Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Thais Maya. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Thais, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I can not even imagine how my life would be if I had a regular 9-5 job. I’m a model and actress. I always loved my profession, since I was teen. It’s not an easy path, with so many ups and downs, but since the pandemic started, there weren’t many opportunities available; no auditions… nothing. I then started to think if I should start looking for a different kind of job, maybe working from home for a company, or anything that could help me making some money during those hard times… It was then that I realize that I had to find a different solution to that!
I don’t like the fact that I have a “talent” and that I studied really hard to get to where I am (from Brazil to Australia, from Aus to California), to simply not use it or “leave it aside”.
And so, I started to focus my work on social media and started to “put out there” my talent. I now work with many different brands, I have a great audience and I never felt happier! It requires a LOT of work and dedication; I say that I work 24/7, but I have a smile in my heart that a regular job could never give me.

Thais, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started to work as a model and study theater when I was a teenager, back in Brazil, in a small city called Araras (where I grew up!). But I was a big dreamer… I always had this dream of becoming a “famous actress” on TV and that one day I’d be in Hollywood.

I was young but I always had this mindset of “getting what I want”, I just needed to know “how” I would do it.

When I was 18y old, I moved to the big city of Sao Paulo (where I was born), and I started to study acting professionally while working in different jobs (receptionist, sales person and also, as a Geomatics technician – I got into Geomatics when I was in high school!).

After completing my studies in acting, my mother gave me all her savings and helped me to go to Australia to experience a foreign country and study English. Once I was fluent in English, I had the opportunity to attend NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney). While living in Sydney, I was fortunate to meet my now “husband”, who also had a big dream of coming to the US, not to become and actor, but to work and live here. So, we came together to San Diego!

I work most of the time as an actress (in different projects!) and as creator/influencer in social media too, sharing all about things I love in life and that is part of who I am – comedy videos, fashion, style tips and my own lifestyle. I have a great social media family that’s been growing a little more everyday!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I’m building my audience every single day in social media and of course, it’s not easy. But if there is ONE thing that I wish I knew someone had told me before is to understand that your audience is KEY to your success, and that you should focus on what THEY want to see – it’s not about YOU only, it’s all about YOU & THEM. :)

The first step is to be true to yourself and share your “expertise” (we all have something that we like to do, that we know best!). Start to put out there what you know, sharing knowledge and inspiring people is KEY to a great success, and remember to experiment – A LOT. It takes time… As everything in life, right? Some people go “viral” from day 1 – but if they don’t “know” where they want to get… that’s not going to help them “building” an audience.

Passion, knowledge and patience – these work together – if you have all three, you’ll grow.
Do your research, ask for help, don’t be afraid to ask those who know more than you, keep sharing your passion.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I recently went through a very hard experience – I got a great opportunity to work with a major director in a major TV series; but he asked me a few “favors” in exchange for the role – YES, just like those stories we hear… I denied. I just couldn’t do it – I’m happily married and worked so hard to get here. I honestly never thought it would EVER happen to me, but it did.

I was truly disappointed… I didn’t know what to do. I was lost. Why me? – many times I asked this question.

So many other things happened along the way… You can imagine: learning a new language, moving from Brazil to AUS, then to the US, my mother passed away (who gave me all she had for me to pursue my dream), my husband also lost his mother (he couldn’t travel to Australia because it was during the pandemic)… and so many “little things” here and there have happened… And when I get that great opportunity as an actress… Things move to a totally different direction.

However, if I was “focusing” only on those challenges and not on the “beautiful side” of it all, learning through those experiences and keep finding “alternatives” to keep doing what I love, I wouldn’t be happy!
I’m so happy I was able to use all those challenges to “shape” who I am today and to be able to inspire so many through my life, my art and through this amazing virtual world that allows us to connect every corner of the Earth!
Nobody can stop you, only yourself – remember that.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thaismaya.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thaismayaofficial
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@thaismayaofficial