GS vogue merchandising scholar tailors her future following Tyler Perry Studios internship

Laila Ward nonetheless remembers the sensation of awe that washed over her when she first set foot onto the Tyler Perry Studios campus in Atlanta. 

“It was so surreal,” stated the Georgia Southern College senior vogue merchandising and attire design scholar. “There have been so many moments throughout that day and the times after the place I ended and thought, ‘I’m actually right here.’” 

Ward secured a coveted internship with the manufacturing firm for the 2025 summer season semester. Out of 1,900 candidates, she was one of many 14 who had been chosen. 

She began as a dressing up manufacturing assistant, coordinating costume logistics and upkeep throughout the varied movie units unfold out over the large campus. 

“We stored the whole lot organized,” Ward defined. “We made certain that merchandise and costumes had been correctly saved, and made certain that the whole lot ran easily.” 

Issues must run easily on the studio grounds. The 330-acre campus is located on the positioning of the previous U.S. navy set up Fort McPherson in Atlanta, whose troopers enforced federal rules after the Civil Battle. The property options a number of units which can be continually in use, whether or not for a Tyler Perry manufacturing or in any other case. 

After a number of weeks deep within the studio trenches, Ward and her fellow interns had been challenged to go a step additional. 

“We got a shock venture to make our personal brief movie,” stated Ward. “We got a price range, a location on the studio campus, digicam tools and props. We solely had one week to movie, however we had been in a position to create a 10-minute brief movie.”

She remembers the late nights her group spent engaged on their movie. They’d keep up till 3 a.m., consulting with studio executives about the right way to create the perfect model of their work whereas assembly deadlines. 

“They already had their very own work to do, however they made themselves accessible for us,” she defined. “The tradition on the studios, everybody seems like household. All of us need to assist one another succeed.” 

The relationships she constructed with these trade professionals made her understand how comparable all of them had been. 

“I had no thought I’d be capable to get right here,” stated Ward. “The loopy factor about it’s that everybody working right here all felt the identical. Their journey wasn’t linear. It was far and wide, similar to mine.” 

Her ardour for vogue began at an early age. As a toddler, she was a continuing fixture at her grandmother’s facet, studying to stitch. Her grandmother at all times inspired her to make her personal garments, inspiring goals of a future as a designer. However as she obtained older, she fought along with her personal fears, second-guessing her selections. 

“I really feel like I’ve been mediocre in numerous issues my entire life,” she admitted. “I actually wasn’t that athletic. I’m not a straight-A scholar. I felt like I wasn’t actually good at something.  

“After highschool, I took a spot 12 months and found that my pure reward was styling individuals,” Ward continued. “It was a lot enjoyable and my pals would at all times come to me for outfit recommendation. It felt like I used to be truly doing one thing.” 

She had her ‘aha’ second when she discovered Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science in Trend Merchandising and Attire Design. 

“The style program at Georgia Southern College is absolutely rewarding,” she stated. “I can comfortably say it’s given me the talents I want to achieve the trade, in addition to understanding how vital it’s to create alternatives for your self.”  

It was this winding street that introduced her to the entrance door of Tyler Perry Studios, giving her an expertise that has helped outline her future. 

“I noticed that my superpower wasn’t simply in vogue and garments,” she defined. “However in pushing individuals, together with myself, to point out up as their greatest selves.”

That’s what led her to begin her personal group, Potential.

“Potential is a collective I began that’s all about connecting individuals who need to develop within the inventive arts job markets,” she defined. “I needed to create one thing that helps individuals understand how particular all of them are.”

She credit Perry’s real-life challenges an actor and author in search of a break as a key affect in strengthening the belief she developed in herself.

“It’s important to consider in your self, similar to he did,” stated Ward. “And you need to just remember to’re taking the time to develop in your craft, similar to he did. As soon as I began doing that…I noticed there was genuinely no restrict to what I might accomplish.”