Victoria Antoine is an entrepreneur, freelance editor, and creative director with big dreams and a bag full of perseverance: "If you think your day job is not giving you recognition, and doesn't see the value and worth in you? Get out! Take a risk and never give up.” Victoria has taken her own advice as she works her way up the ladder of success, concentrating on media and fashion as her preferred artistic outlets.

A first-generation Haitian American, Victoria graduated from Salem State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management. She immediately racked up years of experience including as FASE Magazine’s editor in chief, and she co-founded (and ran business operations for) NYMEI Magazine. It’s all helped prepare her for the hard life of being a freelancer.

Her editorial skills, public relations planning experience, digital marketing experience, and social media management skills are currently fueling Liberation Multimedia (LM3) — a music-production label and film/video production company based in Buzzards Bay. The company is founded by storyteller, performer, musician, writer, and language arts curriculum developer Mwalim Daphunkee Professor (Morgan James Peters) — who Victoria met when she took his African Studies class at UMass Dartmouth a decade ago.

Victoria talked with Amplify’s Tamora Israel.

Amplify: How did you land on Cape Cod?

Victoria Antoine: I was living in Brockton and hadn’t been to the Cape since I was in high school. And I thought there was a lot of opportunity, a lot of potential in spending time on the Cape. So I reconnected with Mwalim (Morgan James Peters). We were talking about his Liberty Multimedia (LM3) project, and I suggested using my years of experience in journalism, public relations and marketing to help. Now I’m part of the Liberation Multimedia team. I'll be managing all his marketing and pretty much be his business manager, using my years of experience with entrepreneurship.

Amplify: How old were you when you knew you were an entrepreneur?

Victoria: I was very young. In my mid-twenties, I started as a fashion blogger. Soon I was co-owner of an online fashion magazine called FASE. For five years while I was managing this company, I was going to school at the same time. It was a struggle, but it was very important because it helped me to gain the skills that I needed for me to do my own thing.

I had a problem with time management at first. I didn't really have time to do the after school activities that I used to. I missed out on a lot of opportunities, you know, during that time finishing up my undergrad. So I was like, you know what? After I finish my degree, I’ll step down from the magazine. But I quickly found myself at a creative agency (NYMEI) — although this time I was a business manager, so I was managing the administrative side of the company. I eventually decided to step down and focus on myself.

Amplify: What or who inspires you to keep going towards your dream? What keeps you getting up every single day and going?

Victoria: I have myself. I self-motivate all the time. Looking back, I did not have a mentor. I was my own mentor. I have all the skills and qualities that [a company] looks for in a candidate and I always got rejected. All the time. I was just like, ‘You know what? I'm going to be my own mentor.’ So I keep a positive mind and block all the negativity, ignore it. No one's going to give me an opportunity? Then let me create an opportunity for myself. I'm a very hard worker. I have a very strong work ethic. So I am my own mentor and mentee. And I get up every day and create opportunities for myself. And once I establish an opportunity for myself, I can create opportunity for others.

Amplify: With your different organizations and different businesses you've started and been a part of, what have been some of the obstacles that you've had to overcome to be where you are right now?

Victoria: During that time, I wasn't taking care of my mental health. It was really important because when I was running a company, there were a lot of creative differences between my business partner and me. I wanted to do something more outrageous and taboo. He wanted to stick with the industry standard. It was not a good space for me, so I was able to seek help for the depression and anxiety. That's why I was able to step down and just focus on my mental health. And when I stepped down, I was able to get the help that I needed.

Once I got the help that I needed, I continued with my progress then I was able to get back in the game. I decided to reconnect with people that I hadn't talked to in five years and, you know, restart, building relationships with people. I also educated people about mental health.

Amplify: Let’s talk about the 90's TV show Living Single. Which character do you relate to most?

Victoria: Yes. Yes. I'm a nineties kid! Oh my God! Living Single was the lit show before Friends. I don't care what anybody says. Living single is the Black version of Friends, but way better. I kind of relate to all of them but I think I relate best to Maxine. Maxine's personality is very laid back, but I like how she always claps back quickly. She is very headstrong. I relate to her because I'm very headstrong with whatever I'm doing. And also I'm very driven. So whenever I want something in life, I just go get it. She was a go-getter.

Amplify: If someone is interested in learning how to be their own public relations agent or officer, what advice would you offer them?

Victoria: My advice for them is to start networking. That was very important for me while I was in college, to get to know people. Networking with the people in the industry you want to get into. Find an internship that relates to your industry, even if it’s paid or not, you will be able to learn. Get into an internship and then build a relationship with your employer. Because the employers can give you the opportunity, even if they don't give you the opportunity here and now, you can still use that connection for your other business adventures. So always be networking and always get an internship. And never give up, never ever give up. If you think your day job is not giving you recognition and doesn't see the value and the worth in you? Get out! Take a risk, get out and take a risk and never give up.

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On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-antoine-56206041/
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mademoiselle.v.antoine/ and https://www.instagram.com/nymei_/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ms.VictoriaAntoine
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsVictoriaA