Joanna McClinton is the first woman to hold the House speaker seat in Pennsylvania so a lot of people want to talk to her, writes Victor Fiorillo for Philadelphia Magazine.

As a bonus, McClinton also happens to represent parts of Yeadon and Darby Boroughs.

“When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up to be … a lawyer, a preacher, a hairdresser, and an actress,” she said.

McClinton graduated with a law degree from Villanova University, but she’s also only four classes away from earning a Bible degree from seminary.

She’s also done some stage plays in her day.

“I decided to get into politics … because I spent my life advocating for others,” she said, as a trial lawyer for 10 years and as a youth minister.

Her mom is her hero, the epitome of resilience who has always exhibited compassion and love.

.Her favorite Bible verse?  Esther 4:16, about not being scared and going after what you want.

“When somebody tells me they want to run for public office, I say … be prepared for the good, the bad and the ugly — and that’s just from the campaign”

Read more about the life and interests of Pennsylvania’s first woman Speaker of the House, Joanna McClinton at Philadelphia Magazine.

Joanna McClinton talks on MSNBC about being the first woman Speaker for the Pennsylvania House.