From Harvard to Fashion Bomb!!!

Summary

Keep it Positive, Sweetie

Episode: From Harvard to Fashion Bomb!!!

Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Claire Somers, Founder of Fashion Bomb Daily
Released: February 8, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Claire Somers, the founder and force behind Fashion Bomb Daily. Host Crystal Renee Hayslett and Claire discuss Claire’s journey from Atlanta (by way of Brooklyn) to Harvard University, the drive and passion that shaped her career, and how she carved out her own lane in fashion media. The conversation explores themes of longevity, representation, ownership, resilience, and the unique challenges Black women face as entrepreneurs and visionaries—all while navigating and influencing an industry often reluctant to make space for new voices.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Claire’s Upbringing and Path to Harvard

• Roots and Childhood: Born in Brooklyn, raised in Atlanta from age nine. Claire describes “Old Atlanta” — before the influx of reality TV — as a vibrant, accessible haven for Black creativity and culture.
  Quote: “I remember going to Lenox Mall, seeing Usher... TLC would just be shopping. It was just different. A cool time.” (04:36)
• Academic Rigor & Inspiration:
  • Raised in a family where education was non-negotiable (“My mom is a teacher... reading and writing were the culture of our house.” 05:23)
  • Attended Westminster Schools in Atlanta; was motivated to excel academically after a school honor roll ceremony highlighted the lack of Black representation.
  • Her brother, a Harvard alum, inspired her to apply and guided her through the process.
    Quote: “For me, I was like, something clicked where I was like, I want to be up there. I’m not okay, in general, in life, with not being exceptional.” (06:11)
• Harvard Experience:
  • Experienced imposter syndrome, culture shock (06:40–09:51).
  • Valued the friendships and networks made there and developed a strong work ethic.

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Entry into Fashion & the Rise of Fashion Bomb Daily

• Fashion as Family & Destiny:
  • Fashion roots: mother stitched her clothes, grandfather was a master tailor (10:44).
  • Interned at Upscale magazine’s fashion department by chance, which launched her trajectory.
• Early Career and Industry Barriers:
  • Navigated multiple internships in New York, often unpaid or underpaid (12:02).
  • Despite Harvard credentials, couldn’t break into established fashion magazines; faced obstacles and gatekeeping (13:14–13:56).
  • Rejection from Vogue: “They told me they did not want to see me because I was not a candidate that they would be interested in.” (13:16)
• Birth of Fashion Bomb Daily (2006):
  • Motivated by advice from a friend to start a blog.
  • Initially wrote about herself until readers started sending style questions (14:44).
  • Recognized the lack of coverage in mainstream fashion media for Black and Brown audiences, filled the gap with research and authenticity.

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The Long Road: Perseverance, Access, and Impact

• Early Growth and Recognition:
  • Within two years, began to be recognized in public (“Hey, you can have my seat. You’re Fashion Bomb.” 16:05)
• Gatecrashing the Industry:
  • Inspired by Kimora Lee Simmons’ “Fabulosity,” Claire crashed New York Fashion Week shows, becoming one of the first bloggers to do so (16:57–17:52).
  • Shared moments: “If this is the last fashion show I go to, I’m going to make sure I take pictures of it.” (17:33)
• Persistent Barriers:
  • Continual struggle for full access and industry recognition (18:03–20:07).
  • Acknowledges that both systemic racism and sometimes not “asking the right way” were factors.
  • Recent wins: Gained press access to the Met Gala and Golden Globes only after formally applying (18:53).
• Cultural Impact:
  • Fashion Bomb Daily uplifted Black-owned brands and creators, filling industry voids.
  • Claire hopes her success influences broader inclusion (“I hope Fashion Bomb Daily was a part of the reason why they’re starting to shift and be more inclusive.” 20:07)

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Mindset, Ownership, and Evolving the Brand

• What She’s Most Proud Of:
  • “Just overcoming a lot of adversity... refusing to accept no, creating my own seat at the table.” (25:32)
  • Tenacity: Outlasted many peer brands by adapting and embracing new platforms (Instagram, etc.).
  • “When you want to quit, just take a nap… but not quit.” (26:19)
• Scale and Teamwork:
  • Growth from a solo blogger to an international team.
  • Learned to delegate and let go of perfectionism out of necessity (29:47–31:35).
  • Values authenticity over polished perfection: “I cannot be obsessed with perfection… At the end of the day, we put our readers first.” (31:16)
• Ownership’s Significance:
  • Deep belief in “owning our story and our narrative” (32:25–33:42).
  • Cites Black Wall Street legacy; underscores how representation shapes coverage and culture: “How Vogue might cover Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton show is different from how we would cover it.” (33:01)

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Personal Life, Balance, and Looking Forward

• Personal vs. Brand Identity:
  • Many still don’t know her personally, conflating her entirely with Fashion Bomb Daily (33:58–34:49).
  • Plans to focus more on her own projects, personal brand, and possibly a podcast (“This year is the year of the pivot… More books, more projects, just, like, do more Claire stuff.” 34:49)
• Self-Care Struggles:
  • Admits neglecting self; tries to work out and sneak in small pleasures but recognizes she needs to take more breaks (35:46–38:32).
  • Enduring sense of purpose supersedes urges to quit (“I have not completed that assignment yet.” 38:18)
  • Relaxes with TV, reality shows, and YouTube — “mindless entertainment.”
• On Burnout and Responsibility:
  • Does not “burn out”—she takes breaks, but is driven by the lack of mainstream Black fashion media (“We don’t have a Black Vogue… I’m just, like, holding myself to the task that you have to keep going. Even if you’re tired, take a break, take a nap, and just keep it going.” 39:48)
• Expanding the Brand:
  • Sees print magazines as “done”; envisions growth via TV/streaming, more live events, and broader creative projects (40:21–41:36).
• Upcoming Book:
  • Excited for her next book, a follow-up to her self-published 2016 memoir; intends to get a publisher for the new work, which captures new milestones and fresh perspectives (“It’s really like a part two.” 43:34)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Motivation:
  • “I’m not okay, in general, in life, with not being exceptional.” — Claire Somers (06:11)
• On Industry Challenges:
  • “At Vogue, they told me they did not want to see me because I was not a candidate that they would be interested in.” — Claire Somers (13:16)
• On Gatecrashing Fashion Week:
  • “I had no idea that me and my digital camera were like the first bloggers at baby fat… If this is the last fashion show I go to, I’m going to make sure I take pictures of it.” (17:33)
• On Resilience:
  • “Refusing to be bitter, refusing to accept no. Creating my own seat at the table… just the fact that I didn’t quit.” — Claire Somers (25:32–25:49)
• On Ownership:
  • “It’s important for us to own our story and our narrative… the way that we see the world is different. And that’s okay.” (33:01)
• On Self-Care:
  • “When you want to quit, just take a nap, maybe learn to rest, but sleep on it, but not quit.” (26:19)

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Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:43 | Claire’s Atlanta upbringing & “Old Atlanta” nostalgia | | 05:23 | Academic expectations, Westminster school, being exceptional | | 06:11 | “Not being okay with not being exceptional” | | 08:40 | Harvard experience & imposter syndrome | | 10:44 | Fashion in family; early jobs, chance internship in fashion | | 13:14 | Industry barriers, Vogue rejection, lack of opportunities | | 14:44 | Birth of Fashion Bomb Daily; discovering audience needs | | 16:05 | Public recognition; moment she realized brand was ‘taking off’ | | 16:57 | Gatecrashing Fashion Week; being a pioneer blogger | | 18:03 | Ongoing lack of industry access & navigating gatekeeping | | 20:07 | Industry starting to shift towards inclusivity | | 25:32 | Proud of overcoming adversity, tenacity, and lasting the distance | | 27:02 | Expanding from content to a multifaceted business | | 29:00 | Growing a team, learning to delegate, value of authenticity over perfection | | 32:25 | Importance of owning narrative and serving Black communities | | 34:49 | Plans for personal brand, new projects, the “year of the pivot” | | 35:46 | Admitting self-care challenges and scheduling time for herself | | 38:18 | Sense of calling—“my job is not done” | | 39:48 | No Black Vogue—her mission and resolve | | 40:21 | No plans for print magazine, but ideas for TV, red carpet coverage, and community events | | 43:34 | Upcoming book—“part two” memoir, more personal storytelling |

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Overall Tone

The conversation is uplifting, candid, and peppered with humor and sisterly camaraderie. Both host and guest share honestly about setbacks, insecurity, and the grind it takes to succeed—especially as Black women—in spaces that often lack precedent or allyship. The episode brims with practical wisdom, actionable inspiration, and the reminder that perseverance and faith turn “no’s” into new lanes.

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In Short:
This episode is a masterclass in resilience, authentic leadership, and cultural ownership. Claire Somers’ journey from Harvard to industry trailblazer is both blueprint and balm for anyone looking to make a lasting impact while staying true to themselves—and keeping it positive, sweetie!

Transcript

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[Capella University Host]

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[Claire Somers]

Stand still. Not a chance. You're a lifelong learner who's come this far.

[Capella University Host]

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[Claire Somers]

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[Chris Renee Hazlett]

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[Capella University Host]

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[Claire Somers]

They accept Discover at Renaissance Fairs?

[Capella University Host]

Yeah, they do. Here. Discover is accepted at the places I love to shop. Get it with the times, with the tines.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You're playing the loot.

[Capella University Host]

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[Claire Somers]

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[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Calling all my sweeties to the forefront, I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Welcome to Keep It Positive Sweetie, the place where we heal, grow and learn together. Today's guest is founder, media executive and the visionary behind Fashion Bomb Daily, Claire Somers. Claire Somers is the visionary behind Fashion Bomb Daily, a platform she built long before digital media became mainstream. Today's conversation is about longevity, leadership, and the quiet discipline required to Evolving and staying true to your vision. Kirley. Please give a very warm welcome to Claire Somers. Claire, we finally got you here. You're looking fabulous.

[Claire Somers]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It's giving a bomb, honey.

[Claire Somers]

Thank you. I took off my glasses because I.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I mean, you really could have kept them on because it was giving the whole look. I love it. Oh, I missed the shoes.

[Claire Somers]

Yes. Y' all too much.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Listen.

[Claire Somers]

I tried. I oiled up my legs, but I tried not to do it too much. Cause I had this incident on Tamroyn Hall's show where. Cause it's like, you don't wanna be ashy on tv. Yes. I definitely overdid it. And I look like a grease ham. And all everybody in my family could talk about was how my legs were so shiny. So I tried to tone.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Well, they look good. What did you use?

[Claire Somers]

I use this Vaseline. Like, oil sheen.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, I need to get that because that looks good.

[Claire Somers]

Thank you. Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You got some nice legs. All right. Get them insured, girl. Get the legs insured. So, Claire, you are actually a native of Atlanta, Georgia. I had no idea.

[Claire Somers]

Well, I was born in Brooklyn.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay. That's what. How you got back to.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah, I was raised in Atlanta, so I moved here in 1990. I was nine years old and went to high school, junior high, everything here.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Claire Somers]

Raised in old Atlanta.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Cause it's new now.

[Claire Somers]

It's new now.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Everybody who was here back then is always like, man, old Atlanta is way better than this new Atlanta.

[Claire Somers]

It was just different, man. Like Buckhead and going to Lenox Mall and Freaknick. I mean, have you been? Have you. I mean, I was too young for Freaknick.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I was too young, too. But, yes, I heard stories and seen footage.

[Claire Somers]

But, like, we had to drive through Freaknik going home from school, and I was just like, wow. It was. It was something to behold. It was just different. And this was Atlanta, obviously, before, like, reality tv, before the Housewives. So it was just like. I remember going to Lenox Mall, seeing Usher. Usher be like, shopping at Foot Locker.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Claire Somers]

TLC would just be shopping. Jermaine Dupree, they would just be, you know, hanging out with us. And it was just different. A cool time.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

A different time. I love that.

[Claire Somers]

What a time to be alive.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It was, man. I've heard the stories. I'm like, dang. I got here towards the end of that era where I feel like new Atlanta started to creep in around the time I moved here. Big difference. But you have a degree in Romance languages and literature and African American Studies from Harvard University. First of all, how did we get from. Okay, so you're from Brooklyn and Atlanta to Harvard, because you don't hear that a lot, especially in our community. So I would love to know how you got there and what that journey was like for you.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah. So my mom is a teacher. Okay. And she had me and my brother reading since we were three years old.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Claire Somers]

And it was really kind of the culture of our house, reading every book you could put your hands on, writing. And she was always very insistent on us going to the best schools. So I went to the Westminster schools of Atlanta here. And I just remember, like, in junior high school, I was kind of joking around all the time. We were doing dances in the bathroom. Like, if Tick Tock were out, we would have been stars for sure. But I just remember we had this ceremony, and people were getting certificates to be on because they made the honor roll, they got good grades.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

And all these kids got called up. And there was, like, one black kid. It was a majority white school.

[Shopify Host]

Right.

[Claire Somers]

And only one black girl, you know, made honor roll. And me and my friends, we were just laughing in the crowd. And one of them was like, I don't care about honor roll. I'll never be on honor roll. But for me, I was like, something clicked where I was like, I want to be up there. I'm not okay in general, in life, with not being exceptional. And so I just decided that I was going to make honor roll. And I. And I went for it. And so every year, I made honor roll, I was in all the AP classes, all the honor classes, but I didn't ever think of going to Harvard. I think now people are more aware, maybe, but I never thought of going to an Ivy League school. It's really my brother who is actually the true smarty pants in our family. And it's interesting because I was just spending the weekend with my family here, and he picked me up. He's using all these SAT words. We go home. He's playing classical music on the piano. And because I've been away from it for so long, I didn't realize this man is a genius. My brother is a freaking genius. And he has me as a little sister. And I'm kind of, like, always dancing and singing and, you know, not as serious. But it was my brother who first went to Harvard.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Claire Somers]

And he was like, you should apply to Harvard. I was very active in school. I, you know, did well in terms of my grades. I was getting A's and B's, and then I was tennis Team, cheerleader, Track. I played the viola. I was.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Claire Somers]

French. French club. I was just very involved.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

And my brother was like, I wanted to go to Columbia. I just wanted to move to New York. But my brother was like, which is.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

A great school as well.

[Claire Somers]

It is a great school. I applied to all the schools. I. I didn't want to be in Atlanta, but applied to all the schools. And my brother was like, you should apply to Harvard. You should apply early admission. He read over my essay. He recommended I do an extra credit essay, which I did. I went and I met with the regional direct, like, the regional admissions director for the South. And I got in early.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Claire Somers]

And I said yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, my goodness. So I can only imagine what it's like to go to school at Harvard. What was that experience like for you? You're coming out from Atlanta, going to Harvard. Like, what was that like?

[Claire Somers]

It was very interesting. It was a lot of imposter syndrome.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I can imagine. Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Because the kids in my class, these are kids who, like, spoke at the Million Man March. They're the salutatorian valedictorian of their high schools. I was none of that. I was just a girl who did well in school. I went to a great school, but I was not particularly. I was a valedictorian of my. Of my school. I definitely wasn't the smartest. And so just coming to terms with, like, I deserve to be here. It really took me a really long time to. To understand why they said yes to me. And then, you know, coming from the South, I'm here smiling and happy. I'm like, hey. And they're just like. You know, and people you can meet the night, they won't. They'll, like, literally look right through you the next day. And so it's just like a northern thing.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

That. It took me a little. It took me a little while to get used to that. And the weather, of course. The snow days, like, you. You can get snow up to your waist, and they're. They're still having class.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You're like, oh, snow day. They're like, no, no.

[Claire Somers]

In Atlanta, you have, like, a little dust of snow. They'll be like, everything shut down.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Literally, shut the city down. Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

But those are just a few things, but I can say that it was a really unique experience. I have some of the best friends I've ever made from going to Harvard. I think that's one of the amazing things about going there, aside from an amazing education and amazing alumni network. And I know I have that work Ethic.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Claire Somers]

Because of Harvard.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, I love that. Speaking of work ethic, you launched Fashion bomb daily in 2006. This is a time when digital platform was still finding its footing. You were really ahead of your time. What sparked that and made you say, hey, going from Harvard because you studied. You did not study fashion.

[Claire Somers]

I did not study fashion. Y', all, they do not have a fashion major at Harvard. Ok? It just doesn't. Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So where did that come from?

[Claire Somers]

I've always loved to shop. I've always loved to write. My mother sewed clothes for me growing up. My grandfather was a master tailor in Nassau, Bahamas. He would make tuxedos, wedding dresses. He can make anything. And he taught my mother how to sew. And I remember growing up, I was kind of bigger than the other girl, so she would make clothes for me. And so fashion was always one of those things that I loved, but I never thought it could be a career for me. And so initially after I graduated, I was just like, okay, I like to write, so, so let me be a writer. And my first internship was at Upscale magazine here in Atlanta. And I really excelled. They only had an opening in the fashion department. I wanted to write politics. I wanted to be serious. They had an opening in the fashion department, and it just worked out.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Claire Somers]

And while I was there, I was writing captions and then I was writing cover stories. They were like, wow, you're really bright. You're really talented. And so by the end of it, I was, you know, modeling in the magazine. I was writing all this stuff, and they wanted to hire me. But now I knew that I wanted to be a journalist and be a writer. And so I was like, let me move to New York, which is like the home of publishing and media.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

And I did. I found all the paid internships I could find. I ended up at New York magazine. I was an intern there making $5.15 an hour, mind you, at upscale it. It was completely unpaid. New York magazine, $5.15 an hour, working like three days a week. So super broke, super poor. And then I got a job at Real simple magazine. I just wanted a full time job. It was like a year and a half of interning for like no money, no health insurance, etc.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

In New York.

[Claire Somers]

In New York. Oh, my gosh. And like, staying. Staying with friends and staying with family. Um, but then I. I got my first full time job, but it wasn't the perfect job. So I was a researcher reporter at Real simple magazine.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay.

[Claire Somers]

And while I was there, I was doing the fashion. And I was doing beauty. I was, like, researching for their stories, but they. I could not get into the fashion department. They would have. They would be like, oh, yeah, we're searching for a fashion editor, but they would hire somebody else or they would find somebody from outside. And I was like, oh, can you create a position for me? Can you create a fashion researcher position? And they were like, no.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love what you're bold enough to ask, though.

[Claire Somers]

I always asked. I'm sure I was wearing them out because I was like, can we do something? Can I get a raise? Can I get a promotion? And they were just like, sit right there and do what you're supposed to do. And so I was kind of looking around, seeing where else I could go. Sending my resume to Vogue, trying to get informational interviews. At Vogue, they told me they did not want to see me because I was not a candidate that they would be interested in. I was not getting anywhere. With the Harvard degree and the internship side done, I just could not get an even entry level job at a fashion magazine. So that's when I decided, at the recommendation of one of my Harvard friends who helped me make a website, she was like, you should start a blog.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Claire Somers]

And at the time, I was just writing about myself and me going shopping, and it was extremely boring until somebody wrote in and they were like, where? They sent a random picture. They were like, where can I find these socks? And because I was a researcher, I found them. And then I was like, oh, people want to. People were sending me questions about, what are these bandage dresses girls are wearing? What are these red bottom shoes people are wearing? And so, you know, I was like, Christian Louboutin shoes, You know, the Urbay Leger dresses, which were big. And I really just found a niche for women who look like me and you. Women and men who look like me and you, who were not being covered in traditional media. And it took off.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It did take off. And that was 2000. Wow. 20 years later.

[Claire Somers]

20 years. It'll be 20 years in August. Oh, my God.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You got to do something big, Claire.

[Claire Somers]

I know. Years. Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That is no small feat. Like, I'm proud of you. I didn't realize it had been that long.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And what started off as no's from people that you probably look up to and wanted to really work for is what started your own brand. I love that. I don't want people to miss that because a lot of times we feel like we have to wait on other people to give us the opportunity when we can build it ourselves. Shout out to your friend that said, we're going to build this website.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah. And I was afraid. I was afraid to do it. I was working a full time job. I had heard people getting fired from their jobs for creating blogs, so it was really a risk.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's so true. Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

And I really just had a great boss who looked the other way because lord knows I was definitely blogging from my desk. I. I did take my lunch breaks to blog, and over the weekend, I would, you know, schedule a bunch of posts over the weekends. But yeah, it took off. And I mean, I'm really condensing this story. It probably took about two years before people started stopping me on the train. Like, hey, you can have my seat. You're fashion bomb. Okay? And I was like, I can't do this. I can't work. I can't go to work every day. I can't commute every day. Let me get out of here.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So two years from starting is when you realize this is like, it. And I can give it my 100%.

[Claire Somers]

That's not when I started doing it full time, but that's when I was like, I need to shift and I can't go to this job every day.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Anymore. Because after two years, that's when I had snuck in. Okay, So I was sneaking into all these things. I had read Kimora Lee Simmons book Fabulosity, which was my only blueprint for what to do to get into fashion. I was not getting invited to anything. The best I could do is go to a museum and cover it. But I was not privy to any fashion events. But because I worked at a magazine, I did know that when New York Fashion Week was coming. And I knew, like, when the baby fat show was going on, they. There were editors at my magazine who were invited, but I didn't have an invite.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Got it.

[Claire Somers]

And Kahmora Lee was like, gatecrash the show. And you were like, so I'm like.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay, I'm gonna crash the show.

[Claire Somers]

But the crazy thing is I was the only blogger. Like, I was one of the first bloggers at New York Fashion Week. So the bigger platforms at the time, like young, black and fabulous concrete loop gossip, they would link back to me because I had these exclusive pictures and I didn't even know. I didn't know. I had no idea that me and my digital camera were like the first bloggers at baby fat. And I was so, so green. I was so excited that I was taking pictures with everybody. Like, you. You should. You can go back and look at the picture. That's like, me and Monica. Me. Me and Teyana Taylor, Serena Williams. I'm literally, like, doing this with everybody because I'm like, if this is the last fashion show I go to, I'm going to make sure I take pictures of it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love that.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I want to know what were some of the. The roadblocks that you ran into as you were building Fashion Bomb Daily to what we know it to be now?

[Claire Somers]

It's access. Always access. It's still access, I'd say.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Is that still a thing?

[Claire Somers]

It's still a thing, yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

What do you think that is, Claire?

[Claire Somers]

You know, sometimes it's that I'm not asking the right way. Like this morning, because sometimes I'm like, they're racist. You know what I mean? But then sometimes it's like, you didn't ask. So this morning, I was like, okay, let me apply for press accreditation. Or for New York, they don't do that anymore. But for Paris and Milan, they do do that. Okay. So I'm like, let me apply for press accreditation. Do it the right way. Same thing with the Golden Globes. Same thing with CFDA Awards or even the Met Gala. I don't think I applied for press accreditation until, like, this year.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, wow. And it happened.

[Claire Somers]

And it happened.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You did the Met. You did the Golden Globes. Oh, my goodness.

[Claire Somers]

But, you know, in the past, I have reached out to brands, and they're not always receptive. They don't always understand our audience. They don't. I don't know if they don't know our buying power, because obviously our buying power is high.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Very high.

[Claire Somers]

But I feel like they don't feel the need to cater to us. Like, they don't need to have a black woman in a Chanel ad for black women to buy Chanel.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You're right.

[Claire Somers]

Like, we will patronize these brands, even if they don't necessarily respect our dollar or respect us as consumers. I think things are changing. Like, I did see Louis Vuitton. Their recent ambassadors are, like, all black.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, I saw that.

[Claire Somers]

I was like, wow, it's like skepta and some footballer. I'm like, okay. Like, I think Louis Vuitton definitely gets it. Obviously, with Pharrell and Virgil and, like, all the black creative directors they've had, they get it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

They do.

[Claire Somers]

But I don't know if a lot of brands have always gotten it right.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

But now they're starting to understand, and I hope that Fashion Bomb Daily was a part of the reason why they're starting to shift and be more inclusive because when I first started, it was not like that at all.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right. I can imagine, I can imagine it also leaving you with a sense of defeat. Like just feeling like, man, I've climbed this ladder, I'm here, my brand is known worldwide and I still can't get in certain doors. You know, like I, even for me, like, as an actor, I'm like, millions of people watch me on, on tv. I'm on the number one show and I go to my, my own networks, events, and it's like, I'm like, yeah, wow. It's not a good feeling. You know, when you've worked really hard to get to where you are.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And thinking that you would have access and not in a, like a, oh, I need to have access to all these things. Not in that type of sense, but I've worked really hard. And you think that comes along with it and it doesn't sometimes.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah. But you know how good God is.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Talk about it.

[Claire Somers]

Because nothing can stop his plans for you. No man can stop his plans for you. We have paparazzi photographers right now in Paris who are sending us footage inviting us to collaborate for all these different shows. There are people like Jeremy who sent us footage from the show. So it's like, I don't need to be in there as long as we're getting the footage. So there is a way. I've found a way around it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love that.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And that's a good way to look at it too.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

And also when I first started, I focused on black owned brands because, you know, we're a black owned. We are. We are a black owned brand. So I was like, okay, the only shows I'm going to aspire to go to are Baby Fat Tracy Reese. They're only a handful, you know, and now it's kind of still the same way, but, you know, always hoping to expand, hoping people can feel our presence. And I feel really good about this year. I feel like this is going to be the year where like, hopefully all the doors open up.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. And now that you're putting in those credential submissions, I'm sure. Because I'm glad you like the way I was asking and sometimes I like the way you had to. You reflected like, wait, let's take inventory and figure out what is really the issue.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Is it because they don't want me there? Is. Because I'm not asking the right way.

[Claire Somers]

Right. That was sending the emails or the DMs is not necessarily how Everybody operates for sure like some in in France. If they perhaps if they know that I'm accredited press then then they'll let me come. And then some brands, you have to just be a consumer. Yeah, you have to buy the brand and then they'll give you a ticket.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, yeah, no, that's true as well.

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[Chris Renee Hazlett]

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[Claire Somers]

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[Chris Renee Hazlett]

When you look at, look back at the version of you now, what do you feel most proud about? Whether it's professionally or personally.

[Claire Somers]

Wow. What do I feel most proud about?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Because this is 20 years, baby. Yeah. A lot has happened.

[Claire Somers]

Just overcoming a lot of adversity.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

You know, and refusing to be bitter, refusing to accept. No. Creating my own seat at the table when they wouldn't give me a seat at the table. Just like the fact that I didn't quit.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Because a lot of the brands that I mentioned that were around when I first started, they're not here anymore. Or they, they didn't go on to Instagram. They didn't, you know, they wanted to stay in the blog spot, in the blog space or they literally just quit. Like, we know so many people who are like, I'm not doing this anymore and I'm going to start something else. Yeah. And so I think just my tenacity, my perseverance, I'm not going to quit.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Sometimes I want to quit. But I've learned when you want to quit, just take a nap, maybe learn to rest, but sleep on it, but not quit. Because I do want to find. I mean, my goal was to have an exit in 20 years would be beautiful. Right. But if it's not happening, like, I'm always down for God's timing. Like whenever it's God's time for me to stop, then, then I'm ready to do that. But until that time, then I'm going to keep rocking.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. No, for sure now. Fashion Bomb Daily grew from a blog into a business spanning editorial, e commerce, brand partnerships and live events. When did you realize this was bigger than just content?

[Claire Somers]

Hmm. When did I realize it was bigger than just content? I think maybe with fashion Bombshell of the day, when people started submitting for Fashion Bomb show of the Day. But then also I think I had my first. I used to call it Cocktails with Claire. Now it's called Combos with Claire. But I had my first cocktails with Claire. And people, I was just like, oh, you know, let's have readers come and we'll meet and greet and we'll have cocktails. And every event would sell out. We'd put out the tickets and people would just buy them, you know, and just seeing that eventbrite notification go off. So, yeah, I think that first event that we had in 2013, I was like, there's something here. And just always continuing to diversify and. And seeing, like, what is the void in the industry.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Okay. There aren't models of color on the Runway. Let's have our own Runway show. There aren't designers, black designers showing during New York Fashion Week, the bomb fashion show. Okay. There are people who come to New York Fashion Week. They don't have anything to do. So let. Let's have. Let's have an event. Yeah, you know, or, you know, black designers don't have men or young. Let's say emerging designers. They don't have mentorship. Let's create an E commerce platform. So always trying to be the solution when I. When I see problems in the fashion industry, I try to be that solution and use my platform to try to elevate and uplift other people.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love that.

[Claire Somers]

I love that.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Now I know for me as a content creator, in the beginning, I was doing everything on my own. I was writing, I was editing, I was shooting it, everything. How was that shift from going, this is just Claire to now I have a team helping do all. You got people across the world. We do, you know, like, what was that shift? And like, as a person, this is your baby. What was it like? Okay, now I'm going to allow other people to have a hand in this thing that I built from the ground up.

[Claire Somers]

From the beginning, we had interns. I remember we had intern contests at first. Wow. So every year we would. It would do. It would be a reader competition for who. Who could be the next fashion bomb intern. And so really kind of from the beginning, I had people helping me. And then we started to find different contributors. Like, there are two girls from Brazil who run our fat Run, our Instagram page. So I run the Instagram page kind of in the morning, late at night, but they run it in the evenings. And then we have a different team that does advertising. We have a different team for events. But I think as the needs come, you know, you kind of fill in where you can and then just get the best people that you can afford as you continue to scale.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right. How did you learn the difference between being, like, hands on and holding on too tight or you. Are you one of those people that like, no, I don't want. I need to be a part of every little thing.

[Claire Somers]

No, I can't. Because I need to have a life.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Momma's got to live a life too.

[Claire Somers]

You know, I don't want to be on my phone all. I don't want to. I really don't want to be a 50 year old woman. I mean, not to say that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm like, I want to be sitting down somewhere on a beach.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Listen, put me on the beach, right?

[Claire Somers]

You know, like, I don't, I don't like. And I do think it's important to mentor the next generation, to try to bring up someone else who's interested. And thankfully, because of our platform and how many people that, you know, all of our followers, we have a lot of people who are always willing to do red carpets for us, help us with social media. We always have, like, people who are willing to help. And even I keep going back to this, this photographer in Paris who's sending us all this content. It's not perfect. He, he, you know, he mixes up the him and her. I think he called Jaden Smith a her the other day. I'm like, no, like, the pronouns are all wrong, but it's, it's content. So I'm like. And we like to have the per grid as well. Yes. But I'm just like, people don't care. People don't even read the captions. Like, you could literally be like, she is wearing lap point. And they'll be like, where's that from?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I'm just like, la Pointe.

[Claire Somers]

Right. But, you know, I think I cannot be obsessed with perfection. Like, it's impossible, it's unattainable. And at the end of the day, we put our readers first. So whatever they want to see, that's what we're going to give them. Even if it's not tied up in a pretty bow. And sometimes it's better that way.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I feel like the social media is moving more and more further away from the perfect content.

[Claire Somers]

Right.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

They want to see the real.

[Claire Somers]

They do.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah. One of my most popular posts was me with no makeup on. And I'm like, really?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yep.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So I love it. Somebody was talking. I did a interview the other day and they're like, you taught me how to put a wig on. She was like, I would never get online with like putting my hair. And I'm like, I mean, yeah, it is what it is. Real. This is real life.

[Claire Somers]

People love that.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. No, for sure. What does ownership mean to you? I know in our culture I feel like in the most recent years, we've been driving home ownership. Own your things, build it, create it, because that's what everyone else is doing. We need to own our own things as well. What does it mean to you, especially in this space?

[Claire Somers]

Hmm. What does ownership mean to me? I think it's important for us to maintain this infrastructure going on between businesses, like, I think back to black Wall street and how powerful that was and all the black owned businesses that were raised to the ground. And I'm just like, I want us to keep it in the community if possible, but obviously always welcome collaborators. I mean, our team is multiracial, international. I love that.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

You know, but I think it's important for us to own our story and our narrative because we do have a unique point of view and a unique take. And how Vogue might cover Pharrell's Louis Vuitton show is different from how we would cover it. You know, like, I think I saw a video. It was Pharrell's final walk for Louis Vuitton. And it was like classical music. And I'm like, okay. On Fashion Bound Daily, we're putting front in, you know, because it's just, you know, our music, our. Our style, like, the way that we see the world is different. And that's okay.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It is, yes.

[Claire Somers]

But you can't just keep not taking our culture. But it's like we. We should have a say in how we're represented.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No, for sure.

[Claire Somers]

The sounds and the vibes and everything. So that's really important. Important to me.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Very. I love that now you're running a brand that is. Everybody knows when they simultaneously. Fashion Bomb Daily and Claire Somers is like, hand in hand.

[Claire Somers]

People don't know me, though.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Really?

[Claire Somers]

No, I feel like they do. You don't think so? People are like, I didn't know you were a woman. I thought you were a man. People don't know anything about me. They think I live in Atlanta. They don't.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Because you are here. I feel like you are here.

[Claire Somers]

Like, I am here quite a bit. I was just here, like ten days ago.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Literally.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Are you serious? I guess, because I know. I feel like everybody knew, like, this is your jam.

[Claire Somers]

People don't know me. I'm like, I'm in the. If you go to their profile description, I'm right there.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right there.

[Claire Somers]

They don't know. Some people do. Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So the people that have. Have you been able to separate, like, this is who Claire is, and this is the business. I guess. You really haven't Had a hard time with that because you don't think anybody knows. I think more people know than you think know me.

[Claire Somers]

I mean, I do think that this year is the year of the pivot, where I'm going to focus more on my personal brand and the things that I want to do. I have another book in me. I want to do tv. I want to do more. But, you know, more books, more projects, just, like, do more Claire stuff. Have my own podcast. Yes. You know, combos with Claire. Yeah. There's so much more that I want to do. And. And so, you know, I think a slight separation of Claire and Fashion Bomb Daily is underway. I won't abandon my baby until it has a good home, obviously. But, yeah, I love that.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Now I want to know more. On a personal tip, you are very busy. I feel like you're. You've always got something going on. How do you, as women, one boss woman to another boss woman, how do you pour into Claire? What does that day to day look like from running this business and then also taking time for Claire.

[Claire Somers]

I don't take time for Claire. I'm lying.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I'm against you.

[Claire Somers]

Okay. Every morning I do try to work out.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay.

[Claire Somers]

At least 20 minutes. If I don't have anything to do all day, I will be in the gym for like 90 minutes. I got my little apple watch here. I'm going for it. I'm lifting weights, I'm running. I'm doing all the things.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's the legs looking.

[Claire Somers]

Oh, thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Claire Somers]

I mean, for example, for my birthday, what did I do? Okay. My birthday was a day after the Golden Globes. I slept in, had a nice dinner with my boo, little bubble bath, you know, But I need more of that. I definitely need, like a spa day. I need a massage. I need all those things. And I feel like you're really good at doing this. I'm not good at doing it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. Like, I schedule massages at least every other week.

[Claire Somers]

That's good.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Like, because I carry all the stress in my shoulders and I have to, like, it's just one of those things where I have to, like, take care of crystal.

[Claire Somers]

Right.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You know, it's so much. And then with working now, like, that's a part of the recovery. And I look at it as, like, this is what I'm taking care of my body. But also, like, having a moment to put the phone down.

[Claire Somers]

Right.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Not respond, not answer. It's a reason to escape. So I would challenge you to definitely take time for that.

[Claire Somers]

I'm trying my goal One of my goals. I wrote down 300 goals this year inspired by Steve Harvey. But one of my goals is to take a vacation. Because it's. It's funny. I. I don't take vacations. I just don't. And I would have assistants who I'd be like, do this. And they're like, I'm taking a vacation. I'm like, how. How do my assistants have vacation time? I don't have time to go on vacation. I don't have time to go on vacation. Right. I think that unfortunately for some black boss ladies, like, we. We are pioneers in our field. We have a lot on our shoulders. So things that we're doing are not just for us. They're for the culture, therefore, the young girls looking up to us. And so even though I'm. I can be exhausted or, you know, frustrated, I didn't get to get into this show or that show. I'm like, I have to keep showing up because my job is not done.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Claire Somers]

You know, like, the. The calling that God has put on my life. I have not completed that assignment yet.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

So I'll take a day. Yeah. I'll go to Nobu and, you know, luxuriate a little bit. But then it's back to work.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Back to it. Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Figuring out that balance is important. And so I'm still striving to. To do that.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. In that. Have you experienced any burnout over the years where you're like, okay, I just. This is. I'm in over my head here.

[Claire Somers]

No, I don't burn out, honey. I just keep amazing going. Like, I. I do take naps. I do sleep in. I do watch mindless television. I don't even wanna tell you what I watch on tv. It is terrible. It's like every. Every housewife show, every reality show, every Love after lockup.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Love after lockup. That's your guilty pleasure. I love.

[Claire Somers]

Gets worse. Okay. There are these body cam videos, police body cam. It's like people acting up in the airport and getting locked up all during Christmas holiday. I could not stop watching them.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I was like, there's a TV show?

[Claire Somers]

No, it's. It's all on YouTube.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, you do? Okay.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah. And every YouTuber who's reviewing the reality shows, like, that's kind of how it's like mindless entertainment. Maybe I'll laugh a little bit, but that's kind of how I relax. But burnout, I just. I don't know. I just really feel like I have something to do and, like, we don't have a Black Vogue.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

We don't.

[Claire Somers]

We had. We had Suede magazine that shut down. We had Vibe Vixen that doesn't exist anymore. We don't have anything for us.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

So I. I don't. I'm. I'm. I'm just, like, holding myself to the task that you have to keep going. Even if you're tired, take a break, take a nap, and just keep it going.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You know, you talk about the books, you talk about. I want to get into TV and film. You talk about magazines. Is a magazine something that is a goal for Fashion Bomb Daily?

[Claire Somers]

No, I think print is done. Print is done. I think that Fashion Bomb can keep going as it is. I mean, I think having, like, some sort of. Everybody's telling me I should do a Fashion police style show or everybody's telling me we should do.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

There's nothing like that anymore.

[Claire Somers]

No, not for us.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It'll be good. And get like, oh, my goodness. You should do that and get so many ideas.

[Claire Somers]

Christmas funny.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Like. Yeah, I could. Ooh, Ms. Lawrence. I can see you, Ms. Lawrence. And like, somebody else. All of y' all get together. Ashanna.

[Advertisement Voice]

Can you see that?

[Claire Somers]

Where's Ashanna?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. I'm serious.

[Claire Somers]

There is, I think, fashion bound daily as a vehicle because of the red carpets, because of the litany of celebrity events that we see. Like, there will always be a place for that day to day. You know, your. Your fix of celebrity style and news. But I think it's really about how do we expand upon this platform.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

How do we continue to. To. To bring, you know, interesting and new things.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Unique things to our followers.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love that. That's why I can understand why you don't stop and why you keep going, because there is so much in this space and so many voice to be filled. So. I understand. And you're creative. We do need it.

[Claire Somers]

Like, black people in fashion. Who's going to cover, you know, like, Vogue. Vogue, they've done. I hate to keep bringing up Vogue. God bless Vogue. They're great. But they don't cover Jada, Cheeves and Dusty or. No. Like, there are people in our culture who are amazing. They have great style.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

And, you know, that's so true. So I'm the platform for them, hopefully.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, man. I love that. As you're looking ahead to everything that you want to do, what are you most excited about?

[Claire Somers]

My book.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

The book. Okay. Can you tell us, like, what the book is going to be about?

[Claire Somers]

Well, okay. Did you do the 2016 challenge?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

The 2016. Yeah, I did Yeah, I did. Yeah, yeah, I posted. I was actually shocked because, you know, you go back and you're like, oh Lord. Like the. It's always something. You're like, what was I thinking?

[Claire Somers]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I was actually proud of 2016 Crystal.

[Claire Somers]

I wore a lot of superhero costumes. It was like a lot of capes. I'm like, what are you doing? What is that? What are you wearing?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I think I had a cape too.

[Claire Somers]

I gotta go make a few capes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I had a cape.

[Claire Somers]

It was like a jumpsuit with a cape. I'm like, claire, my friends are standing right there. I'm like, how could you let me.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

They probably had a cape.

[Claire Somers]

But I wrote my first book in 2016. I self published. So this time I want to get a publisher for it. But my first book was a memoir, self help book called the Bomb Life, My Brand, My Terms. And it was just about my origin story. You know, how I started Fashion Bomb. And if you want to follow in my steps, you can too. And some pictures etc. So there have been a lot of things that have happened since then. I cut my locks, we were disabled and we got our page back. You know, the Met Gala, CFDA Awards. A lot of things have happened. So it's really like a part two.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. I forgot about the logs.

[Claire Somers]

You forgot about my locks?

[Advertisement Voice]

Yes.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah, I had blonde locks.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You sure did.

[Claire Somers]

People still ask me about them. They're like, I missed the locks. It has been.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I see it right now. Wow. Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Yeah, they're stuck on those lots, honey. And 2016 was our first award show. We gave an award to Teyana Taylor and Justine sky and Tracy Reese. First award show. I did it with Ty Hunter and Ty. Yeah, I love Ty. So I'm like, we need to keep doing it. We just need to keep going.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Claire Somers]

Getting bigger and better.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love that. I love that. We are excited to support you however we can in the Kipps community. I'm excited for you. Thank you for coming to sit down. Thank you. Yes, absolutely. This episode was a reminder to always have the audacity to dream big. Thank you guys so much for tuning in to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie show. Be sure to subscribe share this episode with someone who could use a little positivity. And as always, stay blessed, stay encouraged and keep it positive, sweetie. I'll see you guys next time.

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