Some guests leave you inspired. Others leave you thinking deeply about your own life long after the conversation ends.

That’s exactly what happens in Salisha Thomas’ conversations with Ashley De La Rosa across multiple episodes of The Salisha Show and Black Hair in the Big Leagues.

Known for her powerhouse vocals, magnetic stage presence, and deeply introspective spirit, Ashley opens up about everything from becoming Broadway’s first Black Regina George in Mean Girls to navigating emotional wellness, artistry, identity, and returning to her first love: music.

And honestly? These episodes feel less like interviews and more like two Broadway sisters having a real conversation about life.

From The Voice to Broadway Stardom

Salisha first introduces Ashley as someone “beautiful from the inside out” — a performer audiences may recognize from The Voice, where Ashley competed on Team Christina Aguilera, as well as from Broadway productions including Mean Girls, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Hamilton.

Ashley’s Broadway journey is genuinely remarkable.

She made history as the first Black actress to play Regina George in Mean Girls — a groundbreaking moment in a role traditionally associated with a very specific image of femininity and beauty.

Salisha reflects on how meaningful it was to watch Ashley carry herself backstage with warmth, ease, and authenticity during their time together in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

But Ashley’s career actually began much earlier.

Long before Broadway, she worked as a child voice actor — including work connected to Dora the Explorer — before eventually stepping into music and theater professionally.

Returning to Her First Love: Music

One of the biggest themes across these interviews is Ashley reconnecting with herself as an artist outside of Broadway.

Salisha shares her excitement over Ashley releasing her 2024 EP God Complex, describing it as a return to Ashley’s “first love.”

And throughout the conversation, you can feel that shift happening in real time.

Rather than only discussing credits and accomplishments, Ashley speaks openly about creativity, emotional honesty, and the importance of expressing yourself fully — even when that feels uncomfortable.

It’s the kind of conversation that resonates deeply with artists, performers, and honestly anyone trying to figure out who they are beyond achievement.

Hair, Beauty Standards, and Backstage Conversations

Because these episodes originated during the Black Hair in the Big Leagues era of Salisha’s platform, the conversations naturally weave into beauty, wellness, and textured hair.

Salisha jokes that backstage conversations among Broadway women almost always circle back to:

• hair

• fitness

• fashion

• wellness

• and “juices.”

Ashley and Salisha discuss dealing with dry hair on tour, experimenting with products, and the realities of maintaining healthy textured hair while performing professionally.

What makes these moments so compelling is that they’re never just about hair.

They’re about identity.
About presentation.
About what it means to navigate predominantly white entertainment spaces as Black women while still trying to feel beautiful and authentic.

The Most Powerful Moment in the Interview

Toward the end of their in-person conversation, Salisha asks Ashley a simple but deeply emotional question:

“What would you tell eight-year-old Ashley today?”

Ashley’s answer becomes one of the most moving moments in the entire interview.

She talks candidly about growing up feeling emotions so intensely that she learned to suppress herself in order to avoid being “too much.”

She reflects on how many women — especially Black women — are taught to minimize their feelings, regulate their personalities, and prioritize likability over honesty.

“You can feel however you want to feel at any time.”

It’s vulnerable.
It’s healing.
And it’s the kind of insight that stays with listeners long after the episode ends.

Why These Ashley De La Rosa Episodes Matter

What makes Ashley such a compelling guest isn’t just her résumé — though it’s wildly impressive.

It’s her depth.

Across these conversations, Ashley De La Rosa reveals what happens underneath the polished Broadway exterior:

• the emotional complexity of artistry

• the pressure of representation

• the journey toward self-acceptance

• and the courage it takes to fully own your voice

And Salisha creates the perfect environment for those conversations to unfold naturally.

The result is a pair of episodes that feel deeply human, inspiring, and refreshingly honest.

Listen to the Full Episodes

In these episodes of The Salisha Show, Salisha Thomas and Ashley De La Rosa discuss:

• Becoming Broadway’s first Black Regina George

• Competing on The Voice

• Performing in Hamilton and Beautiful

• Releasing her EP God Complex

• Mental health and emotional honesty

• Hair care and beauty standards in theater

• Creativity, identity, and self-expression

Listen to The Salisha Show on The Salisha Show Website and wherever you stream podcasts.