Bevy Smith: Bravo's Fashion Queens and Her New Bevelations

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/hzkgfj/Bevy_Final_-_3_15_21_202_PMahsz9.mp3

EPISODE SUMMARY:

From a fashion publishing executive to a radio host, author, entrepreneur, and more, Bevvy Smith’s journey of changing careers and finding success serves as inspiration for women to follow their instincts and pursue any goal fearlessly. In today’s episode, Bridgett spoke with Bevy about her transition from fashion to media and how it’s shaped both her and her career. First, Bridgett asked about the inspiration behind Bevelations, Bevy’s newest book. Bevy explained how it was the people who reached out to her through social media wanting to know more about her story that inspired Bevy’s writing., She knew she couldn’t respond to them all, so her book serves as a detailed guide through her successful career change. Bevvy also spoke about her first experience with “mansplaining”. For her, the instance occurred when she was still working for Rolling Stone.

At thirty-eight years old, she was told by her boss that she was experiencing a midlife crisis. At the time, Bevy knew his words were ridiculous, but looking back, the instance serves as a prime example of issues that midlife women face in the work force. Bridgett then asked about “Little Brown Bevy”, which is a section in Bevelations. Bevy shared how she’d grown up in a loving and close family and how it wasn’t until junior high that she began to lose her confidence. After having her first encounters with cliques and mean girls, Bevy realized that if she wanted to fit in, she had to repress her true self and become someone that would be deemed “cool” by her peers. She lost her connection to “Little Brown Bevy”, the child that held so much confidence and hope, and didn’t find her until adulthood, when she was about to change careers and needed that confidence again. Along with “Little Brown Bevy”, Bevy also spoke about her other personas such as “MC Bevy” and “Big Bev from Uptown”, both of which represent different aspects of her life and personality. When asked about the story behind her segment “Dinner with Bevy”, Bevy shared how the whole idea started at a dinner. After realizing she was broke, Bevy was invited to a dinner party by Hugo Boss at Nobu, an extremely upscale and expensive restaurant. After the party, she ran into an up-and-coming musician, and realized that, unlike her, he would never be able to get into a fancy dinner party unless invited. It was that interaction that sparked the idea for “Dinner with Bevy”.

Bevy then spoke about the concept of the red sole. She talked about the comparison between Christian Louboutin shoes and the iconic pair of Manolo Blahniks from Sex and the City, sharing that the only thing setting the two expensive brands apart was Louboutin’s red soles. Bevy wants to encourage others to find their own “red sole” by asking themselves who they are at their core, how they’re received and how they want to be received. By answering these questions, one can start to build their own personal brand. When Bridgett asked about the importance of mentors in Bevy’s life, Bevy talked about how even though her mentors were not black and did not share her background, they cared for her and nurtured both her and her career in an uplifting and positive way. She still maintains relationships with her mentors today, and after speaking about them, shared stories of other inspiring women pursuing their passions, including her own sister who started a catering company called Miss Lolly’s Kitchen. Bridgett asked about Bevy’s website, and Bevy told her that there are many great features to be found on her website, including Bevelations merchandise and links to all of Bevy’s appearances, interviews, and more.

Bevy Smith

From her website:

Quintessential Harlem girl, Gracie Award winner, and life-long New Yorker Bevy Smith is the host of Sirius XM’s “Bevelations” on Radio Andy. Once a wildly successful luxury fashion publishing exec, Bevy shifted her professional goals over a decade ago to pursue a life in front of the camera. A pop culture aficionado and fashion expert, Bevy served as moderator of Bravo TV’s revolutionary “Fashion Queens,” and was a former co-host on the nationally syndicated “Page Six TV.” Bevy continues to be part of “The Wendy Williams Show’s Style Squad.” Smith’s debut book “Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie” which details her transition from a fashion advertising executive into a media personality was published through Andy Cohen Books, the new eponymous imprint at Henry Holt and Company on January 12, 2021.

For the past five years, Bevy has hosted “Fashion for Action,” an annual fundraiser for Housing Works, a New York-based thrift store chain and advocacy group that helps find appropriate housing for people living with HIV and AIDS. In 2017, Smith was named Community Champion of AIDS Organization Harlem United. Additionally, Bevy is on the board of Cool Culture, a charity devoted to raising awareness among underprivileged children. Bevy is also both a formal and informal mentor to many, she takes great pride in being a part of WEEN

(Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network).