Alexis Bennett Parker (1:48)

And everybody knows you don't lie about that, right?

Safeway/Albertsons Announcer (1:51)

Lauren came in hot.

Lauren LaRosa (1:52)

Hey, y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa. And this is another episode of the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. Now, before we get started, I do have a guest here with me. Today we will be diving into all things journalism, into all things fashion, the fear and the fearless pursuit of, you know, everything in between the media landscapes and just being an entrepreneur and a hustler in the space. So I called, I phoned a friend, and I was like, hey, Girl, Devil Wears Prada is out. I want to talk about it on the podcast, but I want to have a conversation with someone about it and I want to talk to someone who I know is like in the. In the midst of it, you know what I mean? So I have a friend that will be joining me and I'm going to let her introduce herself. But low riders, you guys know, we check in behind the scenes of the grind here first, so we'll also get a chance to do that with her. So joining me right now is my sister from another Mr. From a. A very well dressed mother, Mr. Alexis.

Alexis Bennett Parker (3:00)

Thank you. No, I'm so happy to be here. Thank you for having me.

Lauren LaRosa (3:04)

Of course. Thank you for joining us. So our podcast community, there are 9 million plus listeners. They are called the Lowriders because they be riding hard. Okay, they ride hard for us. But you know, introduce yourself to them, give a little bit of your background and you know what you've done, where you are now. And then we'll get into the check in.

Alexis Bennett Parker (3:24)

Yeah. So I'm Alexis Bennett Parker. I've been working in media for over 1012 years now. I've worked historically at mostly legacy magazines. So I come from Vogue, Elle, Cosmo, InStyle, and now I am overseeing shopping, commerce, content at Essence, Refinery29 and the Sundown Media Portfolio Group. So I'm excited for today because this is, this is my life

Lauren LaRosa (3:59)

in real life. So me and Alexis, we met. I don't even remember what year that was. I want to say it might have been like 2012, 2013.

Alexis Bennett Parker (4:08)

Somewhere around there. Yes.

Lauren LaRosa (4:09)

Yeah, it was somewhere around there. So Cosmopolitan magazine used to do this fun fashion and fun fearless and fashion conference or something like that. It was those words. But I just don't know if I'm putting them in the right order. But they would do this conference. It was basically like you would come, you would get to listen to like editors and assistants and all these people from Cosmo magazine talking about working in the industry and, you know, just try and figure your way out in life. And I just remember we were in like the holding area in like a lobby. And mind you guys, I had like found out about it on I think like Instagram. And this was like early Instagram. Like you. I don't even think you could post videos for real Instagram at that point. But I had found out about it because I was like having this whole little blog that I was doing and I just knew my life went. I was supposed to be had a magazine and I went, I caught the bus from Delaware State University. I went. I got there, and I just remember seeing these two black girls, and I was like, they are the only two people in here that look like me. I'm gonna just go talk to them. And I walked up and was just like, hey. I don't even remember what I said, but I just remember I walked up and we've been friends ever since. And Alexis has had such an amazing career. Like, she says these things so casually, but, you know, getting able to see, you know, being able to see you go from a. You know, someone who wanted to move to New York and figure out all these things to actually moving here. I remember you started. It was InStyle, right?

Alexis Bennett Parker (5:32)

Yep. I started at InStyle.

Lauren LaRosa (5:34)

Yeah. It was InStyle magazine. And when you were at InStyle magazine, you were. What was your role there?

Alexis Bennett Parker (5:39)

I had several different roles back and forth. I'm kind of like a boomerang. But I started off as a fact checker. That was my very first role. And basically, a fact checker is the person who literally just makes sure the magazine doesn't get sued so that every sentence makes sense. So, yeah.

Lauren LaRosa (5:59)

And then. And at that time, I think I had. I did, like, an internship at Cosmopolitan magazine for about just a winter break, so maybe like, a week or two. But I thought it was so fire. I'm like, you're getting to live the dream, girl. You working at the magazine. And then you went on from InStyle into other things. But I remember mostly the Internet becoming such a big conversation, and magazines just not physical magazines just not being at the forefront and the Internet being a thing. And I remember Vogue made it such a big deal that they were going to vogue.com and lean in more there. And, like, they were trying to do more, like, hip, young stories and the shopping things. And you went there.

Alexis Bennett Parker (6:39)

Yeah.

Lauren LaRosa (6:40)

And that was, like, such a turning point for the magazine, for the conversations around magazines. But you were there really early. Like, you was your team even really big. You're, like, the only person I knew that worked on that side of things.

Alexis Bennett Parker (6:51)

Yeah. So def. I was definitely, I feel like one of the, like, earlier people in shopping content. And basically, shopping content for a magazine is like, it's the. One of the newest revenue streams. Whereas in the past, magazines have always been about, you know, getting advertisers to just, you know, by a page or whatever. Whereas, like, the shopping content is more so about taking the stories we're already doing, we're already writing about, but figuring out, okay, instead of just telling you about this Trend, I'm going to tell you how you can shop it, how you can get it, and then we make affiliate revenue from it. So again, it's kind of like just this newer way of, like, trying to keep the lights on, because, as you know, like, nobody's buying print magazines anymore, so.

Lauren LaRosa (7:35)

But one of the things that I always thought was fire was like, when I would, like, I might be, like, visiting New York or like, I know my mom was going through all of her, like, health stuff and I was here and you would invite me to things or we would run into each other at things. I remember people just being so in awe of your work. And, like, I remember we were at an event in Nordstrom and I just. I was like, yo, they are like, fanning out in here over you. And I thought that that was so respectable and so fire, because it wasn't that you were like, you know, on the magazine every day and your face is in the magazine. Your work was actually garnering money at a time where people didn't understand how to make money with the cross section of magazines and products. And you were actually so good at what you were doing, and it was so accurate and it was so to the point. You have found a niche for yourself as a black woman in a space that isn't really as friendly to us as it still should be. But you found yourself in this space and you were making money for these brands. And not just like, small brands, small brands as well. But, I mean, we were in Nordstrom and there were some of the heads of Nordstrom that found out that you were there and they came down to personally just say thank you. Yeah, that was like pandemic time, too. Like, nobody was spending money.

Alexis Bennett Parker (8:45)

Yeah. Yeah, that's what I love. I think that's the most rewarding part is, like, not only are you making money for the company you work for, but it's these brands, it's these retailers. Like, it's this chain effect. And it really just helps the fashion industry as a whole. So I love, like, being able to, like, use my words to actually turn readers into shoppers. And again, I don't take it lightly. Like, I take it as an honor because at the end of the day, I want people to feel like they can trust me if they read a story by Alexis. Like, I know she's going to tell me these items are truly the best. And it's not like she's just trying to sell me something that's, like, subpar. So we take it seriously and I love it.

Lauren LaRosa (9:25)

Yeah, I mean, but I just. The reason why I point that out is because I feel like, you know, I was thinking about this as I was watching the Devil Wears Prada too, which is the review we'll get into here. Just about how aligned a lot of the people that I admire in the industry. I admire them because, like, everything that I think should be happening is what you guys are already doing. Like, you know, the ability to, like, be honest, to tell the truth, to like, actually, like, do the work, but also, like, be enjoyable and like, you know, like all those things. And I remember being in a fashion closet and literally I was so grateful for that job and so grateful for Shiona Torini, who was the reason that I got that opportunity. But I remember being in there and just being like, this is amazing. And this is like the dream. But these, these people, these women in here don't have enough say so for me and enough, like, ownership and not that anybody that works in a fashion closet now, you know, I'm not knocking anything, but I just really remember feeling like, I don't know, I think I'm a bit too opinionated to be in here. I think I don't believe in the way that this hierarchy is set up. They don't make enough money to be, you know, obeying this hierarchy. I just always felt like there was, like, another way. And then I think about people like you who've made your own way. And I think that's why, you know, I've always been from a distance. I've always admired the things that you've been able to set up for yourself. So I know, you know, in this time when they're getting, you know, departments are chopping digital, departments are chopping black writers and, you know, black people, media, no matter where you are, whether outlets black or white, are like becoming non existent, you know, we do this thing here at the Latest with Lauren LaRosa, the podcast called Checking in behind the Scenes of the Grind. And this part of the podcast is really just like a how are you? Because I find it where I don't take the time to check in on myself. So I make. I built it in the podcast so I could do it for myself. But when I have guests, I like to check in on them as well too. So how are you? And like, for real, how are you doing?

Alexis Bennett Parker (11:29)

Back on the grinding? I'm good. I cannot complain. Like, you know, I'm not. It's not just, you know, people say, oh, I'm good, just as like a reaction. Like, I really genuinely Mean that I'm in a great place. I just started this new job two months ago. Like, I wrote six months before I got my offer. I write. I wrote down exactly what I wanted on one line of a piece of paper, and I kept writing it over and over until I got to the end. Six months later, I got exactly what I asked for. Like, I cannot complain. So I'm in a great place. I'm feeling good mentally, spiritually. I'm spending time with my family right now in Florida with my grandma, my mom. And so I just feel, like, really blessed to be able to, one have a job that I love and to also be able to try to, like, balance it with family and personal life. And, I mean, I don't even like the word balance, because I do feel like the job that I have is, like, a job that. It's a job that I would be doing even if I didn't have the job. Like, shopping online is just, like, fun to me. So, yeah, I don't even have to think of it as, like, balancing or anything, but I'm just. I'm in a really happy mental state right now, and so I'm grateful for that.

Lauren LaRosa (12:44)

That's good to know. I am, too. I am, too. It's a. I think it's an everyday new experience because, like, as, like, work grows, the. The talent side of it all grows. And as much as I've always wanted to figure out the talent side, once you get in it, it's like it's a. That balance is a lot of. Because it's hard work on both ends. Like, you're burning yourself on both ends. So, you know me, I burn to the very, very end, if I had to, to make sure that I'm maintaining, you know, work and all the things. So learning how not to burn myself too much has been a task. But I think I've gotten a better handle on it within these last, like, two to three months. So very new.

Alexis Bennett Parker (13:21)

But, yeah, I wanted to say, like, I just. You mentioned ownership, too, earlier. Like, yes. I feel like you've always been on it, and I just have to say, like, how proud I am of you for, like, seeing that everything you're doing, like, brown girl grinding, like, having your own. Especially in this day and age where it's like, you know, we see the magazines, they're constantly shrinking. These companies that are huge, legacy companies, getting smaller and smaller. But at the same time, like, journalism is not dead. It's still. I would. I would say it's even more important now. Now Everybody has a microphone. Everybody can tweet, everybody can say something, but not everybody is fact checking. Not everybody is actually following up on a source. A lot of people are just reading a headline and making a story out of that without even knowing the facts. So I just commend you for everything that you're doing because you are like upholding the journalistic standards and integrity of the industry and you are proof that it still matters and it's important. So had to say that really quick. I had to thank you, give you your flower.

Lauren LaRosa (14:28)

I appreciate it. This is Mandy B.

Mandy B (14:31)

And Weezy. WTF from Decisions, Decisions.

Lauren LaRosa (14:35)

We just sat down with Keke Palmer to discuss a topic that is often overlooked, sexual health.

Mandy B (14:40)

In this special episode, we dive into the facts, self care and share tips for navigating intimacy with confidence. No shame, no stigma. Here's a sneak peek.

Lauren LaRosa (14:52)

We live in this world, y', all, where it's like one second is fluid out city girls, and the next minute, don't ask me about my health. It's literally that. And we were talking. Why is it either porn or not nothing?

Mandy B (15:03)

And that's the problem with those comments that day. It was what happened to the conversation about abstinence? It doesn't.

Lauren LaRosa (15:09)

It's not real.

Mandy B (15:10)

And the problem with the abstinence conversation is you discourage people to be honest, to get tested and to disclose. And then I'm looking at these comments

Lauren LaRosa (15:19)

like it's a human thing.

Mandy B (15:21)

Our episode with Keke Palmer is now

Lauren LaRosa (15:24)

out wherever you get your podcast, sponsored by Care for the Culture from Gilead Sciences.

Alexis Bennett Parker (15:29)

The story I've told myself about love

Lauren LaRosa (15:32)

or relationships can then shape my behavior and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection.

Debbie Brown (15:41)

This mental health awareness month, tune into the podcast Deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace and self mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized. But we actually need people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to Deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

Jared Adonno (16:29)

Hey, I'm Jared Adonno. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out help. On the Internet.

Mandy B (16:34)

Help.

Lauren LaRosa (16:35)

Somebody please.

Jared Adonno (16:37)

But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions.

Alexis Bennett Parker (16:53)

Psych.

Jared Adonno (16:54)

I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream of chicken soup, Egg cream.

Psychology of Your 20s Podcast Host (17:14)

Cream of chicken soup.

Jared Adonno (17:15)

This is help from a hypocrite. The worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Helping Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Psychology of Your 20s Podcast Host (17:30)

May is mental health awareness month and your twenties, they can feel like a lot. On the psychology of your 20s podcast, we unpack the anxiety, the overthinking, the heartbreak, the identity crisis, all of it that comes with being in your 20s. Because if you've ever thought, is anybody else feeling this way? They definitely are.

Debbie Brown (17:52)

I feel like my 20s was a process of checking off everything that I was not good at to get to

Lauren LaRosa (17:57)

what I was good at.

Alexis Bennett Parker (17:58)

Oftentimes we take everything a little bit too seriously and we get lost in things that we later on decide weren't

Lauren LaRosa (18:06)

even important to us to begin with.

Debbie Brown (18:08)

There was a large chunk of my twenties that I like was just so wanting to be out of that phase, out of my skin, and I just really regret not living in the present

Psychology of Your 20s Podcast Host (18:16)

more each week, we break down the science behind what you're going through and give you real tools to navigate it. Your 20s aren't about having it all figured out. They're about understanding yourself just a little bit better. Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Lauren LaRosa (18:36)

Well, that actually brings us right on into the latest. So let's get on into it. So we are here because the Devil Wears Prada franchise has dropped. A new installation, Devil wears Prada 2, dropped and it is doing amazingly well in the theaters following its opening weekend. It surpassed the Michael movie for the largest opening of a live action film. It is making money, but I, I'm not surprised that it, that it's making the money it's making. You know, you have Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, like the Original cast has all returned. As always, a good sign for success for, you know, a second installment of something. So it had everything, all the setup. You know, they were going to have the PR budget. They were. They were going to have all the things that it needed. But I was worried, like, okay, when we get to it, is the story going to be good this time around? I saw it today. I know you saw it yesterday. I was very impressed by the movie.

Alexis Bennett Parker (19:35)

I loved it.

Lauren LaRosa (19:36)

Yes. I was so impressed. You know, I want to start from the beginning of the movie, and I think that this is something that we both can really identify with, just the. How prevalent and fast the industry is changing, and it's always been changing. We literally just talk through the fact that we've lived through various different changes of the industry, from blogging to Instagram to Instagram, not even having video to, you know, you honestly anchoring in a big part of the dot com and the shopping space on these couture websites. The movie starts out having that conversation in real time. And I thought that was. I'm like, yes. Like, I felt like. So y' all sitting here with us right now.

Alexis Bennett Parker (20:17)

Yes. I'm so glad. I don't want to. Are we going to do spoilers? I don't want to spoil.

Lauren LaRosa (20:23)

Yeah, I don't want to do spoiler alerts. But, like, if you're watching this, we are going to get a bit into, like, overall, like, overall, like, vague subjects in. In feelings from the movie. So spoiler alert. Spoiler alert. Spoiler alert. That it may spoil a bit, but don't give out, like, actual factuals, you know?

Alexis Bennett Parker (20:45)

Okay. I will say that one year I was. When I was working at Self magazine, I was there. I was on. On the dot com. I was there when they laid off the entire printing. The entire printing and that. And then I've seen that happen over and over again. So it's like, I feel like. I mean, obviously, like, we, like, we. Anyone can see it coming. Like, magazines are dying, right? But I'm just so glad that the movie touched on that because it's real. And I will say, like, again, like, I already said, like, I think you're doing a great job. Like, we still need journalists, but at the same time, like, the magazine industry and the whole media, that legacy media business model is dead. Like, it's not profitable. Of course there are still magazines around, but, like, a lot of them are just spending money and they're not making money. And it's more of, like, an ego thing. But you still, like, why are so many billionaires trying to buy media companies now? Because they still want to control the narrative, and it's important.

Lauren LaRosa (21:57)

Yes.

Alexis Bennett Parker (21:58)

So, but it's not so, for example, there's rumors that Jeff Bezos might buy Vogue for Lauren Sanchez. And it's like, do you think that he's buying it because he thinks it's going to be more profitable than Amazon? No, it's like, it's just having control of the narrative and being a part. Being able to control media is still powerful. Why do you think Elon bought Twitter immediately? It's not because he thought it was going to make more money than Tesla or Space X.

Lauren LaRosa (22:25)

So it's just the narrative and being able to control it. And I thought. I thought the way that they even had that conversation about, you know, the hands that, you know, media fall falls in. Excuse me. The hands that media falls in and where it almost got to versus where it landed. And, you know, just. It made me think a lot about where we are today with, like, people's intentions behind the purchases of, like, what we're seeing, with, like, even, like, some of the mergers that we're seeing. Like, the whole sky dance and Paramount and Warner Brothers. And, like, I'm like, oh, my God. This is, like, the most fashion friendly way of saying politically, y', all, it's something wrong right now. Y' all should wake up. Like, I love that. I feel like it didn't even feel like an activist movie, but there was so much advocacy in this movie. Like, Andy is an advocate of, like, people and human things. And I think in the world today, we all have to be like that because the things that are happening are literally messing up our daily lives as humans. Like, down to, like, gas and groceries and, you know, like, it's not just like, oh, my God, I can't afford my favorite Starbucks in magazine anymore. It's like, no, you might can't afford to take your child to daycare. And the same people who are doing that are also about to control the way that people call them out about that. And that's scary. Mm.

Alexis Bennett Parker (23:54)

And it goes back to. That's why independent journalism is so important, too. A lot of companies are being silenced. And, you know, like, I think it's so important for people like you to just have a voice and to continue to, like, do the work that needs to be done and that ownership. So having your own is so important. Yeah.

Lauren LaRosa (24:16)

But you know what's crazy? Like, before, like. Like, even I've always had this, like, all right, I want to be like, this ins. Like, you can't get around me, this institution. And then, like, people and whatever, they come and we work together. I never really understood, or maybe I just didn't know it was independent media. I always thought about it like, owning a business. Like, the person who owns the business can kind of maneuver the way that they want to. And if you don't owe anybody thing financially, then you kind of can get a bit more say so. Now, don't get me wrong, I have a corporate job, right? Like, I work at iheart still with Breakfast Club. So there are people that like, you know, a job is a job. But at the same time, I think what I love about the Breakfast Club in this phase of my life is I was so blessed to be at a place where even though it's a job, you still are able to be like, I don't fuck with that.

Alexis Bennett Parker (25:17)

No.

Lauren LaRosa (25:18)

Like, and I. I was. I've always. I mean, TMZ was that way as well. Like, people like to, you know, make it this, like, big, dramatic, you know, exit. But TMZ was like that as well. I was very much Angela Davis in there. Like, and to the point where I used to text my black group chats and be like, yo, am I doing too much now? Like, you know, because even if they didn't want to hear you, they wouldn't stop you from saying it. They wanted people to interject. They wanted people to. So I've always been in those. Those. Those situations. But I was watching this movie, like, I hope that. Because I left feeling inspired. I left feeling like I wasn't doing enough. And I'm like, I hope it makes other people feel like that, too. Like, I don't care where you work. If you're there, you're there for a reason. Like, the reason why I mentioned you in that dot com space, because when I was with you that day at Nordstrom and I saw that I'm like, the conversation right now, especially in the pandemic, was, support everything black. Support everything black. And I was like, this is going to come and go. The Black squares is going to be way down the timeline. After a few posts after that, them people kneeling at the Capitol going to get up, like, and we still need people that are, like, in the spaces that. Not even just fighting for everything black, but just fighting for, like, things that make sense to humans and that we need and that we care about and having a person like you that is very respected, but knowing you and knowing your moral integrity as a person, I was like, okay, this is fire. And that's what, like, when I think about Devil Wears Prada the second go round, I think we get to see Andy in this space of, like, she's still searching for that gratification and that, like, that need to feel like I'm doing something good, which I want to touch on that too, because I feel like I still have that. And I've been trying to figure out why. But she's her own person to the point where, like, she's not backing down off of how morally where she stands. Find that from the first movie.

Alexis Bennett Parker (27:09)

She's so confident in this movie.

Lauren LaRosa (27:11)

Yeah.

Alexis Bennett Parker (27:13)

I mean, like, you said not to, like, a perfection. Right. She's still, like, you know, is looking around the office at, like, what other people are wearing, and she's, you know, wondering what she's gonna wear when she goes to the Hamptons. But there's, like, a quiet confidence in her. And I love how she, like, leans into, like, her new role at the magazine and. But again, like, it goes back to, like, that broken business model. The metrics matter. When Meryl Streep's character, like, ask her, like, what were the page views on that story you wrote?

Lauren LaRosa (27:46)

Right.

Alexis Bennett Parker (27:47)

Like, well, I wrote a great story, but nobody read it. So. Yeah, like, I think, you know, in that case, Andy could have, like, maybe put the story on her social media. Because, again, like, as we know, like, one reel or one TikTok can get way more views than a visit to, you know, a website. So I don't know. That was just, like, a good, good part of the movie.

Lauren LaRosa (28:09)

I. I thought it was just interesting too, though, to see how much she still. There was still that satisfact. And we won't say exactly what the satisfaction that she was looking for, but there was still that sense of needing and longing for something.

Alexis Bennett Parker (28:23)

Yeah.

Lauren LaRosa (28:23)

And I've recently, like, you know, as I get to, like, certain points in career and just in life, and I. It's. I felt like Andy's at the same place in life as me right now. I don't know old. She actually is in the second film. But I find myself sometimes still needing that, like, oh, you did a great job. And I thought I was, like, so unneeding of that and, like, you know, in my groove and, you know, black woman, you can't tell me nothing. And then I started receiving criticisms, and I couldn't take it. And I had to readjust number one, how I took it, because I need critique to get better. But also I had to understand what. To filter out what shouldn't be a critique. Like, something what I shouldn't let live on me because there's so much coming at you at one time. And I just. It made me wonder, like, why is it the industry we work in as media people, as journalists, where we're constantly wanting that, like, you did good because it's not common? Or is that just a human thing that they touch on in the movie of just, like, the feeling of like, I don't know, like, admiration and, you know, like, all things good from people that you admire?

Alexis Bennett Parker (29:34)

I think it's a human thing. Like, I think that for us specifically, it might be magnified because of our industry, because of the optics and just, like, the way that it's set up and glamorized. But I do think it's a human thing to like, just kind of, like, sometimes want someone to say, like, you're doing a great job. But at the same time, what I've been personally trying to work on is, like, being more stoic, too. And, you know, even when someone, like, gives me a compliment or if I, you know, have a certain success or win in my career, like, I'm always thinking about, okay, what's next? How can I do more? How can I, you know, compete with myself? And so, like, keeping this internal scorecard, too. So that way I'm like, you know what? I said I was going to work out this morning, and I worked out this morning, like, just trying to, like, internally be the person that's patting my own back and not always, like, looking for it from others because you can't control what others will say. And, I mean, that's a whole nother conversation. Because I do think. I feel like when we see our people get to a certain level of success, for some reason, it's just like, okay, now you need to come back down because you're too.

Lauren LaRosa (30:44)

Yes. And that's crazy, because in the movie. In the movie, In Devil Wears Prada 2, I felt like people weren't trying to drag her down, but she herself was always preparing for, what if this is all over tomorrow? Because of the way her industry was going. And I think just because of how many risks she said to take to where she gets. To which I try to talk myself out of feeling every day. And I'm like, I thought when I was watching her, I'm like, I thought this was just a black girl thing. No, because we're so few far in between, especially in certain rooms and at certain levels, I'm always like, yo, if I wake up tomorrow and all this is over. What do I have? Don't buy that. Because just in case. Don't buy this. And she was doing that. Andy was doing that.

Alexis Bennett Parker (31:23)

And then I think too, it's a sign of the times too, because we are constantly being told we're all going to be replaced by AI. Like, that is happening too. So it's just kind of. I don't know. I think people are moving to, I think just being like a little bit more conscious that things can't be here today, gone tomorrow.

Lauren LaRosa (31:44)

But it's so hard to like. I feel like when I was really going through my darkest time over this last year, not just in this last year, 2026, but this last full year. Right. The darkest time that I was going through was when I was second guessing myself, second guessing my instinct. And a part of it was like I. I was receiving so much critique at one time and I, I was, I was letting some of it live on me. Then the other part of it was me just preparing to, like, wake up and it all be going and not be able to do it again and not understanding that, like, regardless of where you go, you are who you are. You got it or you don't.

Mandy B (32:23)

Yeah.

Lauren LaRosa (32:24)

It's like I feel like Andy's constant battle is that because we saw that in Devil Wears Prada 1 then we saw in Devil Wears Prada too. And I feel like she came out of fast, came out of it faster in the second movie, but the fight was there again and I was like, okay, so no matter. New levels, new devils, for sure.

Alexis Bennett Parker (32:44)

I think as long as we have breath in our body, especially if you're an ambitious person, I feel like we're always going to be like, chasing for something.

Lauren LaRosa (32:54)

Now talk a bit about and you know, to your discretion because I know this is your real work life. In real life, when people watch this movie, one of the biggest things, especially, you know, for the new kids who are watching it and who are learning who Anna Wintour is. And it's Met Gala season right now. I feel like because of this movie, even me because of this movie, I have such a view of, like, what in a Wintour is probably like, because I know that Meryl Streep's character was fashioned after her. What is it really like working with Anna Wintour?

Alexis Bennett Parker (33:25)

I will say I have so much respect for Anna and I know, like, nobody's perfect on this planet, but I've learned a lot from her from working with her, seeing her, how she works, how she operates. This woman is the best at what she does. Right. And so I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every moment of it. Like, when I heard the news that she was gonna step down, like from editor in chief, like, that was. I was sad. Like, I'm not gonna lie. And I'm so excited that Chloe Mall is now there, who I also got to work with while I was at Vogue. But it's inspiring. It makes you want to be better. Like wake up every single day and do the best that you can do at any and every job that I've gone to onto afterwards. So I enjoyed it so much.

Lauren LaRosa (34:16)

Is she very hands on? Because when I worked at TMZ and since then, when I talk about tmz, everybody always wants to ask me about, like, what my experience was. And what they're directly asking me is, what is it like working with Harvey Levitt? And I tell people, you can say whatever you want about him, but he is one of the most hard working people I've ever met. He is involved in every story if he can be. He is at work before we get there, after we leave, working all weekend. Like, he really lives and breathes this. And we saw that a lot with Meryl Streep's character. You know, you live and breathe it and some of the things you lose in your real life is in a winter like that as well. Where she truly lives and breathes every. Every article, every word, every pitch that is going out from Vogue.

Alexis Bennett Parker (34:59)

Yeah, I mean, she's always the first person in the office there every single day. So she's really like in the. In the work, in the thick of it. But at the same time, I think part of her brilliance is that she also knows what she doesn't know and so she'll hire the best around her. So, for example, like me doing editorial commerce content, like, Anna's not an E comm expert, she is a magazine expert. And so she hired a very, very smart, brilliant team of E commerce writers. And like my former manager, Lisa Akin was, who was an E. Com vet, such a smart, brilliant woman. So for us, like, when it came to like E. Com stuff, she kind of just was like, y' all do y' all thing. Like y' all got it as long as it looked great and wasn't in conflict with like the overall brand of Vogue. No. Like, if you didn't hear from her, no news was good news. That meant you were doing well.

Lauren LaRosa (35:58)

I know.

Alexis Bennett Parker (35:59)

So. Yeah, exactly.

Lauren LaRosa (36:01)

Yeah. And I feel, I mean, even with Breakfast Club too, people always talk to me about Envy Charlemagne. Jess. Like, but more So I feel like Envy and Charlemagne because me and Jess are both new there, and people are always wondering, like, what is it like to be around? Like, they've been doing it for so long. And, like, even now, some days I'd be like, I can't believe I'm really at the Breakfast Club. But, like, I remember early on just, like, watching them and still happens today. I just, like, watch them, like, go watch them come in and out of segments and talk breaks and all these things that I'm learning, and they just do it so easily. And I just be like, hello. Like, yeah, but it's like, I mean, but these people have really been doing it and doing it very, very well for a long time. But I think one of the things that I admired a lot about coming to the Breakfast Club team was, I mean, Harvey definitely hires he. One thing he gonna do is put together something higher team and get it done or keep it internal and figure out and identify who's best for it. But one of the things that happened at Breakfast Club that didn't happen at TMZ for me was they allowed me to own the. Own my space a bit more. And I think that's why people got to feel like, you know, I feel like my presence was felt on the show because I felt and appreciated that. So, you know, it's not like I didn't appreciate my job at tmz, but it's different when you feel like you're just a piece of something versus when you're, like, a part of the real full. I'm here, and I own my piece of the puzzle. Growth of something. And I think we saw that with Andy and Devil Wears Prada, too, as well, when, you know, there were big decisions on the line that needed to be made. And, you know, Miranda Presley finally backed off Meryl Streep's character and let her character just be great. Like, let Andy let Anne Hathaway do what she knew that she could do, you know, and it turned out great for everybody. I don't know if you've had an experience like that or just what you're thinking around was when you saw her coming into her own in that way. But it made me smile because I remember my first time feeling like, oh, girl, you're the magic.

Alexis Bennett Parker (38:15)

Yes. Yes. I've definitely had those moments. And it's special. It's really special where when someone allows you to thrive and creates an environment for you to thrive and to just do you do what you know how to do best. So I love that Andy finally had that moment in the sequel.

Lauren LaRosa (38:39)

Me too. And I thought a part of the real grown up conversation too in the first movie and the second movie that we saw is like, prioritizing life outside of work and what happens in the long run. Because being a career driven woman has always been such a hard conversation of like, can you have it all? And figuring out how to have it all while also balancing a very high pressure, very demanding job. You know, we saw in The Devil Wears Prada 1 How Miranda Presley's character, Meryl Streep's character, she lost a lot because of, you know, certain decisions that she made. And I think Andy learned from that. Anne Hathaway learned from that in the first movie and it paid off well in the second movie by how she handled some of her life decisions outside of work. And that resonated with me too, because I think right now I'm learning that things are only going to grow, you know, God willing. And I'm excited for that. But I am like, I, I love you. Said you home with family. And I'm like, ugh. I look back on the time when I was in Delaware with my mom and I'm just for like that year where I was trying to figure everything out. And I cherish that time so much now because I don't have that much time to just be with them and like, get the be in the crevices of the small things. Waking up every morning, the breakfast is, you know, and it's difficult once you get moving and sh. And trying to like, keep that balance.

Alexis Bennett Parker (40:02)

But I think that's why you should cherish every moment that you're in. Right? So like, cherish the grind season that you're in right now. And I think that anything that like, every time you say yes to something, you're automatically saying no to something else. And that's okay. Sacrifice is fine. Like, this is like, sometimes something has to give so that you can have something else. And I don't think it's like, there's no right or wrong way. I think what the, the thing to focus on is like, what do you want out of life? And going after that wholeheartedly, regardless of what everybody else thinks. What, regardless of what everybody else says you should have. Like, maybe I don't, like, I don't want balance. Maybe I don't want to have kids. Like, and that's okay. Like, because whose life is it? It's mine.

Lauren LaRosa (40:48)

So.

Alexis Bennett Parker (40:49)

So yeah, I love that they kind of like highlight that in the film as well. Like, you Know if you choose in one thing, sometimes that means saying no to something else. So.

Lauren LaRosa (40:58)

And that's okay in it, but I think when you're in it, it feels like, like. Cause I, I felt guilt a lot. I don't know how you feel, but when you're working in like this fast paced media space or if you're just new and building anything, one thing does lack. And I always feel guilty about it when it does. Like, and I'm still learning how to talk myself through that, that guilt and that feeling. I don't know if you've gotten to a place of like, you know, when things do lack, how you kind of talk yourself through that.

Alexis Bennett Parker (41:28)

I think for me, I've definitely, I'll admit being selfish. And so even if I do know,

Lauren LaRosa (41:35)

I love that about you, by the way. I admire that about you so much. You gonna leave when it's time to leave? You gonna do what you need to do for yourself? I'm not always, I'm not fully there yet. I've learned that I'm very people pleasing in this phase of my life.

Alexis Bennett Parker (41:48)

I mean, I've definitely have those days too where I'm like in my head thinking about, okay, what do people think about me? But like, once I've made up my mind about something, then I'm just kind of like, f everybody else, F everything else. Like, this is what I want and this is the decision I'm gonna make. And so I think like, I think it's just important to be self aware and like for me to even say like, I'm selfish. That took me like a long time to get there. And I don't think it's a bad thing to be like full of self, which is like the, what the word means because you can't help other people if you're not like preserving your own peace of mind. And so I've, yeah, I've, I've made decisions like I just live my life based off of okay, what, what do I want? And I'm in control. If other people don't understand, then that's, that's fine because they're not living my life.

Lauren LaRosa (42:40)

So one of the things that I've always thought about when I watch movies like Devil Wears Prada or Sex and the City, even girlfriends, it's like the differences between white women in a space or others, anybody, and then black women in this space. Because for me it's like, okay, I want to balance my life because I want, you know, a full life outside of work. But when I think about my, my, my need to always show up, always be the person that can do it, always be the person that stays late. It's not because I love to please people. Like, I'm very much so, like, I ain't kissing your ass. It's more so like I feel like I'm out of sight, out of mind. Like, I'm already at a disadvantage because I may be one of only in a space. So let me overachieve because I feel like I have to. And that puts you on a never ending hamster wheel.

Alexis Bennett Parker (43:30)

Yeah, I've definitely, I have been that person all the time. And I mean, so many places, like going into like these different magazines where it's like, you're the only black girl or you're going on a press trip with a brand, you're the only black girl. And so, yeah, you definitely. I mean, I, I don't like dwell on it like, oh my God, I'm the only bad person. But I do think it probably does affect like, which I don't think it's a bad thing to go above and beyond, like, so. But definitely, yeah, trying to be. I'm the first one in the office every day and the last one to leave. Like, I do those things and I

Lauren LaRosa (44:05)

guess it's more about, like, I guess I'm asking you, when did you learn to set healthy boundaries within that? Because I had to learn before I left my last job. I. One of the things I was happy about is I learned the boundary of being like, no, no. Yeah, before that, no was obsolete because I'm like, it's only me in here. I got to do it or they gonna find another black girl.

Alexis Bennett Parker (44:30)

No. I think if you try to say yes to everything, which I have been that person and I have done that before, then it gets to a point where like, you're not being, you're not get turning in your best work on all of those things.

Lauren LaRosa (44:43)

Yeah.

Alexis Bennett Parker (44:43)

So like, at some point you gotta be like, listen, I'm already working on X, Y and Z. If you want my help with this thing over here, like, I can help, but I'm gonna have to prioritize some things. Or like, which one do you want me to get to first? Like, you have to like, set those boundaries because at the end of the day, like, you don't want to be trying to do it all and then you're doing it all for sloppily, like, or, you know, you want every, all, every single thing you touch to be its best and to be excellence. So that's how I've learned, like, okay, I can't. I got. Something's got to give. We got to make decisions.

Lauren LaRosa (45:18)

I've learned a hard lesson in that as well, too, even being a Breakfast Club, because, like, now it's like, whatever I put out there, girl, it's on me. So it's no cruise control on days where, like, I might not be at my best. It's like, every day I gotta, like, you know, center and figure it out in. In closing, and thank you so much for joining me in this conversation. One of the things, like, one of my, like, overall moral of the story, things that I took away from watching Devil Wears Prada, too, was just, it's a journey to find yourself. And when you find yourself, even in times where, like, you might slip, don't divert from it, because it always garners you the best success. Like, saying 10 toes down to who you are and who you want to become and what it takes to. To get there. And people will feel that, like, people need Andy's presence, just not even her work, but her personality, her smile, her jokes, her gullibleness at times, it was so refreshing in. In her absence was felt when she left. And you could tell because once, you know, they started rekindling things, you're like, okay, they felt her on a personal level. And for me, I. I'm always like, I just want to make sure that when I show up, I'm able to show up as my full self. And in doing that, I'm able to, like, I'm always thinking about, like, impact. Like, how am I. How is my presence here impacting someone's life even once I'm gone? So watching her operate in her full space and do the things she did, it's like, all right. Yeah, like, girl, like, you're. You're doing it. Like you're doing what you need to be doing. And that's not even nothing for you to think about. You just do it. I don't know if you had, like, an overall takeaway or anything like that from the movie, but.

Alexis Bennett Parker (47:03)

No, I love that. I think especially, like, when you look at the most successful people in the world, they're all the way. They show up to work. They're, like, 100% honest about their work. Like, and I feel like you can't do your best work if you're not. Especially in the industry. That's about taste and style. If you're not honest about it, like, you can't produce the best if you kind of lie in and, like, oh, we'll let that slide. We'll let them get away with that, or I'm going to bite my tongue on this. Like, you got to show up as yourself. And that's the only way I think, that you can put out your best work is if you show up as yourself. And I'm so glad that Andy is, like, thriving and bringing, like, this different quirkiness to the office. Like, and for me, it's inspiring because I'm like, okay, you know, I might not, like, like, certain things about myself or it might be different than every. Than other everybody else I work with, but, like, that's who I am, and that's why I'm there. Because we don't all need to be homogenous. We need to all, like, have a different perspective that we bring to the table. So it's just overall inspiring. Go see the movie if you haven't.

Lauren LaRosa (48:06)

Yes. And it was her callback. It was her thing. Like, you. I. I saw one of, you know, she wrote down as, like, the. The. You know, how to get into the industry and stay. I feel like, you know, she. She got into the industry a very traditional way where it's like, no, you really do start off as, like, I remember being in the fashion closet and being like, oh, this ain't just in the movies, child. You really do start from, like, what the heck? Okay, don't talk to that person. Don't do it. Like. But you're learning in the midst of all of that. I think you're learning a lot just about structure and discipline and tough skin. But her call back when she was down and out was the fact that she showed up every day as herself, and she had continued to do that work long after she left there. So when they needed a person, they knew exactly. Like, people talk about branding themselves. I'm always like, yo, if you're a person, I got to curate yourself. Just be a person. She curated herself naturally by doing her work, and her work got her call back when she needed a dang job.

Alexis Bennett Parker (49:01)

Exactly. I loved it. It was really inspiring.

Lauren LaRosa (49:04)

Yes, it was. It was. I. Yes. Like, I'm going out tonight for MET Gala just to, like, hit some after parties, and I'm about to head home to, like, wash the carpet and stuff. But it made me even want to do, like. It's like, I want to get into the shits more. Like, I'm doing well, but, like, you know, I need to find a way to a lot more time. Like, I just left with all these things on my mind of, like, world is your oyster, and you need that reminder sometimes, especially at our big age. Like, it's easy when you're young and you all, you know, googly eye.

Alexis Bennett Parker (49:36)

But yeah, the work continues. There's more to be accomplished. So I'm inspired in every way. We about to take this to the

Lauren LaRosa (49:45)

next level, so, yes, we are. Cheers. We don't have nothing to cheers with, but cheers. All right, y'. All. So this has been another episode of the Latest with Lauren LaRosa, the podcast, and my lowriders. I tell you guys every single episode. Y' all could be anywhere with any old body, but y' all choose to be right here with me every single episode. And I appreciate you guys so much for that. Don't forget, we have the brown girl grinding merch@browngirlgrinding.com and for a limited time, if you use B G G love, L O V E at check, check out, I'm showing you all some love and giving you all some money off your products. It's a little surprise, but only if you've watched or listened to this podcast will you know that I'll catch you guys in my next episode. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.