My name is Jaquayala "Quay" Seamster and I am a 20 Year old, self-proclaimed Media Innovator from Portland, OR.
Since the age of 14 years old, I knew I wanted to hold a career in the entertainment industry as a Television Host in New York. I was raised by my single mother along with my three siblings. I had an amazing childhood and didn't discover what unhappiness felt like until the age of 14. Everyone has a story but my surroundings and the diverse experiences I've had in life shaped me into the independent, driven and glowy young woman I am today. *glow emoji* I witnessed disorder and misguidance in so many peers back in Portland that I believe that is the reason I choose my focus and angle as far as becoming a Media Innovator.
While growing up, I idolized Tyra Banks and believed that I would become a model turned Television show host just as she did. The dream many young black girls probably held. *laughs* I eventually gave up on becoming a model after a few failed attempts and financial restrictions but I never lost sight of wanting to become a Host, Anchorwoman or something related. I would watch FOX 12 News every morning and night just to view the different skills, personalities and characteristics of the female anchorwomen. Through the connections of supervisor, at 16 years old I was able to shadow the FOX 12 News anchors for like 4 hours one day and after that experience I knew I wanted to be broadcasted around the world indefinitely.
By the age of 17, I begin to develop a clear plan on how to eventually become a Television Host but I knew I no longer wanted to be on the news. After watching the news night and day along with "reality shows" and corny sitcoms, I begin to hate television. Everything was scripted, depressing, fake and overall, annoying to me as a viewer. I knew that I wanted to change that but at 18 years old, I honestly had no idea how! I literally watched the difference in the content and shows my generation grew up on begin to shift. I could care less about the new cartoons, Maury & Jerry Springer were shameful dissappoinments and my obsession with The Bad Girls Club and Love & Hip Hop started to deplete. I honestly couldn't wait to grow up and do something about it. My mother and other family members knew about my dreams and supported me in whichever way I turned as long as it was up. To this day, I've probably only watched like 24 hours of television within this last year. Ironic, right? I'm just preparing to change television and for you to see me delievering content in a dope, innovative way. *smiles*
I applied to Pace University here in NY and declared a BA in Communications. I arrived in New York in 2012 and started this crazy, life changing journey. It took me like two years to eventually start what is now The HYE TV. I knew I wanted to create a YouTube Channel as my first project towards becoming a Television/Web personnel. In December 2013, I expressed my plans to my family and friends and told the ones on the West Coast that I would be sending them posters and flyers to post all around and that I wanted them to be my street team. *laughs* Im still going to do that. The original name I came up with for my channel was The Come Up. I thought it was a dope name and expressed the entire concept it three words. WRONG! *laughs* That name was extremely cheesy, cliche and unoriginal. I had such a hard time trying to create something dope and unique. I was sitting in my friend Emily's room and we were throwing back names when she said, "How about HYE Tv but spelled H-Y-E?" I ran with it and created the meaning behind the acronyms, which is Honoring Youth Expression, for it along with my partner at the time, Walesca A.
The HYE TV became my passion project and by May 2014, I was ready to see the vision manifest. It was hard for me to find the motivation to like officially start reaching out to people. I eventually brought on Walesca to the project to help push my vision and we conducted a few interviews together but it was honestly hard for me completely share my control over The HYE Tv and I felt like i wasn't fully allowing her to assist, as I dictated all the moves and decisions. That's something I struggle with. Letting others in on my thoughts or actions because I don't believe anyone can do what I envision better than me. She stuck around for the duration of this past year but I have now decided to officially take complete control. I thank her for her support though! Also, I'm initially a reserved person and when reaching out to people I wanted to interview via email versus in person, it was hard. I have a fear of rejection and hearing the word "no" or being denied an interview, is something I did not like to deal with. However, I have had more request to be apart of the HYE than denials! I noticed that the individuals who I received the rejection emails from were people with like over 40K followers or close friends of those with that amount. Those young individuals were quite established for their age and I wanted to interview them because I felt they would reach a larger audience. However, the young artists and creators who were receptive and emerging, I received way more inspiring stories and amazing vibes from them.
I have had encounter many obstacles while pursuing my passion such as financing, finding sponsorship, building a loyal team and attracting my ideal amount of subscribers. I couldn't even afford a DSLR and used a flip cam provided by University to film the whole first season. My friend Alexsys would shoot the interviews for me and I edited them through Moviemaker *crys* then eventually iMovie. It was rough but I never gave up! By January 2015, through a Craigslist ad I posted, I found an amazing Production duo, Phatt Features, who has helped bring The HYE Tv to new levels visually. Having people who support your dreams and uplift you is a blessing man and that's exactly the type of people I surround myself with now. I am honored to have met so many people through my work with The HYE Tv. Like seriously, if I had not begin to pursue this passion, I would not be who I am now or experience the things I experienced this past year. I have definitely changed and developed a tougher driver, thicker skin and more professionalism since August 2014.
I am approaching my 2nd year on August 1stand have declared the title as Media Innovator. To me, a media innovator is an individual who creates creative content and expresses unique ideas aimed to shift the media. That's me or at least what I plan to do! I now want to develop The HYE Tv into a mini network then a larger, "mother" network via television and/or the web that includes shows, series, programs, a blog, a charity and other dope projects catered around the youth and arts culture. I want to bring relevancy back to the media! I want my nieces and cousins to watch content that teaches them to be creative, encourages free expression. provides beneficial lessons and inspires them! I want to provide them with positive news before the negative is viewed. I want to promote and highlight all the amazing, gifted young people around the world who are striving to impact and imprint the world with their creativity and abilities! It starts with The HYE TV.
For Season 3, I want to refocus on all artists, not just musicians, and promote them through interviews, games and events The HYE TV will host. You can expect more than just basic interviews & Q&A's but more relationships between the viewers, the guest and myself and more organic content being built before your eyes. Genuine, in depth conversations, examples of their work and a clear understanding of who they are as an individual and artists at the end of every episode. Your support is necessary towards the success of The HYE TV's brand so make sure you follow @thehyetv on all social media accounts, subscribe on YouTube and await the launch of our website, thehyetv.com, on August 1st. Thank you for reading my story and lookout for more on Part 2 of the vlog about me on The HYE TV channel. Support the brand and ALWAYS EXPRESS FREELY!
Thank you Ziggy for this feature. Blessings