Monroe native Bianca Smith is an LSU Mass Comm senior who is looking to be one of the leading voices advocating for representation of minority women in the entertainment industry. Smith stays involved with the media community by serving as a staff writer for Legacy Magazine and through her involvement with LSU’s radio station, KLSU. Her biggest project is working on the release of her comic series, Glitz Squad, which addresses the issues of misrepresentation of minority women in the comic industry.
I had the opportunity to get in touch with Bianca to hear more about her personal life and her future goals.
What brought you to Baton Rouge?
LSU. I’ve wanted to go to LSU since I started high school, and the atmosphere that Baton Rouge has only made me more excited to spend my next four years here.
What is your professional goal post graduation?
My goal after graduation is to get Glitz Squad on the shelves and publish my first novel.
As someone who is so involved with comics, who are some influential comic book characters and creators that have affected you personally and why?
The comic book character that has had the most influence on me isKamala Khan from “Ms. Marvel,” because we have so much in common in terms of our heritage and the setbacks we’ve experienced in life. She’s everything I could hope to be.Kelly Sue DeConnick is a comic creator that I very much look up to because she has been somewhat of a leader in the feminist comics movement and she inspired me to make Glitz Squad to begin with.
Since we’re talking about comics, let’s also talk about time travel. What does Bianca in 2016 want to make sure Bianca in 2036 has accomplished?
I hope 20 years from now I’m a No. 1 New York Times bestselling comic book writer and novelist. I also hope that I have released one feature film that stars minority actors and have a Netflix show that does the same. But most of all, I hope that I’ve become an important figure in the feminist movement, especially in the entertainment sector.
On top of classes, you are involved with several media groups that have a strong presence on LSU’s campus. What’s your motivation behind being so actively involved in so many projects?
I knew being involved in student media will help me get my foot in the door with other media outlets that extend far beyond LSU. I’ve always been a huge movie and music buff and I love to read magazines, so I’m really grateful that I get to work withLegacy Magazine andKLSU to give me the chance to put my fingerprint on the work they create for LSU.
What is your go-to music right now?
This is a tough question considering the fact that my Spotify is insane! But recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of Drake, Passion Pit, SBTRKT, Glass Animals, Kanye West, The Weeknd, Movement and Borns.
This year’s TedxLSU theme is “Why?” What’s your biggest “why” question right now?
Why aren’t there more minorities represented in the media?
Having lived in Baton Rouge over the last few years, what are some highlights of the community that have had the most impact on you?
The LSU community. I met so many amazing people who I am proud to call me friends and I have grown so much here. Not only did I learn a lot academically, but I have also learned so much about myself and have garnered a new perspective about the world around me.
If you could switch jobs with another TEDxLSU speaker for one day, who would it be and why?
Chris Thomas King. I love music and Louisiana is the only home I know. I think it’s so awesome that he is using his music career as a tool to promote Louisiana’s history.
