We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Simone Johns. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Simone below.

Alright, Simone thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be in front of the camera and on the big screen. Coming from a family filled with intelligent women with doctorates and college degrees, I never thought my creative right brain would be able to follow my passions. Although, I’ve always had an abundance amount of support from my friends and family. I was first introduced to performing in seventh grade. I took a class that had a forensics team and I quickly knew that this is where I wanted to be. My middle school, forensic team traveled to other schools to compete. I had a dramatic monologue that I still use to this day to book jobs. Who knew monologue from seventh grade would land me roles as an adult?! With this monologue, I went on to win first place at every meet that we had. This led me to pursue a future career in the acting world.

My favorite studies in school were always the art classes. I wanted to take art every semester, even though I knew that wasn’t allowed. I always love drawing and painting and creating with my hands. I told my mother around age 13 that I wanted to be an artist. Her words were, “Artists don’t make any money, you better take a typing class.” So I kept this gift close to my heart, but just as a hobby. I didn’t really pursue an artistic path professionally until about age 28.
Once I started posting my abstract art on social media, the positive feedback I received encouraged me to start selling my artwork. After moving to Atlanta, I decided to display my artwork in a local art show. I submitted six original pieces. And I sold … every… single… one. The curator said, If there was an award for tonight, it would have been given to you.”

Simone, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Simone Johns, and I’m from Nashville Tennessee. Growing up in Nashville, the only thing that you really associate it with is country music. But what people don’t know is when you put in the work and go for things that you really want, your eyes open up and the world becomes a place of endless opportunities. I always knew I was a pretty girl, but I didn’t realize how far that would take me. All through my school grade years, I took numerous art classes and was members of the forensics debate team, and took theater and musical theater in high school. I always thought these things were for fun and never thought I could really make a career out of it.

After I graduated from high school, I found myself doing what most young adults do. Parties! Clubs! I always wanted to go dancing and just listen to some music and VIBE. I’m definitely an extrovert, so I always wanted to go out and be with my friends. I became a familiar face within the club scene because I started to get asked to host club events. I guess you could say I started my career out being a club promoter for a few small clubs in Nashville. My name quickly got around the Nashville urban scene. I was asked to do photo shoots, promote clothing brands and eventually star in my first music video as a video girl. Little did I know this was the jumpstart of my career.

I had no intentions on being a video vixen. It’s just something that I guess I fell into, but seem to fit perfectly. I was featured in numerous local Memphis and Nashville artist music videos. I met a lot of different people and women from all over. I was a member of a modeling group in Nashville that took over the scene for a few years. We traveled down to Atlanta, Georgia and this is where I made my way into a huge music video set with a Snootie Wild and Boosie. Shout out to Brittany Passion.
I walked on this at not knowing what to do or where to go as I was not invited I was there to support a fellow model. And if you know this industry, that is something that you just do not do it show up on anyone that uninvited. it was hot and I was sweating and I did not want to stand outside anymore so I started to ask around. Who is the creative Director? I asked that passed by. Finally, a man come up to me and asked who I was. I said that I was a model and I was looking for the creative Director. He points and says your trailer is over there. As I make my way over to where all of the other models for the music video were healed, a woman (Kay Clark) approaches me and says, where are your clothing options. I showed her what I had, and she placed in my first celebrity music video. “MADE ME”

That same casting Director place me in a lot of celebrity music videos. I guess you could say I was in the right place at the right time. Overtime, I met other directors and casting agents, and I went on to be featured in The Dream, Jeezy, Gucci, K. Michelle, T.I. Jake Owen, Rick Ross and many other A-list Celebrity videos. I attended exclusive parties and met a lot of cool people along the way.

In 2017 A movie was being produced “All Eyes On Me.” The same casting Director that put me in my first celebrity music video called me up and asked me that I want to be in this movie. Of course I did not turn down the opportunity. My first background feature was in this movie. When you hear on TV that it’s always about who you know believe them it’s all about networking and creating great relationships with people.
After getting a taste of a real movie set, I just knew this is where I had to be. so I started to put everything into pursuing and reaching these goals versus just making it a hobby or something that I do in my spare time.

From here I went on, have work in very popular TV series “Bigger” on BET+ . P-Vally on STARZ, BMF and more. I have started in a few feature films and had many supporting roles as well. I can’t wait to continue this journey and see how far it can take me.

In addition to working on set, I still create my artwork and sell via Instagram and social media. Anyone can request a custom piece of artwork. I usually have consultations and discuss exactly what to expect when requesting an original piece.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Just like any other career, sometimes we have a good day and bad days good months and bad months and good years and bad years. Being an actress/artist we also have to attend schools and classes to get better at our craft. This is more business than talent. There is a certain way to do things and when you don’t know that way you can get Xed out very quickly. Hollywood is no joke. Black Hollywood (Atlanta) is Just as difficult and don’t let anyone tell you any different. Just like any other job, everyone wears their hats. Non-creative tend to think that being an actress is all lights, camera action, nice, shiny outfits, and fun and games. Being an actress is not easy. Sometimes we come across rules that completely shatter you from the inside out. But you know you’re doing your job correctly when you completely transform into your character and sometimes it’s extremely difficult to disassociate yourself and come back to reality. I have had multiple roles and when people meet me, they assume that I am like the character that I am portraying. People come up with their own narrative and start treating you as such. I would like non-creatives, and non-actors to recognize that we’re still human we’re still people, and that we still have emotions and feelings that matter to us.

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

In the acting world, you will receive more NOs than YES. There has been multiple projects that I prayed for that I just knew I was gonna get the role for and it turns out that I didn’t get the role or never even heard back from casting. Usually they say no news is good news… Well not in this case.

I had two important auditions for a very popular TV show on STARZ. The turnaround time was four hours. This is a very short time to get an audition create the character and send an audition tape back to casting. However, I did the audition, for what at that time I felt like was to the best of my ability. I did not get the part. They sent me another audition two weeks later so I thought oh they liked me but maybe just not for this role. I got super excited that they wanted to see what I had to offer again. Unfortunately, I did not get that role either.

This broke my spirits. I was thinking I will never get any higher paying opportunities I thought my career was over. But I had to remember that I had gotten Nos before. And maybe that this was God saying that I wasn’t ready yet or that this particular role was not for me. I have to trust in him and trust that he lays everything out for me and be accepting of when the time is right. I took a little break from auditioning, gathered my thoughts, and decided to get back on the wagon.
I had to tell myself not to stop because of one person, not liking what I could bring to the screen. I know the talent that I possess and sometimes you just have to pick yourself up and keep going..
If this is something that’s truly in your heart when you wake up every day and crave something then you know you have to go for it

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @TheSimoneJohns

Image Credits
Marlon PhotoG ADJ media FB Studios D Holt