Recently, Megan wrote and article introducing us all to Blythe Baird,  a 20 year old actress, author and poet who speaks a lot about the reality of life for young women. This girl is totally relatable and her words tell all of our stories. Here she is reciting her poem “Pocket Sized Feminism” which was ranked the #1 most viewed poem on Button Poetry and was picked up by Motion Poems to be adapted as a short film.

 

After we published the piece, Megan contacted Blythe, and asked her if she would do an interview, and she obliged, because she is lovely. Everyone, meet Blythe….

Describe your teenage experience in 3 words…

Reckless, dramatic, independent

As a kid, what were your dreams? How have they worked out for you?

When I was really little, like 5 or 6, I insisted that I wanted to be a truck driver with a pink truck. unfortunately this dream never worked out for me. After that, I wanted to be an actress or talk show host until I decided I wanted to be a writer when I was 16.

Who were the greatest influences on you as a teenager?

My big sister Jessie, my favorite teacher Mr. Patton, my best friends Haley and Nash, and my mentors Sierra DeMulder and Siaara Freeman.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever overcome?

Healing after experiencing multiple sexual assaults over a short period of time / recovering from my lifelong battle with weight and disordered eating

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve ever learned?

“Who you are at your most powerful is a person you are always capable of being”

What do you like most about yourself?

My creativity and ability to make others feel comfortable in my presence.

If you could invite 5 women, living or dead to dinner, who would it be?

Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Demi Lovato, Blac Chyna, & Audre Lorde.

Who is your go to female when you need a shoulder to cry on?

My best friends at college, Presley and Mari.

What do you love most about being a girl?

Building empowering and supportive friendships with other women.

If you could say anything to your 15 year old self, what would it be?

Shame is a useless emotion. Stop hating on yourself, you’re still learning.

What is your favourite memory?

It is impossible to pick just one.

What’s one thing you would say that makes you unique from other people?

I am good at pulling the underlying lessons out of my various life experiences.

Where is your favorite place to escape to?

There’s a bee garden and a “garden of poetry” by my house in the Twin Cities which I love.

If you had one day left to live, what would you do first?

Call everyone I love and tell them what I love about them and how they’ve impacted me.

If you could identify with one fictional character (from a book, show, or movie) who would it be?

Zenon, girl of the 21st century.

How seriously do you take horoscopes?

Honestly I take them very seriously and use them as life guidance. I don’t care if they’re real or not. They’re always on point for me, maybe because I sincerely connect to being a leo.

What’s one thing you’d love to learn more about?

Ecofeminism, numerology, creative nonfiction, and Lorde’s life story.

What is something you’ve never done that you’ve always wanted to do?

Ride on a motorcycle!

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be?

A baby lion.

What’s one show, movie, or book, you’re embarrassed to admit you enjoy?

I’m a hardcore Pokemon fan. I’ve watched all the series and spinoff books and movies.

Blythe’s book “Give em a God I can Relate to” is brilliant, you can buy it here. You can read Megan’s piece in the Irish Times here.