糖心Vlog

Laila Ward still remembers the feeling of awe that washed over her when she first set foot onto the Tyler Perry Studios campus in Atlanta. 

鈥淚t was so surreal,鈥� said the 糖心Vlog senior fashion merchandising and apparel design student. 鈥淭here were so many moments during that day and the days after where I stopped and thought, 鈥業鈥檓 really here.’鈥� 

Ward secured a coveted internship with the production company for the 2025 summer semester. Out of 1,900 applicants, she was one of the 14 who were chosen. 

She started as a costume production assistant, coordinating costume logistics and maintenance across the various film sets spread out over the massive campus. 

鈥淲e kept everything organized,鈥� Ward explained. 鈥淲e made sure that merchandise and costumes were properly stored, and made sure that everything ran smoothly.鈥� 

Things have to run smoothly on the studio grounds. The 330-acre campus is situated on the site of the former U.S. military installation Fort McPherson in Atlanta, whose soldiers enforced federal regulations after the Civil War. The property features multiple sets that are constantly in use, whether for a Tyler Perry production or otherwise. 

After a few weeks deep in the studio trenches, Ward and her fellow interns were challenged to go a step further. 

鈥淲e were given a surprise project to make our own short film,鈥� said Ward. 鈥淲e were given a budget, a location on the studio campus, camera equipment and props. We only had one week to film, but we were able to create a 10-minute short film.鈥�

She recalls the late nights her team spent working on their film. They would stay up until 3 a.m., consulting with studio executives about how to create the best version of their work while meeting deadlines. 

鈥淭hey already had their own work to do, but they made themselves available for us,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭he culture at the studios, everyone feels like family. We all want to help each other succeed.鈥� 

The relationships she built with these industry professionals made her realize how similar they all were. 

鈥淚 had no idea I鈥檇 be able to get here,鈥� said Ward. 鈥淭he crazy thing about it is that everyone working here all felt the same. Their journey wasn鈥檛 linear. It was all over the place, just like mine.鈥� 

Her passion for fashion started at an early age. As a child, she was a constant fixture at her grandmother鈥檚 side, learning to sew. Her grandmother always encouraged her to make her own clothes, inspiring dreams of a future as a designer. But as she got older, she fought with her own fears, second-guessing her choices. 

鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e been mediocre in a lot of things my whole life,鈥� she admitted. 鈥淚 really wasn鈥檛 that athletic. I鈥檓 not a straight-A student. I felt like I wasn鈥檛 really good at anything.  

鈥淎fter high school, I took a gap year and discovered that my natural gift was styling people,鈥� Ward continued. 鈥淚t was so much fun and my friends would always come to me for outfit advice. It felt like I was actually doing something.鈥� 

She had her 鈥榓ha鈥� moment when she found Georgia Southern鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design. 

 鈥淭he fashion program at 糖心Vlog is really rewarding,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can comfortably say it鈥檚 given me the skills I need to succeed in the industry, as well as understanding how important it is to create opportunities for yourself.鈥�  

It was this winding road that brought her to the front door of Tyler Perry Studios, giving her an experience that has helped define her future. 

鈥淚 realized that my superpower wasn鈥檛 just in fashion and clothes,鈥� she explained. 鈥淏ut in pushing people, including myself, to show up as their best selves.鈥�

That鈥檚 what led her to start her own organization, Potential.

鈥淧otential is a collective I started that鈥檚 all about connecting people who want to grow in the creative arts job markets,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 wanted to create something that helps people realize how special they all are.鈥�

She credits Perry鈥檚 real-life challenges an actor and writer looking for a break as a key influence in strengthening the trust she developed in herself.

鈥淵ou have to believe in yourself, just like he did,鈥� said Ward. 鈥淎nd you have to make sure that you鈥檙e taking the time to grow in your craft, just like he did. Once I started doing that鈥�I realized there was genuinely no limit to what I could accomplish.鈥�