Today we’d like to introduce you to Beasy Baybie.
Beasy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Born to a single mother in a small town in West Virginia, I spent much of my youth searching for validation, trying to figure out who and whose I was. I knew my mother but had few memories of a man I thought to be my father. At about ten years of age, I discovered the man I thought was my father, actually was not. It wasn’t until I was fifteen and pregnant that I had my first memorable encounter with my biological father.
Leading up to this encounter, many life-altering events occurred in my life. At the age of 13, I was sent to reside in Bethany Children’s Home, a group home for youth outside of Reading, PA. Uncontrollable, I was simply too much for my mother to handle. In addition to working full time and raising my three younger brothers, my mother concluded I was simply more than her patience and household could afford. I spent roughly two years in this group home before being released back to my mother. Over the next few years, I would reside in foster care, detention centers, and the homes of relatives. At the age of 17, I was officially on my own. I acquired a job at a local clothing store and moved into a one-bedroom apartment in a “sketchy” part of the city. I made friends with some of the local hustlers and gangsters and began what would be the introduction to a not so glamorous next few years.
By the age of 26, I had four children and was going to court for more than 30 criminal acts, including conspiracy to commit attempted murder. Accepting a plea deal for three of those charges, I was sentenced to two years in Muncy State Correctional Institution, followed by five years of Specialized Probation to be monitored by the State Parole Department. Upon being released from prison in July 2010, I was sent directly to Kintock Halfway House in Philadelphia P.A. to participate and graduate from their Violent Offenders Program. There, I attended meetings, held down a part-time job and began my integration back into the community. Upon my release from the halfway house, I resided in Reading, PA for six months before relocating to Charlotte, N.C. with my new husband. Unbeknownst to me, the gentleman I had fallen in love with, and married, was a physically abusive alcoholic. On December 30, 2011, my husband assaulted and almost killed me by attempting to drowned me in a bathtub; we are now divorced.
In September 2012, I began an internship at a Charlotte, North Carolina radio station. That internship developed into a full-time position. One year later, I quit that job and applied for a greater position at another hip-hop station in Columbia, South Carolina. I was given the coveted position of midday on-air personality for that station. In January 2015, I was promoted to afternoon drive talent. A position I currently hold. I am a leader on the radio and in my community as well. I am active in fundraising and community initiatives. I am known to cover BET events, volunteer my time serving the underserved, and I’m “everybody’s favorite homegirl”.
No stranger to struggles, I’ve triumphed beyond a wayward youth, teenage mother, an abusive childhood, and domestic abuse survivor. I’ve survived life in group homes, detention centers, prisons and halfway houses. I’ve broken the chains and stigmas around her. I now uses the links from the chains of her past to help others in conditions similar to those I have survived. I give GOD all the glory for not only bringing me through each and every situation but loving me despite my flaws. I reside in Columbia, South Carolina and look forward to pouring into the lives of individuals in every state, city, and life that will allow me to do so. I’m also the author of a short story “That Night, I Died”.
You can find me On Air weekday afternoons, on television every Thursday morning, and on YouTube and SoundCloud with my short films, podcasts, and more. You can find all of my community initiatives under the social media hashtag #OperationWeGotUs
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been nothing near smooth. Some of the struggles I’ve faced were getting people to look beyond my felonies. Being a single parent of daughters. Being in the South with no support and having to find my way.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an on air personality, a television personality, an event host, motivational speaker, a MC, an author, social media influencer, actor, video editor, and producer. I create community initiatives and do a lot to give back to the underserved in my community as well as the prison population.
As a brand, company, and person I’m most proud of my ability to remain focused on God and my purpose. I’m happy to be able to use my platform to help others; whether it be physically or spiritually, just encouraging people to be and do their best.
What sets me apart is that I don’t have an image to maintain. I’m the same me on air as I am in the grocery store. I understand that I only have this platform because God gave it to me and I’ll only be as successful as He determines I should be. I know my source. I’m real. I’m “your favorite homegirl” and I don’t desire to be placed on a pedestal; I want people to look at me and see what happens when you trust God. He is the bigger picture and my difference is HIM.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was fun and funny but had a pretty dysfunctional childhood. I went through a lot growing up so it resulted in some behavioral problems. I was always a sweet, smart, loving kid but I was also troubled, I was in and out of foster care and group homes so it made it pretty hard to dream of a better life. I remember wanting to be a police officer and comedian. I wanted to make people smile and help them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BeasyBaybie.com
- Email: beasybaybie@gmail.com
- Instagram: @BeasyBaybie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beasybaybie/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeasyBaybie
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/beasybaybie
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