BJ Coleman

“Always be yourself, and never be afraid to shine to make others feel comfortable....”

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us tell us who you are and where you’re from?

A. I was born and raised in Washington,

DC. I graduated from Boston College with a degree in communications.

Q. You have been in the entertainment industry for years now what has been one of your biggest accomplishment?

A. My biggest accomplishment is running my own agency for the past 10 years. It started as a dream but has grown into a full-service boutique firm!

Q. How was your experience being

Kimora Less Simmons Personal

Assistant?

A. Working as a Personal Assistant was ok. It was grueling work, and Kimora was tough, but I learned a lot and it helped train me as a publicist and an entrepreneur. It also provided insight into a new realm of life that I had never experienced before growing up modestly in Washington, DC.

Q. Tell us about your company “The

Coleman Entertainment Group” and the inspiration behind it?

A. My agency was renamed Image

Elevators in 2018. We are a fullservice image and communications firm specializing in entertainment and fashion marketing and branding strategies for our clients. I came up with the name because I am always wearing sunglasses and I always advice my talent to wear sunglasses because they are instant “image elevators.” I wanted to give the agency a name that identifies with our day-to-day practice.

Q. What is one of your biggest challenges being in this industry?

A. One of the biggest challenges being in entertainment and fashion industries is proving you belong. There’s a hierarchy in this business, a lot of which is based on race, gender and sexuality.

While the business embraces difference in front of the camera, there is still a lot of discrimination behind the scenes, particularly if you don’t fit a specific mold.

Q. Tell us one fun fact about yourself?

A. I love to collect Piggy Banks from around the world!

Q. What advice would you give to your younger self in order to pursue in today’s society?

A. Always be yourself, and never be afraid to shine to make others feel comfortable… So many times, we dim our own light to appease others. I’m so glad I’m finally beyond that.

Q. If you could change anything about the entertainment industry, what would it be?

A. I would change the blatant and hidden racism that exists at agencies, studios, castings, in marketing and at other organizations.

Q. Are you working on any new projects right now?

A. I’ve always got something up my sleeve. But continuing to grow and build my empire is my main focus!

Q. Where can the fans follow you?

A. My primary social media account is my Instagram: @thebjcolemanshow.