Currently, I’m still bartending, but only about twice a month because I’m now in a position where I only consider bartending gigs if I’m getting booked at least once every other month. That way, I’m actually being paid what I’m worth—both for my brand and all the hard work I’ve put into it.

Lately, I’ve been pursuing a new purpose with acting! I’ve been booked for a few features where I’m getting a lot of camera time, and I have high hopes of landing my own role soon. I’m back in acting classes, which are way harder than you’d think!

Last year, I took a leap of faith and entered a swimsuit modeling walk to gain experience. With acting, experiences like that help you build emotional range, character, and camera exposure—all of which are a big plus if you have the right look. The gym has become a part of my daily routine, and I’ve stayed disciplined, which gave me the courage to show it off. For my first walk, I didn’t do too bad, but wow, it was definitely not easy!

From your branding to your presence behind the bar, everything feels intentional. What’s the story behind the name ‘Blk Barbie,’ and how does it reflect who you are both personally and professionally?

Indy’s Black Barbie started with me bartending. I became a well-known and popular bartender in Indianapolis around 2010. At the time, Nicki Minaj’s ‘Black Barbie’ and other ‘Barbie’ branding were trending. I decided to call myself ‘Indy’s Back Barbie’ intentionally, playing on my real name, India, and my connection to Indianapolis. Indy’s Back Barbie is the brand – a well-known bartender who gets booked in different cities and is popular in Indianapolis. But behind the brand, I’m just India, the person who carries it all.

You’re not just bartending—you’re curating vibes and making a statement. How do you bring your own flavor and energy to each event to stand out in the nightlife scene?

I’ve always stayed true to who I am. I have high energy, a strong, genuine aura, and a love for people. What makes me stand out is being authentically myself and embodying my brand. I show up as me. First and foremost, I’m a great bartender. I know how to handle people, whether they’re sober, in a bad mood, or just not feeling their best. My focus is on serving them with a smile and pouring up hospitality. By hospitality, I mean making sure they know they’re here to have a good time – and that I’ll do everything I can to make it happen.

How do you stay motivated, and what advice do you have for other Black women striving to dominate their industries?

I stay motivated by genuinely loving what I do. In the beginning, it was about the money, of course. As I built my brand and my name became well-known, people started paying me just for that. But to stay motivated, it’s really about the passion. I still love bartending, even though I only do it twice a month or when I’m booked. I’ve reached a point where I only want to work when it’s a booking because that’s how I make my money. But at the core, I stay motivated because I truly enjoy serving people and interacting with the public. Loving what I do keeps me going.

Your journey as Blk Barbie showcases creativity, ambition, and entrepreneurship. How do you see your role evolving in the industry, and what’s your vision for the future of The Startender Indy?

My vision has already come to life, but I’d love to take it even further by getting booked in more cities outside the Midwest. Right now, most of my bookings are in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Kentucky. When I started, nobody believed in the idea of booking a bartender, putting them on a flyer, paying for their flight, room, and having them pour drinks. But I believed in it, others believed in me, and it took off.

My vision for Indy’s Back Barbie is to continue growing and getting more bookings. I don’t bartend weekly at clubs anymore or work long shifts to make someone else rich. Instead, I set my fee, and if people want me, they pay for my time. I promote myself, sell out events, move a lot of bottles, and consistently outperform others at the establishments I work with. My goal is to keep building on this momentum and expand my reach.

You’ve turned bartending into an art form and a platform. How do you use your influence to uplift your community and inspire others, especially young women of color, to embrace their individuality?

I started my Star Tender workshops before leaving the city because I knew my hometown played a big role in building my name. I wanted to give back and share my skills, so I did. Over three years, I trained more than 300 star tenders from cities like Indianapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Atlanta.

Through these workshops, I taught participants that bartending can be more than just an eight-hour shift making drinks. You can create your own drink recipes, build your own brand, and turn that into opportunities where people will pay for and book you. It’s a path that has taken me far, and I’m proud to have influenced others to think bigger about their careers.

Lots of people come up with great ideas, and some might even get started, but not everyone follows through—and some quit way too soon. What is it about you that lets you flow with your ideas and see them through to the finish?

I received so much support and love that it pushed me to expand to other cities and states, helping me grow. Once I saw that happen, I kept taking it further. When I first started as a star tender, I had no idea people would actually pay to book me. I remember my first booking—someone asked my rate, and I did it for free just to see if it could go anywhere.

From that starting point, it kept growing. My advice is to stay ambitious and believe in your ability to achieve whatever you set your mind to. Take the leap and follow through—it can take you further than you imagine.