Member Spotlight: Meet Chloe Williams

In this month’s member spotlight, we hear from Chloe Williams, who tells us her story of moving to New York City, pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, and all the ups and downs (including weekly celeb sightings and schlepping your laundry down countless city blocks)…

Chloe's move to New York City marked a significant turning point in her 20s. For many, moving to a new city feels like that first scene in a Nora Ephron film, for others the reality of transitioning into adulthood. Leaving behind the familiar and stepping into the unknown is undoubtedly not easy, throw in making dinner for yourself every single night? Chloe candidly shares her experience dealing with the discomfort of living somewhere new and the things she’s learned about herself along the way.

Can you tell us what it was like to take the leap of faith and move to a new city?

I remember the day I bought my plane ticket because I had a moment when I realized, as silly as it might sound, I’m an adult that can buy a plane ticket, arrange for a place to live, and just do it. I love to be prepared, but I got to the point where I couldn't prepare anymore. Trust your gut, and you’ll get to the point where you have to learn by error.

Chloe speaks to the comfort she found in routine and consistency, amidst the chaos the city can sometimes offer. Of course, any good movie plot isn’t without its setbacks. Seemingly small tasks like laundry or grocery shopping in NYC consume more time and energy than you’d think. In those “what am I doing here?” moments, she reminds herself that the difficult aspects don’t change the good.

As a professional in the entertainment industry, Chloe's passion and drive have been the key to her success. She’s an Assistant Editor at Brit & Co, working as an Entertainment Lead and interviewer. Chloe has always been a fan of pop culture, but she didn’t realize there was a world where she could marry the two things she was passionate about — entertainment and writing. She urges anyone who might be interested in breaking into the writing industry not to underestimate the power of building out their own portfolio, even it that starts out as a personal blog you contribute to in your free time.

Any advice for someone who wants to get into writing and/or break into entertainment?

My number one piece of advice for anyone, not just for writing, is to ask. If you don't ask, the answer will already be no. Also that the cold email is my best friend. I send them all the time.

She tells us the story of when she first started freelancing in North Carolina at an Outer Banks publication, right around the time Netflix launched their original series named after the popular vacation spot. She saw the unique perspective she could offer, signed up for IMDb Pro, and made a list of all the publicists she could find. Her hard work paid off when she got to interview some of the cast members before they were sky-rocketed to fame only months later.

Growing up, her mom always reminded her not to count herself out before giving it a shot — something that has stuck with her through the risks she’s taken and success she’s found. Along the way she’s been able to connect with some of her favorite stars including Vanessa Hudgens and Emily Henry. By mustering up the courage to just ask, Chloe has opened doors that might have otherwise remained closed.

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 13 year old self?

I would tell her that she doesn’t have to be as embarrassed about being a nerd. I didn’t even realize how much of my personality I hid from people until TikTok normalized everything. I was like “Oh my gosh, this person loves Marvel and Narnia too?” Now there’s community instead of isolation. When I was 13, I would isolate my interests instead of engaging because I didn’t realize there were people I could talk to about them.

Through the last year, she’s realized the importance of flexibility and spontaneity for jumping at opportunities while also being able to pivot when challenges arise. The older we get, the more we’re positioned to decide what kind of person we want to show up as and the values we hold. For Chloe, that’s sticking to her word, being conscious of the way she spends her time, and the boundaries she sets in her life.

Chloe's story is a reminder that, despite the initial jitters of stepping into the unknown, we can just hop on a plane to find our way, discover the superpower of not counting yourself out, and follow the dreams that our 13-year-old selves would be proud of.

P.S. Follow her on IG for the best pop culture news and commentary :)