Taiia (Tee-eye-yah) is a writer, editor, author, content creator and Director of Content for Smart Girl Media. She teaches aspiring authors how to use their experience and expertise to write and self-publish short, but powerful books that create influence, impact and income.
Prior to starting Smart Girl Media, she was the Entertainment Director for Latina and Latina.com. Taiia has also held senior editor positions at Juicy, XXL and ESSENCE. Her byline has also appeared in EBONY, Black Enterprise and NV magazines; and Verizon.com, MadameNoire.com, HelloBeautiful.com, Refinery29.com and Bustle.com.
As an interviewer and on-camera host, Taiia has been in conversation with top talent, including Michelle Obama, La La Anthony, Mary J. Blige, Zendaya, Rita Moreno, Fergie, Taraji P. Henson, Judy Reyes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, Nas and Kelly Rowland. In 2018, Taiia launched Rock Your College Essay (RYCE).
RYCE is an interactive workshop that teaches students how to write engaging personal statements that merge culture, community and storytelling. Taiia graduated from Johnson C. Smith University with a B.A. in Mass Communications and earned a publishing certificate from the Columbia Journalism Publishing Course. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.