Kharisma McIlwaine is a Philadelphia native who’s love for the arts lead her to pursue a career in various parts of the entertainment industry. Kharisma began her work in television with CBS3/The CW Network as an On-Air Host and Community Ambassador. Kharisma’s ability to present information in a way that is both informative and entertaining has allowed her to land interviews with some of the biggest actors, directors, producers, and musicians in the world. Some of those interviews include; Oscar Award winning director Jordan Peele, Oscar award winning director Adam McKay, Oscar award winning director Damien Chazelle, Oscar Nominated director Ava DuVernay, Tyler Perry, Ryan Coogler, John Singleton, Ice Cube, Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Hart, Megan Good, Omari Hardwick, Wayne Brady, and Laurence Fishburne. Kharisma eventually began expanding her interests in media to the role of producer.
Her first national production project was for BET’s live coverage of “The Home Going of Whitney Houston”. Kharisma currently hosts and produces “Philly Close Up”, an entertainment segment on My New Philly that focuses on celebrities and “28 Days & Beyond” a show that highlights black history, heritage and culture. Kharisma is also a staff writer for The Philadelphia Sunday Sun and hosts a weekly show called “Sun Spotlight” with The Philadelphia Sunday Sun.
Kharisma is a third generation musician whose strong background in music sparked her interest at an early age. Her maternal grandfather jazz saxophonist Lee Smith, of Lee Smith and the Hi- Larks began working with Kharisma at age five allowing Kharisma to perform with his band at weddings and dinner parties throughout the tri state area. The band included Kharisma’s uncles, Lloyd Smith former lead guitar player of The Barkays, Chubby Smith a percussionist who worked with artists such as Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston, and her father Kenneth McIlwaine former lead singer of the R&B group Chill Factor and Maximum Level. The adopted niece of the legendary Rick James, Kharisma was trained in classical voice and piano. She can add to her list of accomplishments singing background for Mariah Carey, Kenny Loggins, Kathy Sledge, Pink and being the opening act for Eric Roberson, Kenny Lattimore, and Deborah Cox. Kharisma has performed nationally and internationally, opening and closing the “Le Festival International du Cinéma pour Enfants” with live performances in Casablanca, Morocco. Kharisma has worked with a number of Grammy nominated producers and continues to be active in the music community in Philadelphia as a singer and songwriter.
Passionate about the community, Kharisma volunteers her time to social activism with organizations that benefit childhood health and wellness and women’s empowerment such as: Big Picture Alliance, PAL, Uniquely You Summit and Joy Juice.