Demetria Lucas has to be one of the flyest woman that I have ever met in my life. Known across this great city as the "black Carrie Bradshaw", readers can tap into Ms. Lucas through her blog (my personal favorite).
Demetria tends to write what most women are thinking but are to scared to say. As a writer/editor for one of the top black womens magazines in the world (you can take a guess at which one) she is unapologetically bold, honest and driven. Demetria is the NYFab! inspiration of the month. Check out her interview below:
Demetria tends to write what most women are thinking but are to scared to say. As a writer/editor for one of the top black womens magazines in the world (you can take a guess at which one) she is unapologetically bold, honest and driven. Demetria is the NYFab! inspiration of the month. Check out her interview below:
Q. At what age did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
A. In college. I was on the business track then pre-law; [I] never thought about being anything else although people would often tell me I could write well. I figured I’d major in English to write good briefs. Junior year, I procrastinated on writing a six page paper until 3 AM the day it was due. It was on the role of women in Richard Wright’s Native Son. I was sitting in class a couple weeks later and the professor was raving about this one essay. She read the first few sentences and the people in the class—all English majors—were flipping out about how dope it was. I’ve always had an admiration for great writers and was thinking, “wow, I wish I could write like that.” It wasn’t until the last sentence [that] I recognized the words as my own. I was dumbfounded. That was the first time I thought, “Hmmm, I might be good at this writing thing. Maybe I shouldn’t go to law school.”
Q. Out of everything that you have ever written, what has been the article or story that you are most proud of?
A. Tough question. I have an external hard drive packed with essays that are just too honest for me to put in a public forum just yet, but that I wrote for the sake of catharsis. One of them is about how I was sexually assaulted by someone I knew and trusted two weeks after I moved to New York. I didn’t write about it for years and then when I finally did, I emotionally re-lived it so I could get the story right. I don’t think it’s my best piece of writing, but I always felt like it was a story that needed to be told and I realized I had come a long way when I finally wrote it. I put the piece up as first-person fiction on my very first blog on MySpace, but everyone that read it thought it was me and that it was more or less real.
Q. What do you love most about living in NYC?
A. Wow, so many reasons; high up there are the opportunities. It’s hard to “make it” here, but it’s not because there’s not a chance too. You might have to work super-hard and it may take longer than some folks are willing to wait and you might not always know where to look, but the chance to be whatever you want exists. I also like that this is a hustler’s city. I don’t know anyone without a side gig and who does not have their eyes on a prize. Being surrounded with so many driven people is inspiring.
The last reason… summertime. This city—Brooklyn especially—explodes with events: free concerts, picnics in the park, house parties, rooftop parties, industry parties, all-day dance parties, block parties, beach parties, street festivals, sidewalk cafes, Sunday movie night at an over packed BK venue… Just walk outside your door, and you will run into fun without looking. I don’t know that you can find that anywhere else—maybe Miami, but half the people peppering South Beach are visiting from NYC anyway.
Q. Do you prefer wearing vintage or labels; why?
A. I prefer fly above anything. My perception of good fashion isn’t about cost or where it came from. I only rock designer bags (slight “Louie V” obsession), but as far as clothes, all I care about is, "does it match my mood today? Does it look good on me?” I like near-anything with ruffles and most things plaid—don’t care where they came from. All that said, you can have the flyest wardrobe in the city, but if you don’t have the right attitude or the right confidence, you might as well be wearing stone wash Mom jeans.
Q. Who’s your favorite music artist?
A. I can’t narrow it down to one. I’ll give you my top six. It’s a tie between Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. The ladies because they bare their whole selves; flaws and all. I find so much beauty in their honesty. It takes a strong woman to be vulnerable. Marvin because… well, "What’s Going On?" is a musical masterpiece and the lyrics stand the test of time. Put it on your iPod, go walk around the ungentrified section of any city, then return home and watch the news. Same ish, different century. I go to Stevie when I need to be reminded that life isn’t easy, but it will all be okay.
Q. Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?
A. Anyone who falls and gets back up. It takes an extraordinary and underappreciated amount of strength to get knocked on your tailfeathers and then try again against the odds. Or to have hope enough to say, "I have failed again and been disappointed again but I will try again."
Q. You work for one of the top black womens magazines in the world, what’s the first thought on your mind when you walk into work everyday?
A. Everybody doesn’t get to live the dream. I think that even when senior staff says the equivalent of “D, can you build a pyramid, arrange for another set of hanging gardens and solve the mystery of Stonehenge… by five o’clock?”
There’s a line in Kanye’s “Gone,” that goes: “They claim you never know what you got 'til it's gone/ I know I got it/ I don't know what y'all on.” I wake up everyday blessed in knowing I am doing something I care about deeply, [it] makes me a better writer and I’d do it even for free. This is my dream job.
Q. What tips can you give aspiring writers out there?
A. Read and write constantly. It’s the only way to make yourself better. Also, remember that writing is subjective. Just because one person doesn’t like your writing, doesn’t mean another will hate it too. Unfortunately, the opposite is true as well. Some people will love your work; others will hate it. Just do your best—and find a good editor.
Q. Many consider you the “Black Carrie Bradshaw” of NYC, do you like that title?
A. Until Sunday I hadn’t watched the show in months. Carrie was a flawed, but well-intentioned woman trying to figure it all out—life, love, relationships, herself—and she made a lot of mistakes. Her other most defining characteristics were that she believed in love. She stumbled a lot (do you remember the episode where she fell on the runway? It’s my favorite) but she always got back up. She also lived a larger than life kind of existence, was incredibly well-dressed and had a gigantic cultural impact. I’m extremely flattered to be equated with a character that was well-loved and inspired so many people.
Q. What keeps you motivated everyday?
A. Failure is not an option; that and every single day something exciting, entertaining, or interesting happens to me or someone I know. I love the anticipation of wondering what comes next. Life is just so fascinating if you live it to the fullest.
Q. Lastly, “Belle” tell us why you’re fabulous?
A. Because when I fall, I get back up.
Very true Ms. Lucas! Stay fab!
Q. Out of everything that you have ever written, what has been the article or story that you are most proud of?
A. Tough question. I have an external hard drive packed with essays that are just too honest for me to put in a public forum just yet, but that I wrote for the sake of catharsis. One of them is about how I was sexually assaulted by someone I knew and trusted two weeks after I moved to New York. I didn’t write about it for years and then when I finally did, I emotionally re-lived it so I could get the story right. I don’t think it’s my best piece of writing, but I always felt like it was a story that needed to be told and I realized I had come a long way when I finally wrote it. I put the piece up as first-person fiction on my very first blog on MySpace, but everyone that read it thought it was me and that it was more or less real.
Q. What do you love most about living in NYC?
A. Wow, so many reasons; high up there are the opportunities. It’s hard to “make it” here, but it’s not because there’s not a chance too. You might have to work super-hard and it may take longer than some folks are willing to wait and you might not always know where to look, but the chance to be whatever you want exists. I also like that this is a hustler’s city. I don’t know anyone without a side gig and who does not have their eyes on a prize. Being surrounded with so many driven people is inspiring.
The last reason… summertime. This city—Brooklyn especially—explodes with events: free concerts, picnics in the park, house parties, rooftop parties, industry parties, all-day dance parties, block parties, beach parties, street festivals, sidewalk cafes, Sunday movie night at an over packed BK venue… Just walk outside your door, and you will run into fun without looking. I don’t know that you can find that anywhere else—maybe Miami, but half the people peppering South Beach are visiting from NYC anyway.
Q. Do you prefer wearing vintage or labels; why?
A. I prefer fly above anything. My perception of good fashion isn’t about cost or where it came from. I only rock designer bags (slight “Louie V” obsession), but as far as clothes, all I care about is, "does it match my mood today? Does it look good on me?” I like near-anything with ruffles and most things plaid—don’t care where they came from. All that said, you can have the flyest wardrobe in the city, but if you don’t have the right attitude or the right confidence, you might as well be wearing stone wash Mom jeans.
Q. Who’s your favorite music artist?
A. I can’t narrow it down to one. I’ll give you my top six. It’s a tie between Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. The ladies because they bare their whole selves; flaws and all. I find so much beauty in their honesty. It takes a strong woman to be vulnerable. Marvin because… well, "What’s Going On?" is a musical masterpiece and the lyrics stand the test of time. Put it on your iPod, go walk around the ungentrified section of any city, then return home and watch the news. Same ish, different century. I go to Stevie when I need to be reminded that life isn’t easy, but it will all be okay.
Q. Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?
A. Anyone who falls and gets back up. It takes an extraordinary and underappreciated amount of strength to get knocked on your tailfeathers and then try again against the odds. Or to have hope enough to say, "I have failed again and been disappointed again but I will try again."
Q. You work for one of the top black womens magazines in the world, what’s the first thought on your mind when you walk into work everyday?
A. Everybody doesn’t get to live the dream. I think that even when senior staff says the equivalent of “D, can you build a pyramid, arrange for another set of hanging gardens and solve the mystery of Stonehenge… by five o’clock?”
There’s a line in Kanye’s “Gone,” that goes: “They claim you never know what you got 'til it's gone/ I know I got it/ I don't know what y'all on.” I wake up everyday blessed in knowing I am doing something I care about deeply, [it] makes me a better writer and I’d do it even for free. This is my dream job.
Q. What tips can you give aspiring writers out there?
A. Read and write constantly. It’s the only way to make yourself better. Also, remember that writing is subjective. Just because one person doesn’t like your writing, doesn’t mean another will hate it too. Unfortunately, the opposite is true as well. Some people will love your work; others will hate it. Just do your best—and find a good editor.
Q. Many consider you the “Black Carrie Bradshaw” of NYC, do you like that title?
A. Until Sunday I hadn’t watched the show in months. Carrie was a flawed, but well-intentioned woman trying to figure it all out—life, love, relationships, herself—and she made a lot of mistakes. Her other most defining characteristics were that she believed in love. She stumbled a lot (do you remember the episode where she fell on the runway? It’s my favorite) but she always got back up. She also lived a larger than life kind of existence, was incredibly well-dressed and had a gigantic cultural impact. I’m extremely flattered to be equated with a character that was well-loved and inspired so many people.
Q. What keeps you motivated everyday?
A. Failure is not an option; that and every single day something exciting, entertaining, or interesting happens to me or someone I know. I love the anticipation of wondering what comes next. Life is just so fascinating if you live it to the fullest.
Q. Lastly, “Belle” tell us why you’re fabulous?
A. Because when I fall, I get back up.
Very true Ms. Lucas! Stay fab!
Send tips, upcoming events and recap information to:
