Pavlina Osta is taking the world by storm with more than 500 interviews under her belt so far. The 18-year-old is a Huffington Post writer, the host of her very own show, the Pavlina Show, and one of the world’s youngest journalists. What could possibly be next for this ambitious young woman?
Bold sat down with Osta and got up close and personal with her to understand what drives her to succeed and what message she has for young women who are interested in the field of broadcast journalism, which is still a male-dominant industry.
Bold: What does your daily routine consist of?
Pavlina Osta: Waking up at 3 a.m., looking over last-minute interviews/research, and preparing for that day’s show. I’m usually at the station by 5 a.m. We prepare everything, and I go on air with Joe Piscopo from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. The rest of the day is spent playing with my baby pug, interviewing celebrities, covering red carpets or going to meetings.
Bold: What is it like, living your dreams at such a young age?
Pavlina Osta: It’s #theStruggle. I don’t see it as “living the dream” yet. I’m grateful for everything that I have and for all of the opportunities that have come my way. I have to stay focused on the day-to-day goals to make it to the ultimate goal at the end. Like they said in Willy Wonka, “Eye on the prize.”
In 2014, I was fortunate to learn from the best when I was chosen to be a Disney Dreamer by Steve Harvey and Disney. Every year, Disney chooses 100 Disney Dreamers out of 10,000 applicants. They spend one week at Disney and are mentored by Steve Harvey and a handful of selected professionals and celebrities. In 2015, I was part of the media covering the event. It was cool seeing it from a different perspective. I learned from this life-changing event that everyone has the power to dream and make that dream a reality. To quote Albert Einstein, “Imagination is everything. It’s the key. It’s the preview to life’s coming attractions.”
Bold: How does it get better from here?
Pavlina Osta: Cupcakes would make it better … no, cupcakes served by a shirtless Zac Efron.
Bold: When you work hard, you play harder. How do you let your hair down?
Pavlina Osta: I go walking with my dog. I have a pug puppy named Penelope that is the light of my life, and we go everywhere together. She’s getting a big social following, BT-dubs.
Bold: Describe the moment that you realized exactly what you wanted to do.
Pavlina Osta: When I was 10, I played the steel drums on the beach and on the streets. A lot of radio stations interviewed me because it was so weird. I was in a lot of radio stations, and that’s when I realized how much I loved being in the station in front of a mic.
Bold: How do you manage ageism in your industry?
Pavlina Osta: It was very difficult when I first started — because who takes an 11-year-old seriously? It’s still hard sometimes because some venues require 21+ to even get in. There were a lot of times where I couldn’t get into a venue because of my age, even with a scheduled interview — but I would always find a way to make it happen. But my age is also an advantage at other times because I can offer a young, fresh view on things. Plus, I’m really good with social media. Ageism isn’t something I can really manage, it’s just something I have to cope with for now.
Bold: How do you find yourself at the right place at the right time to capture the perfect on-camera interview? Do you have a formula for knowing the right questions to ask?
Pavlina Osta: I cover many events and do a lot of interviews, so being in the right place at the right time just sort of works out that way. I guess you could say the odds are in my favor.
Bold: Who would you like to interview on your show?
Pavlina Osta: Oprah, The Pope, Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr (because I’m obsessed with The Beatles), Barbara Walters, and Barack Obama.
Bold: Have you ever considered a talk show for Millennials?
Pavlina Osta: Yes, but Millennials have different viewpoints than Generation Z, so I would like to combine those views into one show somehow.
Bold: What is next for Ms. Pavlina?
Pavlina Osta: I’m always looking for more stations to air my show. The next step I’d like to make is to transition into TV.
Bold: What message do you have for young girls who are considering a career in broadcasting?
Pavlina Osta: Broadcasting is still a male-dominated profession. We need more women in the field, so I always encourage girls to go into this area and not be discouraged.
Bold: Tell us about your love for pugs.
Pavlina Osta: They’re so ugly they’re cute. I think pugs are adorable — who doesn’t love pugs? But of course, my pug, Penelope, is the cutest. She’s my little alien.
Bold: How did you manage to make history by being a Guinness World Record holder?
Pavlina Osta: It’s funny, really. I set out to do this world record, and no one thought I could do it. My family was encouraging, and I knew I could do it, but beyond that, there was no support. My high school never did a morning announcement before or after I created a new world record. It was just crickets. At the time, it hurt. But I reflect now that by my own determination to make it happen was how my life has been, and it works for me. I mean, the morning of attempting the world record, I woke up and wrote on my whiteboard, “Setting a Guinness World Record Today.” To me, my goals are a done deal. Maybe that’s a little bit of confidence, but I just see it as Tim Gunn, “Make it work.”
(Osta set the record for the most interviews in one day, 347.)
Bold: In a world where people are fixated on the internet, mobile devices, and social media — do you have advice for young people who seek normality? How can parents encourage their children to do more and use their time wisely?
Pavlina Osta: A couple of ways actually — sometimes you have to join the Dark Side. You have to go dark so to speak, turn off your phone and disconnect from the screen to reconnect with your loved ones and with nature. Secondly, talk to an old person. If you look through the majority of my interviews, there’s a lot of celebrities/newsmakers that I speak with that are 30 to 80 years old. That’s the Clinton administration through FDR and WWII. That’s from grunge to hippie to rockabilly. When you talk with older people, you get a sense of different priorities. Things become simpler because it makes you stand back and take a different perspective on the world.
Bold: Are there any social/economic causes that you would like to bring to surface for the Bold audience?
Pavlina Osta: Recently, I got involved with the Jain Foundation which supports awareness of LGMD — Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, which is caused by a protein deficiency. It’s a great organization, and I look forward to working with them. I’m also a big animal supporter. I gave all of my tip money from playing steel drums to animal-rescue groups for spaying/neutering funding.
You can find Osta on Twitter and Instagram @PavlinaOsta.
Pavlina Osta reel:
