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10 Questions with ... Malie Delgado 'Malie D.'
July 16, 2019
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1) You were Miss Alaska! What was the pageant experience like?
When I competed for Miss Alaska 2014, I had actually never competed in a pageant before ... I was anticipating the stereotypical catty girls, but on the local and national level, I never experienced that. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the best, kindest and most intelligent women in my Miss America class!
2) How did that segue to the KGOT morning show?
I met my now on-air partner while competing in a local talent competition before competing for Miss Alaska. Turns out, iHeartMedia was keeping an eye on the things I was doing in Anchorage and becoming Miss Alaska was what made them notice me and my personality enough to want to put me on the air!
3) You plug in next to Breakfast Club co-host (and station PD) Casey B every morning; how has working with a seasoned pro helped you get more acclimated to being on the air?
I'm incredibly thankful for Casey and his guidance. Whether it's in radio or life, I know I can always count on him to be an awesome friend, teacher and boss! Learning from the PD of our station was, in my opinion, the best way to learn the radio ropes. He knows where I'm coming from because he's lived it, so I'm really grateful to him for all of his help in this industry.
4) Anchorage is your hometown. What's it like for you to be on the radio in the morning on the city's big Top 40 station?
WOW! That's what it's like! It's still so surreal to be out and about town and have someone recognize me and say, "You're Malie D.! I listen to you every morning!" Knowing that I have made a positive impact on listeners' lives is the most humbling part of the job. Just recently I received a message from a young girl thanking me for being both realistic and optimistic because it's helped her try and have that mentality day-to- day. It's the best feeling in the world.
5) As you're prepping the show, what kinds of things do you look for that you know will click with your listeners?
Anything weird or trending stories about major stars are what I look for first. My segment, "The D-List," is my way of updating our listeners of the crazy/cool things their favorite celebs we play on our station are up to! If I can make someone laugh and keep them informed, it's a win.
6) What kinds of social media engagement works best for you?
I'm a big Instagram user. My thumbs like to scroll and it's one of the most efficient ways I communicate with my followers. I also love using our station's Facebook page. We try to utilize it to its fullest potential with polls, contests, live videos and more. We connect with a lot of people there.
7) "Local, local, local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you make sure that you stay visible and involved in the community?
It's pretty easy to stay involved in Anchorage; everyone would know if you didn't! We are a big city with a small-town mentality, so giving back to our community is a no-brainer. I am fifth generation Alaskan and love my community, so talking about community events and spending my time there is something I do regularly!
8) Who would be the ultimate "dream guest" to have sit in across from you and Casey some morning?
That's definitely tough as there are so many guests I'd love to chat with. Talking with Justin Timberlake is on my bucket list, as well as Billie Eilish and Ryan Tedder, just to name a few. I would love to get a glimpse into how their creative minds work. I'd also love to interview Lil Dicky and have him freestyle for me.
9) What artist(s) would some be surprised to find in your personal music library?
That's a tough question ... I'm pretty open about my love for all music, so I'm not sure if what I have would really shock anyone. However, I recently downloaded every album from NF and have found a new passion in dissecting and analyzing his raps. I'll definitely be looking for more Rap to add to my library because of him.
10) Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
My biggest radio mentor has definitely been my partner Casey B. His patience as a teacher and friend have helped me thrive, not just in my career, but in life as well. I also got the chance to meet Ryan Seacrest when I competed on American Idol back in 2016 and I love his show, so he is certainly a role model of mine. Another goal is to become his co-host someday!
Bonus Questions
You live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. If someone was visiting Anchorage for the first time, what would you make sure that they saw?
If you were to visit Anchorage in the summer time, I'd highly recommend hiking up Flattop Mountain. Anchorage is nestled right up against the base of the Chugach Mountain Range, so Flattop gives you the best view of the city! In the winter, I'd definitely recommend snow-machining. It really doesn't matter where outside of the city, just pick a place and ride!
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