Sasha The Diva: Work Hard & Don’t Lose Yourself

Written By: Maya Perry

“Work Hard. Don’t lose yourself in others. Stick up for yourself. Be aggressive and stick up for what you want.” 

Sasha The Diva doesn’t see herself as an one dimensional personality. She is a radio host, actress, philanthropist, public/motivational speaker, and an entrepreneur owning several businesses. She states “I did not find my purpose, it was a gift given to me from God! I knew this was my path, God gave me this gift.” Sasha The Diva describes her start in radio. “I started in radio working as in intern at V103 in Baltimore, Maryland. I worked in the promotions department, I worked in the office. I did not care if they asked me to bring them coffee or anything. I would ask them how much cream and sugar. I was just excited to be in the building and I was learning everything to know about radio.” Like most women in the industry, Sasha The Diva did any and everything to work towards her goals of being in radio. 

First thing I notice when speaking to Sasha was her cute radio name. When asked how she came up with her name, she explains, “Sasha the Diva was given to me by my father when I was a little girl and I just embraced the name! I have always been Sasha the Diva.” 

You can catch Sasha the Diva every day on Rick and Sasha, heard around the country.. When I asked what advice she would give to upcoming women of the airwaves, she states, “I should have listened to my parents more because they were giving me great advice, but I wanted to do it my way. My way ended up wasting some time.”

Emily Sklar: How An Emergency Drive Led Her To Radio

Written By: Maya Perry

“Radio is meant to be fun, and I feel like we get so caught up in our daily tasks, what’s being asked of us, what our competitors are doing, that we forget WHAT we are doing and what we are serving to our communities.”

Emily On Air is an IheartMedia girl who is super relatable and fun! When asked why she didn’t pick an over the top name to match the giddy personality she simply answered “I wanted a super fun radio name, but at the time I was starting, they were kind of a thing of the past. It was more about authenticity online, most Youtubers were switching from ‘screen names’ to their real names, so I figured I would do the same with radio and just use my first name. I did, however, start to make certain aspects of social media less accessible to keep some things private. I did have someone once give me a radio name, though. A pretty important boss of mine during an internship once told me to go by ‘Sklar Brooks’, somewhat of a mashup between my middle and last name. I didn’t. Whoops.”

Emily like many of us didn’t have a dream of radio but destiny led her to this platform. “The long story-- I switched my major to journalism and fell in love with radio in the first place after being drawn to Cosmo Radio on Sirius XM. I was a camp counselor in a pretty remote location where I knew none of the local radio stations, and one summer, my grandfather was very sick while I was there. I got a call that he was going to die and that I needed to drive the three hours to the hospital to say goodbye. In a frazzled state of mind, I got in my car and knew I needed to hear some sort of conversation to keep me company while I drove, and since this was before podcasting, I turned to talk radio. I stumbled upon Cosmo Radio, literally Cosmo the magazine but on the radio, and somehow my mind was so invested in what I was listening to that I forgot what I was doing LITERALLY until I was about 5 minutes from the hospital. That one drive was a catalyst to what became my radio career. In that moment, I truly understood the power and purpose of radio and what it had the capability of doing.

Always believe in yourself and stay authentic to yourself. Don’t forget the WHY that brought you to this job in the first place and put your passion above everything else. Lead with passion, humility, and a great work ethic, and you will go far.”

When asked what piece of advice she would leave with other women in radio, she states, “My dad said it to me when I was younger and it sticks with me every day, so I would just echo the phrase, ‘never be afraid to pay your dues’. We are in this weird age where people expect instant fame or instant success. We see highlight reels of everyone’s lives and it always looks like they came upon success so easily, but that is usually not the case. Success takes time. Work on your craft, take it at your own speed and pay your dues. Learn along the way, and be humble. Be SO humble. Be easy to work with, and also share your knowledge with others!! Working as a team with those around you will only help you. Also-- have confidence in yourself and your abilities. I was so lucky to find my first boss who definitely had more confidence in me and my abilities than I had in myself. If only I had trusted my abilities sooner, I would have started radio sooner. It took someone else believing in me for ME to believe in me, which is kind of sad. Give yourself the gift of self-confidence and let it shine in everything you do. Support other women in the field, always. Succeed as a team. I promise it’s more fun that way.”

Leigha Fox: The Radio Lady GaGa

Written by: Maya Perry

“I knew from the beginning that my name Leigha Fox lent itself well to the entertainment business. I once had a Key West drag queen call me “Laya Fox” I had to put a stop to that quick. I knew I wanted to work in radio from the time I was 12 years old with influences from local radio personalities in NW Arkansas all the way to Oprah Winfrey. I wanted to fall somewhere in there.”

Leigha Fox is an open book. After seeing one of my women in radio blogs on Apple News, she reached out to me via Facebook (THE POWER OF THE INTERNET) to tell her fascinating story in radio.

With over 20 years in this media industry, I was ready to take a walk down memory lane with The self-proclaimed “Radio Lady Gaga”. She explains, “As soon as I got my high school diploma I started banging on radio station doors trying to get hired. I recorded a lot of free public service announcements and commercials because I didn’t even have an aircheck. I took my first radio job at Country Lovin’ KTCS in Fort Smith Arkansas. It was supposed to be just the weekends but as soon as I started, the overnight guy had to go to rehab. I ended up working seven nights a week, midnight to 6 am, for a solid year.

During that time I learned that I was not a night owl. I am now and have always been a morning person. The effects of working all night, every night was starting to take a toll on me psychologically and physically. I became disenchanted with radio. So, I ran away and joined the Navy. I did four years of active duty in the service and two years in the Navy Reserve.

In the summer of 1998, the Reserves brought me to Key West. I fell in love with the place. I went back to Arkansas had a big yard sale and moved here with what I could fit in my car. I took odd jobs and volunteered with a lot of different charities. Then one day I saw an ad in the paper that said “Radio Personality Wanted. Must be able to show up on time. I thought to myself “I can do that! “.

As of the summer of 2020 hits, I will have been back in Radio for 20 years.

I am the Florida Keys Radio Girl. I have a career with a cluster of eight radio stations that span 108 miles of the island chain, 43 islands connected by 42 bridges. I drive across the ocean every day on my way to work. I occasionally see dolphins and sting-rays jumping in the water as I drive across the 7-mile bridge each morning. I host a live radio show 9-10 am M-F, called Biz -Biz (short for bizarre bazaar) on US1Radio. People from around the islands call in to buy, sell and trade their boats or to sell a stand-up-paddle-board that they used one time or a variety of other things from Cars to Rusty rakes. The show is sprinkled with local advertisers that we talk to live. We also take calls from around the community for nonprofit events and concerts and other local stories of interest. I am pre-recorded on US1Radio mid-day. In addition to being on-the-air seven days a week and my radio sales advertising job, I also write and coproduce the commercials and do collections. You can also catch me on Conch Country on the weekends.”

Leigha Fox has many accomplishments including multiple Edward R Murrow awards for hurricane coverage spanning the last two decades. When asked what she would tell her younger self, she states, “Radio didn’t forget about me and now my relationship with my first love (radio) is strong and secure. It’s everything and more than that little 12-year-old girl from Arkansas could have ever dreamed it would be.”

We concluded the interview with her advice upcoming women in radio, she explains, “Remember “No” only means “not now” (in radio) and that being naive can serve you well by allowing you to accomplish things that you wouldn’t have if you had known that you couldn’t do it.”

Jenny V: Beauty Queen With A Face For Radio

Written by: Maya Perry

“People like to say I’m a beauty queen with a face for radio. I’m a former Miss Iowa USA, and most people will ask me why I’m not in television. I always tell them, “I’d rather have fans love me for my personality instead of for my looks.”

​Jenny Valliere did not allow her looks to steer her for what was destined. Jenny is on air and a Program Director for Z 102.9 FM in Eastern Iowa. Jenny explains her journey into radio. “I go by my actual first and last name, and this is the only name I have ever went by in my radio career! At the time we were deciding what I would go by on the air, our Program Director thought it’d make the most sense to keep my real name. I had already started building my brand in my hometown, and since I was doing radio in the same town, he thought it would help to keep growing my brand. I have always had a passion for entertaining others. Throughout high school I was involved in theatre, I joined the speech team for broadcasting and I was our school’s morning news anchor. I went to college for Communications and originally thought I was going to be a television news anchor. My advisor asked me if I had ever considered radio. I decided to take a tour of a locally-owned radio station in my hometown, known as Z102.9. I immediately fell in love. That summer, I did my college internship with the station and was hired on part-time afterwards. Eventually I trained to be on-air and worked all the weekend overnights, holidays, filling in for vacations, accepting any shift I could get my hands on. Leading up to my college graduation, the overnight DJ announced she was leaving. I immediately applied, and sure enough, I started my first full-time overnight shift the same night as my college graduation- midnight to 5:30 a.m. After 15 months of many gas station coffees, I was promoted to the Afternoon Drive. June of 2018, I was offered the role of Assistant Program Director and Music Director, in addition to being on air. This past December I was appointed to become Program Director of Z102.9, and I have been with this same station, since I was an intern back in 2012.” 

​As a Program Director, Jenny is in charge of the sound of the radio station. She helps to manage the station's programming and direct staff at the station to ensure that the station always sounds its best and suits the needs of its listeners. When asked what advice should give to women who are interested in being on air or getting into radio business, this was her clear and direct response. “Keep working hard, and everything is going to work out. Growing up, I battled the effects of parental substance abuse. There were times I had no hope for my future, and felt so lost about my career goals. I worked three part-time jobs while being a full-time college student, with a double-major and a minor. Although I faced a lot of adversity growing up, hard work truly pays off. I believe I wouldn’t be as successful today if it weren’t for my past. Make yourself valuable and don’t ever stop being motivated. Learn as much as you can, and take on more and more responsibilities each day. There are going to be days that are tough, weeks you work well over 40 hours, times you feel like giving up, but the best you can do is keep the motivation. If you put your all into your work, you’ll leave no room for regrets or doubts.”

Betty Boop On Air: Simply Black and White

Written by: Maya Perry

“This radio life is so crazy and difficult! Only a bad ass like you would knowingly and voluntarily dive in head-first to such depths. And you do it selfishly because you want to educate, entertain, and inform your people.”

Yesenia Alvarez better known as “Betty Boop” on air is a multimedia personality. To kick off our interview, She describes her start in radio. “Back in 2005 or 2006, I got the opportunity to be the Hip Hop journalist for StreetFlavaRadio.com and I was SO shy at how my voice sounded! In 2011 I interned at WLEY, one of the top Regional Mexican radio stations in Chicago and the Midwest. I was hired as an on-air talent and morning show producer.”

One of the most interesting things I noticed when talking to her, was her chosen on air name. When I asked why she chose “Betty Boop” she explains, I’ve always liked the Betty Boopcharacter since I was a young child. My family would always gift me Betty Boop bags, frames, etc. And it was always a nickname for me up until I went into mainstream radio. Betty Boop, although sexy and provocative, she was a revolutionary. She tackled real-life topics in her black-and-white films.”

Similar to the character, Betty Boop on air herself like to tackle real topics. She states “My purpose is to be my authentic self, to be unapologetic, to stand in my truth and to lead by example. Luckily, I never felt like I had to “find my purpose.” I just felt it. Radio has been my main vehicle to transport my purpose. My brand is that of a multi-faceted person that does not shy away from her gifts. We concluded the interview with her list advice for women seeking radio careers. 

1. Know yourself and what you want! 

2. Don’t lose yourself in the process. 

3. Continue to educate yourself

4. Remember you are in a position many people wish they had. Use your platform to spread positive messages to your audience. 

Amelia De Vita: From Radio Down Under

Written By: Maya Perry

Amelia De Vita is Mid-Day Jock - Big 105.9 in South Florida. But before she came to Florida, she was just a woman in radio from down under. “I’m from Australia so there was an instant move towards that as part of my persona, I do have little Australian colloquialisms when I speak. My brand is young, fun and foreign which is relatable to so many of my listeners here in South Florida.”

She describes her start in radio while growing up in Australia. “I did a degree in Applied Media and Communications in Australia. I was sitting in a lecture with a guest speaker, a man who was the General Manager of a popular radio station down under. When the lecture finished and all the students left, I went up to the front and told the guest speaker I would love to volunteer and get some work experience. He agreed and I worked there for free for a few months before they put me on the payroll as a street teamer and a panel op.”

Amelia De Vita is simply a testimony that “Good things come to those who HUSTLE! Continue to work hard, it will be worth it.” She concludes our interview with a quote she lives by. “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it's stupid. “Figure out what your best skill is and focus on that, lean into that and sell that because you’ll only waste time on anything else. Know that you CAN take on the world, BELIEVE in yourself and get it, girl!”