who I am and I guess promoting it comes naturally. I stay driven by always being myself. I never want to look like the next person. I take ownership on how I like to self express through fashion, regardless of what others think.

5. What is the legacy you wish to leave on the world? and Why can other girls or women lean on you?

My biggest legacy that I wish to leave in this world is far beyond my television or fashion industry aspirations. I hope to be remembered as a great mentor. I want for others to know that I had truly cared about giving back and uplifting young black women to be the best version of them that they can possibly be. I had a rough time growing up with being a victim of bullying. It took me along time to realize that I didn’t need to impress anyone other than myself. What’s most important in this life, is being your authentic self. When you love yourself, you glow. I enjoy helping other women and girls find their glow. Even if it’s a simple compliment, it truly goes a long way for your fellow black girl to know that they are valued by her peer. Women and girls can lean on me because I’m devoted to lifting them up. When everyone else pushes our backs against the wall, we need to be there for each other to instill confidence. When we value each other and ourselves, we lead by example on how we should be treated by those outside of our race.