Q: What is your SwagHer?
Tahyira: My SwagHer is my tenacious approach to living life happily. I love partying, having fun, loud music, and being social. When you are confident, the World can become bigger.
Q: What is your background?
Tahyira: I was born in Brooklyn, NYC, to Trinidadian parents. I’m the first generation of Americans in my family.
Q: What inspired you to choose the career you have today?
Tahyira: Being artistic has always intrigued me. I loved watching Disney as a kid. I spent years on stage as a dancer and then a performer. Writing came when I wrote a master’s thesis in 2010 about human trafficking. I realize I could use my thoughts and words as a weapon. The pen will always be mightier than the sword.
Q: Why SwagHer Magazine & Media?
Tahyira: Black-owned journalism is in low supply. I feel honored honestly to work on a team that reflects the same power I hold within. We have tons of different perspectives, and I’m grateful to have a safe space to engage with our readers.
Q: How long have you been a team member at SwagHer Magazine and Media?
Tahyira: A long time, haha I tell Fancy, she’s the only boss I really had. I do own my own company, another blog, News In Progress. I think I started at SwagHer in 2015.
Q: What does it mean to you to be chosen as the team member of the month?
Tahyira: I’m honored. It reminded me of that time I was a student of the month in 3rd grade. I’m not sure why but I think I promote myself a lot; it’s still like, wait me…you picked me… sort of response in my head. It’s good to see your work shine.
Q: What is a typical day for a journalist?
Tahyira: You start early; I try to get up by 5:30 on a good week, 7:30 the latest on a bad week. We need to read all the trending news stories before most people get up because our job is to report. Interviews are my favorite. For all parties, the writer, the readers, and the interviewee, we get to tell an organic story with humans.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wanted to become a journalist?
Tahyira: I would say be passionate with your approach and stay vigilant with the way you want to tell your stories. I had developed a writing voice before I blogged. Always know what you, the individual writer, is trying to convey, or….shut up.
