Kia Desiree Goosby, Fashion Market Editor for Vanity Fair, has spent the past 10 years working in the fashion editorial space – a career shaped by a lifelong passion for magazines. As an only child, she learned early on to appreciate both solitude and connection, a balance nurtured by her mother and one that continues to influence her creative work. While fashion is her profession, she finds joy in spending time with her mother and her dog, Maya, as well as in her love for music, travel and visiting museums.
In this PRC Stories feature, we get a glimpse into Kia’s relationship with her mother and what makes their bond truly special.
How do you celebrate Mother's Day?
For me, Mother’s Day is every day. I love taking time to spend with my mother every chance I get, whether it is us taking trips together, running errands with her when I am visiting home in Atlanta, or trying out new restaurants together. If we are together for the formal holiday, we usually spend the time going to see a movie, visiting a museum or going to a restaurant.
Could you describe your relationship with your mother?
My mother and I are extremely close. I value the relationship that we have and have a great deal of respect and admiration for how she raised me as a single mother. While I have lived in New York City for 10 years, I make it my mission to see my mother at least once a month if I can. And when we can’t see each other, we speak constantly throughout the day. Every morning, she starts my day with a text saying, “Good Morning, Puddin”. I value that so much.
Being a true music lover, do you and your mother share the same taste in music?
Oh yes! My taste in music would not be what it is today without my mother exposing me to the greats and a wide range of genres. Music is life, and it is something that we both love deeply. From Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, The Isley Brothers, Dexter Wansel, Anita Baker, Mariah Carey, Ella Fitzgerald, Roberta Flack, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Anthony Hamilton, Bill Withers, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, George Benson, Bob James and many many more – we love music!
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your mother and taken with you through life?
Growing up, my mother’s faith in God really led the way for how she raised me, and then in turn, she passed that on to me. She also always taught me to march to the beat of my own drum and to be a productive citizen in this world.
In what ways does that influence your work at Vanity Fair?
My work at Vanity Fair is very specific to how the brand covers fashion and culture. For almost 5 years, I have loved my ability to be able to connect with this huge audience through the way we cover fashion.
You recently started your own Substack. Why do you think this media has become so popular, and how do you use the media?
The recent launch of my @betweenfriends Substack has been a wonderful experience for me. Since being in editorial and a part of a brand, my identity is partly not my own, as I am “Kia from Vanity Fair”. By having my newsletter through Substack, I am able to connect with an audience that I build on my own and discuss topics that I am not able to cover through my official title. I think fellow editors have found a big reward in the platform for its way to connect with readers in a way they could not connect before. Through my newsletter, I hope to share with my readers my knowledge of various brands out in the market, which has been my favourite part of my job.
"She always taught me to march to the beat of my own drum and to be a productive citizen in this world."
Content by: @kiadesireegoosby