Today we’d like to introduce you to Carisha The Diva Johnson. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Carisha Zenitta was born in Philadelphia, PA. After majoring in business at Rutgers University in New Jersey, Carisha began interning for celebrity photographer VX Don, who showed her the ropes in the fashion industry. She interned under him for 12 months, and was hands on with fashion show productions, media coverage, and hosting. Carisha always wanted to empower women, so this opened the doors for her to begin working under her own brand. She covered the red carpet for Philadelphia Fashion Week 2009, 2010, 2011 and started doing local fashion shows in Philadelphia, which began to gain serious popularity and notoriety in the city with lines wrapped down the block for tickets.
After the successful launch of her biggest production there, ‘Fashion With Curves’, the city of Philadelphia took awareness of the heavy market for plus size models, and launched “Plus Size Fashion Week’. Some of the biggest names in the city attended her events including Gillie The King, Charles Dutton, and local artists. Soon after she decided to take her talents to Atlanta, Georgia where there is a bigger market for self made entertainers. After working with Momma Dee on a fashion event for VH1, Atlanta Fashion Week, Walk Fashion Atlanta, and other popular productions, she went on to produce several other fashion shows here, but the most successful event was the “Women Empowerment Fashion Show’, which honored women in the entertainment industry for their hard work. Looking for a more ‘news inspired’ platform she successfully launched her own show “Live With Carisha’. She has sat with Mulatto, Foogiano, Columbus Short, Fabo, Pap Chanel & more.
Carisha launched a Talk Show platform where she sits down and does in-depth one on one interviews with various celebrities and talents. Her latest interviews to date, includes Foogiano, Renni Rucci, Elijah Connor, Columbus Short, Mr. Hotspot, & various celebrities, artists, influencers, and politicians. Live with Carisha is the freshest talk show in Atlanta complete with a in-studio audience and house DJ. The show airs on Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, GCR Radio, Breakr, Pocket Cast & YouTube.
Her amazing career is growing monthly and this Diva has interviewed some of Atlanta’s best, from Grammy producer James Worthy, to Rolling Out’s, DJ Waffles (Kash Doll & Megan Thee Stallion tour DJ), to music artist ‘Sum 1 Sounds’, who’s hit song with Missy Elliott topped the Billboard charts. She was nominated for Atl’s Hottest Awards 2019 in 3 categories: media personality, best web show, & best female host
The Real (How I Got Here).
Once moving to Atlanta I knew I had to figure out a way for myself and fast. Reality sinked in real fast once the money starting running out. Everyone thinks once you move to Atlanta everything is going to instantly start going good for you and in my case that wasn’t it. The initial begining years dealt with a abusive boyfriend, then a alcoholic boyfriend and years of not going into my full potential. Once 2017 hit I had got fed up. My ex at the time burnt down my apartment so I left and never looked back. I started setting goals for myself and my brand. Networking, being at important events, building my social media presence. 2018 I managed to shoot a few interviews 2018 I got really serious. I was interning for DJ Roots Queen, official DJ for Zaytoven Beatz. That led to some good connects as well. During the pandemic I had enough of finishing last with my media work so I left Rude Girl Radio and started working on Live With Carisha Media. I officially got my LLC, pushed harder on bigger interviews. Went seriously hard on networking, and just manifested what I wanted for myself.
By then I had big Interviews such as rapper Big Latto, Foogiano, Benny the Butcher, Elijah Connor and more. I picked up several amazing clients for my services and even though it still has it’s up’s and down’s I’m definitely learning as I go. I have been through some very traumatic experiences while living in Atlanta, but I don’t really know where I would be if I wasn’t here. Maybe in New York. Moving to Atlanta in 2013 helped me find me and figure out where I want to go in life. I lost my mother to cancer just 5 months ago, and still my determination to succeed marches on. The pain has been hard these days, but I KNOW I can’t give up now after so much. I’m planning on releasing a transcending new Ap under my media company and want to keep pushing myself further in business. Since the pandemic I understand the importance of OWNERSHIP. Which is another reason that keeps me dedicated to LIVE WITH CARISHA LLC.
This is something I have grew out the mud and I want to see where I can get to. There are good months and bad months in business, and I’m fortunate to have been down for so long and having a true testimony of what it means to struggle, and a good support team around me. I know 2022 will be a big year for my brand and I’m continuing to push and create new ideas. As of now I specialize in marketing targeted to independent music artists, small business development, red carpet hosting, host, media personality, and blogging. I would love for people to follow me on Instagram @livewithcarishamedia and subscribe to my YouTube channel at Carisha The Diva.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
2013 moved to Atlanta with a ex who was abusive. He would often put his hands on me after about a year together I had left and decided to do Atlanta alone.
2015 as if it couldn’t get worse started dating a Alcoholic. ikr how insecure. I hadn’t found myself around this time but my rebirth was coming. I think I had to go through bad relationships to discover how dope and strong of a woman I am. Dating him led to me losing track of what I moved here for and I lost focus.
2017 picked up the ball again and got back to networking.
2018 started growing my brand but took loses, Been scammed, life, finances, balancing a job, started school at GSU for my bachelor’s in Journalism.
2020 pandemic Got frustrated with it all. Decided to push even harder and made my biggest accomplishments during covid. Could not get any loans so still trying to figure out the money but pushing.
2021 mom my best friend passed away from cancer. As if life couldn’t get any more harder. Literally, when the business is rolling, I just lost my best friend, Call it out I’m there – depression, sadness, feeling lost, suicidal thoughts, confused, determined but overwhelmed. Still trying to balance school a business and my finances. I’m just trying to continue to grow as a business, maintain my faith, satisfy my clients.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a published Journalist/blogger/host/red carpet host.
I’m the host of my own Talk Show Live with Carisha. We shoot on Thursdays in Atlanta. We have a studio audience, networking segment and I do live 1 on 1 interviews with artists, celebrities, influencers, etc.
I also do small business development help with marketing, branding, promotion, new idea.
Red Carpet host – BOOK ME IM THE BEST
Media Personality/host – I can host anything any crowd.
I’m looking to get picked up by a network for my media work.
People call me the next Oprah. Lol.
Live with Carisha Media is a licensed Media Company that specializes in marketing, promotion, small business development, social media advertising, event hosting and more. We are based in Atlanta but will travel on location. The Live with Carisha Show airs on Thursday evenings in Atlanta, Georgia with a live in-studio audience. Guests who attend the show engage with the brands who jump in the Hot Seat with Carisha the Diva. The live show has a cash bar * networking segment * photoshoot pit.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When finding a mentor, don’t look. They will find you. A mentor is a very important element in business and life and you are trusting someone’s advice and guidance.
Networking – BE OUTSIDE, especially in Atlanta. Get your business cards, flyers, go to events, shows, festivals, open mics, mixers, celebrity events and be seen
Pricing:
- Interviews $200 – $600
- Hosting $200 start
- Blogging $100
Contact Info:
- Email: carishathejournalist@gmail.com
- Website: www.carishathediva.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carishathediva/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivewithCarisha
- Twitter: @carishathediva
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RunwayInk
- SoundCloud: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tA9zfkEUvaWHZJ11pRDwU
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/gh/podcast/live-with-carisha-show/id1547069383
Image Credits
Atl Visualz
