All photos: Jordan Somers

The girls held down the fort last week on Almost The Weekend when host Besa Gordon welcomed Sabirah Rayford, an acclaimed FOX 13 Seattle anchor and creator of the Emmy-nominated show "For the Girls: Women on the Rise." Between hearty laughter and heartfelt conversation, Rayford shared her journey into news anchoring, the inspiration behind “For The Girls,” and how she balances the demands of her career with personal well-being.

With journalistic ethics at the forefront, Rayford’s passion for news anchoring stems from a desire to meet people where they are at. "I wanted people to feel heard. I wanted people to feel understood," she said.

Growing up, she was a curious kid and used creative writing as an outlet to record her thoughts, observations, and questions. This curiosity evolved into a desire to understand complex societal issues, a skill that took well to journalistic reporting. "I wanted to be a part of that. Be a part of the solution,” she said.

Sabirah Rayford sits in the Black Media Matters Studio last week on Almost The Weekend.

Rayford's career path took a significant turn in 2020, when she transitioned from covering sports in college at the University of Kentucky to focusing on social justice triggered by significant political unrest. She realized that while covering sports was fun, she desired more. “It didn't fulfill that inner part of me,” she said.

While working in West Palm Beach, the events of 2020 thrust her into a new facet of storytelling. "I had these amazing opportunities to sit down and speak with civil and social justice leaders in the community," she said. One encounter with a woman who had marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 50s and 60s was particularly impactful, who told her "We've come so far, but we still have so far to go." From that point on, Rayford internalized the impact of her work and felt confident in her path forward.

Now in Seattle, Rayford's purpose as a FOX 13 anchor is deeply rooted in hopefulness. She believes in holding power accountable and delivering facts while also connecting the community and offering hope. "I think you can hold people accountable, stand up for yourself, stand up for others around you, and make sure that the truth is getting out there," she said.

Besa Gordon (left) and Sabirah Rayford (right) talk “For The Girls” in the Black Media Matters Studio last week on Almost The Weekend.

Diving into "For the Girls: Women on the Rise," Rayford originally was inspired by a TEDxBelltown Women event she emceed. She was struck by the incredible women she researched and wondered why they weren’t widely known throughout the community and beyond. This led her to create a platform that focuses on uplifting, inspiring, and helping other women evolve, showcasing their stories from a lens of hope while avoiding the mainstream “doom and gloom” that often follows coverage of underrepresented communities.

When looking for impactful stories to cover on “For the Girls,” Rayford looks for “women on the rise.” For her, the concept of “rising” is not just about career success or accolades; it's an internal rise that is demonstrated through real-life passion and emotion behind quality storytelling.

Rayford shared an inspiring story from “For The Girls” about Lei Wang, the first Asian woman to summit all seven of the world's top peaks and ski from the North to South Pole. Wang, often underestimated due to her height, famously said that people will always underestimate you, so don’t underestimate yourself. For Rayford, Wong's perseverance through illness and expectations on her Everest climb exemplified the idea of being a woman on the rise.

Besa Gordon (left) and Sabirah Rayford (right) pose in the Black Media Matters Studio last week.

To women hoping to be on her show one day, Rayford offers a simple message: "You got this. Whatever you want to do, decide. Put an intention behind it. Decide and you got it."

Rayford encouraged viewers to tune into "For the Girls: Women on the Rise" to "uncover and discover" new things, support amazing women, and be inspired. The show is streaming now on the Fox Local app, available for free download on smartphones and smart TVs. She is on Fox 13 for "Washington News Wrap" at 4, 5, and 6 PM, and "Seattle News Tonight" at 9 and 10 PM.

Check out past episodes of “For The Girls” on the FOX 13 Local App. Don’t forget to tune into FOX 13 Seattle to see Sabirah Rayford weeknights starting at 4 p.m.