A.J. Gibson- learning through hard work and overcoming insecurities
AJ Gibson is a television host and author originally from Ohio and currently residing in Los Angeles. AJ’s success in the entertainment industry is no coincidence- as you will see when you hear his story!
What did you want to be when you were younger? Please tell us about how those dreams transformed into your present/ future dreams and achievements.
When I was really young, I wanted to be a veterinarian because I thought they just hung out with animals all day. As soon as I learned what they actually did, I shifted gears. I remember being a big fan of David Letterman and Regis Philbin and thinking how much fun it would be to talk on TV for a living. I had a speech impediment as a child and grew up in a small farming community in Ohio, so a career in television didn’t seem very likely. However, my parents enrolled me in speech therapy and when I turned 30 I finally found the courage to chase my dream and I’ve been working as a TV host ever since. Fighting for your dreams, no matter how big or unrealistic they may seem, is ALWAYS the right answer!
What barriers or hurdles did you overcome in trying to follow your dreams?
When I first began taking hosting classes and auditioning for work, I was very insecure and had no idea what I was doing. I was also fearful of the world judging me for being a gay man on television. So, I practiced every day and became more comfortable on camera and as it turns out, audiences are more supportive than I’d expected and love me expressing myself authentically, sexuality and all!
What advice would you give someone following in your footsteps?
For anyone wanting to pursue a career in television, I would give the same advice that I’d give to anyone with a dream. Learn everything you can, surround yourself with people who support you and work really, really hard! Anything worth having in life is worth fighting for and if a dream exists in your mind and in your heart, that means it’s already a reality and it’s simply up to you to track it down and manifest it in your life!
AJ has penned a memoir, Flipping the Script: Bouncing Back from Life’s Rock Bottom Moments.
“AJ's journey as a closeted gay boy from Ohio to that guy people kinda,
sorta recognize from TV and Hollywood's biggest red carpets seems glossy,
but the truth is anything but.”
Find out more about AJ at his website, www.AJGibsonTV.com.
Thank you, AJ, for sharing your story with us!
If you have any questions for AJ, feel free to write it below in the comments.
