LISTEN: Tina Knowles on Dressing Destiny’s Child in the Early Days; Ashley Graham on Fighting for Plus Size Women and Starring in ‘Chicago’

In a recent episode of the "Daily Variety" podcast, two influential entrepreneurs—Tina Knowles and Ashley Graham—shared their experiences of forging successful careers in media and retail. Their insights were drawn from conversations recorded at Variety's annual Entertainment Marketing Summit, a daylong event held in Beverly Hills. The summit gathered top marketers, brand strategists, creators, talent agents, ad sales executives, and media buyers to discuss industry trends. Full video recordings of all sessions are available online, and the podcast episode can be streamed on platforms like iHeartPodcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

During a discussion with Variety senior entertainment writer Angelique Jackson, Knowles reflected on her early work styling Destiny's Child, the trio that propelled her daughter Beyoncé to international fame. "I was doing everything out of necessity," Knowles explained, noting that terms like "producer" or "creative director" weren't common at the time. She described how she often fought for proper lighting on television shows, recalling moments when she was dismissed as "somebody's mama" due to her Texas accent and bold demeanor. "I would be a pest," she said, "and I’d say, 'You got four Black girls, you need more light on them.'" Knowles admitted that she didn't always feel qualified, which made her accept being pushed aside—but she now sees those struggles as foundational to her career.

Ashley Graham, a pioneering supermodel who has championed body positivity for plus-size women, spoke alongside her UTA agent Natasha Bolouki to Variety senior business writer Jennifer Maas. Graham discussed her work designing clothing lines for JC Penney and shared the surprising story of how she landed a six-week role as Roxie Hart in the Broadway production of "Chicago"—despite having no prior experience as a singer or dancer. "I don’t sing, I don’t act, and I definitely don’t dance," Graham admitted, but she credited her practice of "manifesting" goals, writing them down each year and displaying them prominently. Two months after mentioning this dream to her team, "Chicago" called for an audition. Graham invested in intensive training with music, dance, and acting coaches, ultimately nailing the part. "That made me say, I need to dream bigger," she reflected, emphasizing that skills can be learned if the desire is strong enough. Industry experts note that Graham's Broadway stint highlights how celebrities can leverage their platforms to explore new creative avenues, inspiring others to pursue unconventional ambitions.