MTV reality show personality Whitney Port spoke to a packed lecture hall on the Tempe campus Wednesday night about her television experience, fashion line and how to achieve success.
Port, who starred on the shows “The Hills” and “The City,” said MTV helped forward her career, but it wasn’t everything.
“What people get the opportunity to launch a fashion line on a television show?” she said. “It was an amazing opportunity.”
The Undergraduate Student Government sponsored the lecture, which took place in the Life Sciences Center. Hundreds of students listened to the former MTV star, who sported a black sweater and pair of wrinkled shorts — an article of clothing from her fashion line that will be on store racks in February.
Port said she wasn’t just “in the right place at the right time” — she worked to achieve her goals, such as launching her own fashion line.
“I was invested in myself,” she said. “The TV shows may have helped, but I worked really, really hard.”
Port told students they need to find internships and build their résumés.
“Everything’s a stepping stone to the next job,” she said.
In the fashion industry, patience was key to her success.
“It took a couple of years to move up the ladder,” she said.
Port described her experience being cast in “The Hills” as “surreal,” but not something she was entirely sure she wanted.
After interviewing for an internship at Teen Vogue, Port was asked to make a casting tape for an upcoming MTV reality show.
“Reality TV isn’t what it is now; there was nothing like ‘The Hills’ at the time, except for maybe ‘The Real World,’” Port said.
Port said she still doesn’t know why she was picked for “The Hills.”
“I don’t know what made me stand out,” she said. “I think they cast me because they thought I wasn’t going to get along with Lauren (Conrad).”
Conrad, who starred in the MTV show “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” also appeared on “The Hills.”
Journalism freshman Katherine Alanis-Ramirez came from the Downtown campus to see Port speak.
“This is a really great opportunity that USG gives us and it’s great that they open it up to students across all campuses,” Alanis-Ramirez said.
Alanis-Ramirez came to see Port speak because she is a big name that made a bigger name for herself.
“She’s accomplished,” she said. “I want to hear her tips on how to achieve success.”
Business communication junior Alexis Bommarito-Sobey said she wanted to see Port because she wants to own her own business one day.
“I’ve been a fan of hers since the beginning,” Bommarito-Sobey said. “I want to hear her words of inspiration and learn how she’s battled challenges.”
Port said not to be afraid of failure and to push boundaries.
“Don’t be afraid of failure,” she said. “If you never step out of the line, you’ll never make it.”
Reach the reporter at tksincla@asu.edu
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