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GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com | 47 ag.com | 47 I In the competitive, often cut throat local television news business, the stories makes the headlines but, the real connection of the audience to the newscast comes from the chemistry and likability of the anchors which translates into winning ratings for the station. While viewers usually only see a glimpse of the real life of the television news anchors they invite into their homes, WTSP 10News anchor Dion Lim, 31, is changing that tradition. Dion is perky, relatable and brutally honest — from her sav v y shopping tips for finding the best deal to a wardrobe of designer look ing dresses each sewn by her mother, Lim reveals her personal confidence struggles both in front and behind the camera. When the camera is off, Lim pursues her entrepreneurial spirit in business and is a big believer in mak ing your own opportunities in life. Early in her career when she worked as an anchor in Charloe, NC, she found a way to combine her love of food and social media. A er finding success with the Cow fish restaurant (the chain named one of its signature dishes aer her, the Neon Dion/OMG Dion sushi roll, and also features the menu item at its Universal CityWalk restaurant in Orlando), Lim is now tak ing the concept to the next level. is month she launched a social media campaign called #BigDealDion taco between the station and the mobile Taco Bus to raise funds to help hungr y children in the area. Lim's path to success has been paved with struggles, and while many women are reticent to share details, Lim is vocal about her stor y. Her message to the public is oen inspirational with personal details about her struggles growing up Asian A merican and struggling to find her voice and identity in a business that judges women daily on their appearance. True to Lim's nature of finding a way to make a difference, she's channeling her struggles into a book, including positive messages and lessons learned from other female news anchors around the countr y. She and her husband, Evan Panesis, a professional poker player, are the proud parents of a Yorkshire terrier named Georgie and a miniature dachshund named Frank ie. Here in her own words, Lim shares her triumphs and struggles as a main television anchor, how she views success, and what she would like to accomplish next in her career. Why did you decide to go into television and what were you first impressions? Growing up in an Asian A merican household being an A merican-born Chinese – A BC as we like to call it – there's a lot of pressure to be a doctor or law yer or scientist. One of those tangible careers where your parents can measure and see it. My cousins were all Doogie Howsers and graduated law school at 18. I spent a lot of time learning English by listening to audio books and watching television. e program 20/20, Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters were a really big part of my childhood. I realized if I could do what they did, I could have my own voice and not have to live in this bubble of what I was supposed to be. I would have the flex ibility and adventure I longed for. By Katherine Ferrara Johnson Continued page 48