Fashion Merchandising student tailors her future following Tyler Perry Studios internship

Laila Ward still remembers the feeling of awe that washed over her when she first set foot onto the Tyler Perry Studios campus in Atlanta. 

“It was so surreal,” said the Georgia Southern University senior fashion merchandising and apparel design student. “There were so many moments during that day and the days after where I stopped and thought, ‘I’m really here.’” 

Ward secured a coveted internship with the production company for the 2025 summer semester. Out of 1,900 applicants, she was one of the 14 who were chosen. 

She started as a costume production assistant, coordinating costume logistics and maintenance across the various film sets spread out over the massive campus. 

“We kept everything organized,” Ward explained. “We made sure that merchandise and costumes were properly stored, and made sure that everything ran smoothly.” 

Things have to run smoothly on the studio grounds. The 330-acre campus is situated on the site of the former U.S. military installation Fort McPherson in Atlanta, whose soldiers enforced federal regulations after the Civil War. The property features multiple sets that are constantly in use, whether for a Tyler Perry production or otherwise. 

After a few weeks deep in the studio trenches, Ward and her fellow interns were challenged to go a step further. 

“We were given a surprise project to make our own short film,” said Ward. “We were given a budget, a location on the studio campus, camera equipment and props. We only had one week to film, but we were able to create a 10-minute short film.”

She recalls the late nights her team spent working on their film. They would stay up until 3 a.m., consulting with studio executives about how to create the best version of their work while meeting deadlines. 

“They already had their own work to do, but they made themselves available for us,” she explained. “The culture at the studios, everyone feels like family. We all want to help each other succeed.” 

The relationships she built with these industry professionals made her realize how similar they all were. 

“I had no idea I’d be able to get here,” said Ward. “The crazy thing about it is that everyone working here all felt the same. Their journey wasn’t linear. It was all over the place, just like mine.” 

Her passion for fashion started at an early age. As a child, she was a constant fixture at her grandmother’s side, learning to sew. Her grandmother always encouraged her to make her own clothes, inspiring dreams of a future as a designer. But as she got older, she fought with her own fears, second-guessing her choices. 

“I feel like I’ve been mediocre in a lot of things my whole life,” she admitted. “I really wasn’t that athletic. I’m not a straight-A student. I felt like I wasn’t really good at anything.  

“After high school, I took a gap year and discovered that my natural gift was styling people,” Ward continued. “It was so much fun and my friends would always come to me for outfit advice. It felt like I was actually doing something.” 

She had her ‘aha’ moment when she found Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design. 

 “The fashion program at Georgia Southern University is really rewarding,” she said. “I can comfortably say it’s given me the skills I need to succeed in the industry, as well as understanding how important it is to create opportunities for yourself.”  

It was this winding road that brought her to the front door of Tyler Perry Studios, giving her an experience that has helped define her future. 

“I realized that my superpower wasn’t just in fashion and clothes,” she explained. “But in pushing people, including myself, to show up as their best selves.”

That’s what led her to start her own organization, Potential.

“Potential is a collective I started that’s all about connecting people who want to grow in the creative arts job markets,” she explained. “I wanted to create something that helps people realize how special they all are.”

She credits Perry’s real-life challenges an actor and writer looking for a break as a key influence in strengthening the trust she developed in herself.

“You have to believe in yourself, just like he did,” said Ward. “And you have to make sure that you’re taking the time to grow in your craft, just like he did. Once I started doing that…I realized there was genuinely no limit to what I could accomplish.”