About

There are certain people you meet and immediately you know they’ll have an impact in your life in some way. It was my first winter in New York and I found myself going to a number of events just to get out of the house (Seasonal depression is real). It was on one of those occasions that I met Bridget. When you’re new to a place and low-key socially awkward, it’s always nice when a person makes you feel at ease just by talking to them. We spoke briefly about music, our reasons for moving to New York, among other things. 

Since meeting her at that Digilogue event in January, I’ve followed her journey via Instagram/IRL and one of the qualities I love about Bridget is her ability to light up whatever room she’s in. Her enthusiasm is magnetic and you can’t help but be pulled in by her positive energy. One can say she’s Black Girl Magic personified. Her audacious and passionate spirit is admirable and a quality that women, both young and old, can aspire to.

At 23, her resume is quite impressive, but her impact outside of work is just as inspiring. By sharing her weekly workout routines, self care practice(s) and curated playlists, you get a sense of a woman who is dedicated and lives intentionally with a personal sense of integrity. I never get “doing it for the ‘gram” vibes with Bridget. As an unapologetic Black Intersectional Feminist, she uses her platform to champion the idea of what it looks like to be a strong woman, not only in America but around the world.

For her latest project, Applauding Power, she teamed up with a group of 3 amazing women to curate a space at AP Cafe (one of my Favorite places in BK), to bring together vendors, practitioners and most importantly women. In a society where women have been conditioned to be competitive toward one another, it’s very uplifting to see how women are waking up to the fact that we are undoubtedly stronger together. It was a beautiful experience to be in a space where women where allowed to be vulnerable, share their stories and to just be themselves. It’s not a coincidence that Bridget was a part of bringing an event like this to life. With her new role as Social Impact Coordinator at Tumblr, I look forward to all her future accomplishments and I’m confident in her ability to make a tremendous impact in our global community. She’s definitely one to know!

I asked @iambridgeet 10 questions, check out her answers below:

Where did you grow up and how did your upbringing shape the woman we know as Bridget Kyeremateng?

BK: I was born in Italy and lived there for about 6 years. But the majority of my time was spent living in Southern California where a lot of my socialization came from. I come from a strong Ghanaian-Italian family who have endured their lives by immigrating twice. It's crazy to think about it sometimes how much my parents sacrificed just for me to get to where I am. I'm the oldest of three and have always felt like I have a lot to live up to. I wasn't necessarily sheltered when I lived at home. I was in involved in so many extracurriculars, but I was never allowed to stay out late or go to parties so that "freedom" so-to-speak really began when I went to UCSB. I fully learned my potential as a Black woman and how I wanted to impact my life.

On the few occasions I’ve met you, I can definitely say you’re great dancer. How would you describe your relationship with Dance?

BK: If you only you could tell 8th grade Bridget this! My relationship with dance really starts with my obsession and knowledge about music. I grew up in a household where music was played during cleaning days, eating dinner, making breakfast, or just hanging out in the living room. I'm actually very uncomfortable without music. And with music, I learned how that transcended through my body. I learned to also become comfortable in a body that I had always been so uncomfortable with. It took me knowing the traces of my physical body and my mental knowledge of music and sound to create what you see as movement = my relationship with dance.

What’s your zodiac sign, and the best part about being that sign?

BK: I'm a sun Pisces. And for my astrological friends, I'm also a Moon Leo and Rising Aquarius. The best thing about being a Pisces is that I dream big and I'm compassionate. Being able to dream big means I always look to the future for new lessons, new experiences and new people to come into my life. My possibilities in life are endless and I do not want to be stuck in some sort of imaginary box because it's comfortable. Being compassionate helps me understand where people are coming from and fully take in people's emotions. I have found that my compassion also turns me into a martyr because I become self-conscious when that same energy isn't returned back.

As an African, I know that our surnames hold a lot of weight. What is the meaning of your last name and how has it played a part in your sense of identity?

BK: My last name definitely has a lot of royalty to it. We have people who are politicians, soccer players and more. It's rare to meet a Kyeremateng in just one spot, we're all over the world. My last name has always been incredibly hard for anyone to pronounce. It's not pronounced the way you see it (pronounciation: Tre Ma Ting) so I always struggled to be fully happy with it because every teacher mispronounced my last name. But my last name is royalty, meaning that it is unique. It is unique to it's identity and experience. The uniqueness of my last name will live on forever and with how I will impact the world. You will never mispronounce it after that!

Describe your experience of NY in 3 words?

BK: I Hate Rats

On your quest for Californian Tacos in NY, what 3 Taco spots have you discovered here that come close to your idea of a perfect taco?

BK: To my Californian friends, please know I have gone through hell and back trying to find tacos that even remotely have the right flavor and perfect corn tortillas… But, if I had to choose -- Los Mariscos and Los Tacos in Chelsea and Mesa Coyoacan in Bushwick. Do not take my Californian card ya'll!

You come across Aladdin’s magic lamp on your way to work one morning, what are 3 wishes you’d ask for in your new role as the social impact coordinator at Tumblr?

BK: Hmm, my first wish would be to have an exponential budget to meet our community that is marginalized because of their race, gender, immigrant status or socioeconomic status to understand how we can support them via Tumblr and through our events. My second wish would be to do more Tumblr events globally to understand how people use Tumblr differently in their culture. My third wish is for our community to feel inspired and heard through our digital and in-person activations.

What is your go-to self care practice?

BK: Listening to music. Honestly, when I'm stressed I'll pop in an album from The Internet or Erykah Badu to calm the nerves. I also weight train/gym 4-5x times a week to release endorphins and any built up stress. I also love getting monthly one-hour massages because lord knows I hold so many knots in my neck, traps and hips. And lastly, dancing! Put some R&B, Disco or Funk and I'll be on that dance floor.

What is one song and/or movie that best describes your life up to this point?

BK: Runnin' by Earth, Wind & Fire

What is your advice to the millennial generation?

BK: No matter what anyone tells us, we have endured decades of interesting change. We have endured the rise of technology and have created jobs that have created monumental culture shifts. Do not dim your light. Have multiple sources of income. Quit your job if it is not fulfilling you. Grow your own business. Whatever you do, make an impact along the way to a community. Your capital wealth means nothing if you are not giving back to your community.

Photography/Words by Ai-Creo