Powerhouse Woman Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith (Interview)
Powerhouse Woman Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith
Interviewed and written by Tocarra Eldridge
Photo Credit: Vince Trupsin
For the last 12 years as a model on the invigorating daytime
game show, “The Price Is Right”, model and actress Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith recently
said good-bye to the show while taking on the breathtaking new role as Chief
Operating Officer of Smith Entertainment Group. Gwendolyn is definitely a force
to be reckoned with. In 2015, the female powerhouse starred and produced the
reality series “Meet the Smiths" that aired on TBS. As an actor, Gwendolyn
played roles on television series such as, “Beauty and the Baller”, “The Bold
and the Beautiful”, “Ocean Ave”, “Charmed” and “Huff”, just to name several.
I (Consciousness Magazine) was honored to speak to a woman of grace, enthusiasm and filled with joy and excitement. She not only discussed her role as a successful TV producer and businesswoman, however, furthermore her challenges while being a woman in the entertainment industry and much more.
Here is what Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith has to share with the readers.
Tocarra Eldridge: “The Price Is Right” was one of my favorite shows. What was your experience like working on “The Price Is Right”?
Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith: Well I can’t say it’s just one experience. (laughs) There were just so many experiences in 12 years. Overall, it was a very loving and happy experience! I’m very proud to have been a part of it, and to now be called the longest running woman of color that’s been on one of the longest running daytime game shows.
Gwendolyn: At this point, I’m going to miss the
relationships that I had with the other models. I will continue to be friends,
but it’s going to be different. Other than that, I feel like it served its
purpose. As far as that, it’s given me confirmation that I was supposed to stay
here in Los Angeles and raise my daughter here, alone at the time when I first
started – and to continue working on my journey in the entertainment field.
Tocarra: Gwendolyn, you are working on your first studio album. What was your inspiration behind becoming a singer and getting involved with music?
Gwendolyn: I’m going to have to say I’ve been singing since I came out of the womb. (laughs) I was always introduced to theater. I’m from Bath, in England; there’s one theater there. I have a sister who is ten years older than me. She was always a dancer, singer and actress. She went to Italia Conti Academy in England, which is the same college that Naomi Campbell attended. They were actually there at the same time. So, I was just always around it [singing]. Then going to church with my mom; she’s Baptist. I started singing in the choir at church and then I just fell in love with the feeling that you can get with music.
Tocarra: What has been some of your challenges regarding being a mixed race model/actress to becoming a TV producer to make headway for others on the path behind you?
Gwendolyn: I’m going to say something that Meghan Markle quoted ‘you’re never quite black enough to be the black actress they’re looking for, and you’re never quite white enough to be the white one’. It sometimes feels stifling, because no matter how much talent you bring into that room, if you don’t seem to fit into that box, you’re not going to get the job. That has happened over my career. However, I still will never let anything keep me down.
Tocarra: What has been some of your achievements that you have made while being a woman in this business?
Gwendolyn: Making the choice as a single mother, a very young single mother, to move from Miami, which is where I was living before, and relocate to Los Angeles. I drove out and believed in myself… that I would be able to support myself and my daughter alone with no child support. I think it’s important to know that you have to believe in yourself before you can do anything. I did that, and I supported us off of runway modeling, commercials alone.. When I booked "The Price is Right”, at the time there were no microphones on the models and no one at all had ever had a baby on the show fully showing that they’re pregnant. By the time I left there, I had two children and had been proudly pregnant on that show all the way until I delivered. Thanks to Drew Carey for being supportive of that! [Eventually] we all had microphones and we all became individuals rather than being a part of a group of girls that have no name.
Tocarra: As a businesswoman and very talented woman in the entertainment field, do you have any words-of-encouragement for those young women who are looking to be successful in such a competitive entertainment industry?
Gwendolyn: Absolutely! I just want to say
big-ups to all my UK viewers and listeners. I’m just very proud of the fact
that I’m from England. I just feel like you should always believe in
your own special magic, and that you are enough! I tell my older girls when they
audition and go on jobs ‘you are enough’! I also have to tell myself that. So,
always remember to tell yourself that ‘you are enough,’ because there is never
going to be another you no matter how
much she looks like you in that auditioning room. Remember you are the only one
that is you. You always have to remember
that. Believe in yourself. Believe in your ideas, thoughts and dreams. Work
hard to achieve them and it will happen. It
will happen!
Interviewed and written by Tocarra Eldridge
Photo Credit: Vince Trupsin
For the last 12 years as a model on the invigorating daytime
game show, “The Price Is Right”, model and actress Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith recently
said good-bye to the show while taking on the breathtaking new role as Chief
Operating Officer of Smith Entertainment Group. Gwendolyn is definitely a force
to be reckoned with. In 2015, the female powerhouse starred and produced the
reality series “Meet the Smiths" that aired on TBS. As an actor, Gwendolyn
played roles on television series such as, “Beauty and the Baller”, “The Bold
and the Beautiful”, “Ocean Ave”, “Charmed” and “Huff”, just to name several.I (Consciousness Magazine) was honored to speak to a woman of grace, enthusiasm and filled with joy and excitement. She not only discussed her role as a successful TV producer and businesswoman, however, furthermore her challenges while being a woman in the entertainment industry and much more.
Here is what Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith has to share with the readers.
Tocarra Eldridge: “The Price Is Right” was one of my favorite shows. What was your experience like working on “The Price Is Right”?
Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith: Well I can’t say it’s just one experience. (laughs) There were just so many experiences in 12 years. Overall, it was a very loving and happy experience! I’m very proud to have been a part of it, and to now be called the longest running woman of color that’s been on one of the longest running daytime game shows.
Tocarra: Working
on the game show for the last 12 years, do you think you are going to miss being
a part of it?
Tocarra: Being
the COO of your production company Smith Entertainment Group in which you operate,
what can people look forward to from you at this amazing company?
Gwendolyn: They can look forward to
inspirational shows, a variety of scripted and non-scripted things that are
focused on experts in the reality world. And definitely some comedy in there!
We just finished wrapping up a project right now that has some sketch comedy in
it. I am actually one of the sketch comedians, so I love that I was able to
showcase that part of myself.Tocarra: Gwendolyn, you are working on your first studio album. What was your inspiration behind becoming a singer and getting involved with music?
Gwendolyn: I’m going to have to say I’ve been singing since I came out of the womb. (laughs) I was always introduced to theater. I’m from Bath, in England; there’s one theater there. I have a sister who is ten years older than me. She was always a dancer, singer and actress. She went to Italia Conti Academy in England, which is the same college that Naomi Campbell attended. They were actually there at the same time. So, I was just always around it [singing]. Then going to church with my mom; she’s Baptist. I started singing in the choir at church and then I just fell in love with the feeling that you can get with music.
Tocarra: What has been some of your challenges regarding being a mixed race model/actress to becoming a TV producer to make headway for others on the path behind you?
Gwendolyn: I’m going to say something that Meghan Markle quoted ‘you’re never quite black enough to be the black actress they’re looking for, and you’re never quite white enough to be the white one’. It sometimes feels stifling, because no matter how much talent you bring into that room, if you don’t seem to fit into that box, you’re not going to get the job. That has happened over my career. However, I still will never let anything keep me down.
Tocarra: What has been some of your achievements that you have made while being a woman in this business?
Gwendolyn: Making the choice as a single mother, a very young single mother, to move from Miami, which is where I was living before, and relocate to Los Angeles. I drove out and believed in myself… that I would be able to support myself and my daughter alone with no child support. I think it’s important to know that you have to believe in yourself before you can do anything. I did that, and I supported us off of runway modeling, commercials alone.. When I booked "The Price is Right”, at the time there were no microphones on the models and no one at all had ever had a baby on the show fully showing that they’re pregnant. By the time I left there, I had two children and had been proudly pregnant on that show all the way until I delivered. Thanks to Drew Carey for being supportive of that! [Eventually] we all had microphones and we all became individuals rather than being a part of a group of girls that have no name.
Tocarra: As a businesswoman and very talented woman in the entertainment field, do you have any words-of-encouragement for those young women who are looking to be successful in such a competitive entertainment industry?
Gwendolyn: Absolutely! I just want to say
big-ups to all my UK viewers and listeners. I’m just very proud of the fact
that I’m from England. I just feel like you should always believe in
your own special magic, and that you are enough! I tell my older girls when they
audition and go on jobs ‘you are enough’! I also have to tell myself that. So,
always remember to tell yourself that ‘you are enough,’ because there is never
going to be another you no matter how
much she looks like you in that auditioning room. Remember you are the only one
that is you. You always have to remember
that. Believe in yourself. Believe in your ideas, thoughts and dreams. Work
hard to achieve them and it will happen. It
will happen!
Tocarra: Before
we end the interview, would you like to share anything that we haven’t
discussed or talked about?
Gwendolyn: I’m just super excited
for the empowerment of the year of 2018! It’s the year of the woman! It’s time
for voices to be heard. I’m very happy for that and extremely excited to be one
of those voices.
Follow Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith @
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrsgwenniesmith
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrsgwenniesmith
Great story, Thanks.
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