THIS YEAR is turning out to be quite the defining one for UK presenter Jacqueline Shepherd.
Though the north London beauty has spent years honing her craft on screen and on air, her talents will be brought to a mainstream audience after it was announced she would front new Sky 1 show What's Up.
For Shepherd, who admits she perfected her presenting skills reading the Teletext out loud as a child, this is the next step on her path to 'becoming a household name'.
'I consider this journey to have started five-and-a-half years ago and it has been steady and rising,' she says. 'In that time I have realised I'm very tenacious and that I have a steely determination.
'Thankfully, I can say it's paid off. Just last week I got signed to JAW management, a bespoke talent management agency, so I'm looking forward to getting some support and guidance along the way.'
A 'tenacious' Shepherd, who also provides voice work for lifestyle channel Trace Sports on Sky 442, knew a career in the spotlight awaited her at the tender age of ten and worked hard to ensure her dreams became a reality.
'I always found an excuse to do public speaking and presenting at school, college and university; it was innate,' she reflects.
But her big break came when she was made redundant from an 'awful job' at a publishing company.
She remembers receiving a call from Superflex 'one of the main guys' at Brent Youth Radio - where she had been presenting a show once a week - and being told a friend of his was in desperate need of an experienced presenter to start the following day.
'I had a show reel and a handful of professional credits, but Flex had faith in me. I also had time on my hands having just lost my job so it was really serendipitous. Once I was in, there was no getting rid of me,' she laughs.
What's Up, which is broadcast every Saturday morning from 11.30am, was borne out of the MAMA Youth Project (MYP), an initiative, started 10 years ago, aimed at addressing the lack of diversity in television, in particular BME and white working class talent.
Initially, MYP founder and chief executive Bob Clarke recruited 16 young people who produced two DVDs back to back, which received great feedback and led to employment within the media for many of the young people involved.
It was clear that producing the show not only achieved the main aim of getting diverse talent into employment in the media industry, but it also served as a platform for highlighting talent in front of the camera as well, including aspiring professional presenters - of which Shepherd was one.
Together with co-anchor AJ King, Shepherd fronts the magazine show, which she describes as a 'melting pot of items from music to current affairs, fashion to festivals. It also shines the spotlight on entrepreneurs and new artists.'
'The show's signature close is called the Meaningful Ending, which aims to leave the audience with something to think about and is often provided by well-know spoken word artists such as Akala, George The Poet, Benjamin Zephaniah and newcomers.'
On What's Up's transition from DVD, to a digital channel (Pick TV) and now Sky 1, Shepherd, who joined the programme in 2011, notes: 'It's a big leap. It's so exciting. It's a real co-sign to all of the hard work that has been put in. We need to ensure we get ratings so we can stay there.'
Described as 'The One Show for the young audience', she hopes the show will 'get viewers thinking, talking and where necessary, taking action without being preachy.'
She said: 'We saw with the London riots what happens when young people feel alienated when society doesn't include them. TV is still the medium of masses so it's vital that as a landscape it caters to the masses, which in turn means those making it and those fronting it. The industry isn't there yet, but initiatives like MYP are really making positive steps in the right direction.'
She also hopes she can act as a positive role model for young black girls aiming to make it in the TV industry, using her hair as a catalyst.
'I'm quite conscious that you don't see women of colour, specifically women with natural hair in the British mainstream. It's almost like it doesn't exist and that concerns me.
'I'm enthusiastic about rocking my natural hair in its many forms, be it fluffy, kinky or pressed because as far as I'm concerned, part of its beauty is in its versatility, in its uniqueness. I can't believe it's not more widely embraced.'
On her own inspirations, she makes reference to her Barbadian parents.
'I lost my mum aged 10, but she had a real flair for fashion and was always outspoken so I think she would've loved what I am doing.
'My dad used to play cricket for the West Indies so he was in the public eye for some of my younger years so maybe that had an effect on me. He's an example of reaching the top in a competitive industry.'
In closing, she adds: 'If this is really what you want to do then perseverance, hard work and a thick skin is key.'
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