We recently connected with Elley Ringo and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Elley 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’ve known since I was a little girl that I wanted to be in front of large audiences. My mom always told me that I was never meant for small things and that someday I would be famous. When I was eight years old I was in my very first play. I was dressed up in a cute outfit, it was just a small school play so we were all still holding our scripts, but I knew right then and there that if I stood in front of an audience and they were watching me I got to control what was going on. I got to see if I could make them laugh or cry, or cause any emotion. Feeling that kind of power was intimidating but also a driver. So I’ve always dabbled around and plays, and films and modeling. But it’s always been my part-time job for the things that would fill up my weekends.

For years in my professional career (9-5 type of job) as a geologist for the major mining company FMI, I was constantly undermined, berated my ideas thrown away or taken for granite and I felt bullied every day that I went to work. I would go home several times a week crying over what they’ve done to me. They even harassed me so bad that I opened up a case with the company for harassment, and even with a 35 page document of all the Incidents that happened to me, The company protected their management and they told me that my boss was only inappropriate conduct, it wasn’t harassment…. And that my attitude was a poor reaction to bad management… I was very depressed and extremely anxious all the time.

The only thing that made me happy was acting modeling, and rockhounding and occasionally I would make a video about it.

So, after going to the Phoenix fan fusion
A few years ago I met a wonderful woman who is now my manager. One of the first things that she said to me is “ do you want to be famous ?” I told her yes! and She told me to go big or go home! So with her help and guidance that’s what I have done.
I created my TikTok channel @elleyknowsrocks and my YouTube channel Elley Knows Rocks. I started to gain a little traction and then was noticed by a casting company that was casting for a reality TV series in Greenland. Without much hesitation I excepted the job to be a geologist on a TV series to go look for gold in Greenland. I finished a 12 part television series called Frozen Gold for the weather channel. It is still streaming on the weather channel you can also find clips of it on my YouTube.

Since coming home from Greenland I’ve had to deal with a lot of hate from people who are jealous, or just plain mean. But as long as you don’t feed the haters they eventually leave you alone. And as they say, all press is good press right?! whether people like you or hate you they’re still invested in you and what you’re doing and they still wanna watch, either to watch you succeed or watch you fail. But as long as you keep driving yourself forward you will always succeed.

This has been a huge turn of events for me as I am now a full-time actress, YouTuber, influencer and creator, model and rockhound adventure.

I have put so much effort and work to get to where I’m at. People often times tell me you’re so lucky. Well luck had nothing to do with it. Donny Dust wrote a message to me, he said “ I happy for you in every way. I like to think that people who follow their passions and odd interests live the best life. Your show and you being on it is not luck. Never let someone tell you “ you’re lucky”. This is hard work, years of dedication, sacrifice, sun burns, cuts, stings, frozen limbs and so much more. That’s not luck. You have my respect in every way.” you have no idea how good that made me feel. To know that somebody could see the effort that I was putting into something that I loved.

That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do is always keep my head high. One thing I’ve learned is you can’t let people devalue you. Everything comes at a price and no one should work for free ! I was reminded recently that time is one of our greatest assets and people love to rob us of our time that we will never get back. So use your time wisely. Focus on the things that are going to make you stronger not the things that stress you out.

Manifest what you want. I’m a huge believer in self manifestation I have been telling myself that I am going to be a star, and then I’m going to be famous. It may sound ridiculous but it’s what I believe. I feel like I’m at that tipping point cry can reach and grab the stars but I just have to create a few more steps before I get there.
Always believe in who you are. Sometimes you just have to be your own cheerleader, and that’s OK.

Take yourself to that next level. Keep the people that believe in you close. Surround yourself with people who don’t put you down. Cherish those people that help build you up.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am an entertainer at heart, I love to tell stories and I love to educate people about rocks and minerals. That is what my YouTube channel focuses on. I am a big adventure and I love finding new things and exploring old abandoned mines. I sell different rocks and minerals that I find on my trips. As well as rock and mineral stands and a mineral test kit that I have developed myself to work well with amateurs or experienced geologists. I have my mineral stands test kits and T-shirts on my Etsy. I love to speak at big events about rocks minerals my adventures or where to find gold. I recently spoke at the golden treasure show put on by the GPAA. Speaking to an audience is so much fun especially when they engage and interact. I feel if I can make somebody laugh then I did my job well! And the more questions they have at the end the better I feel that the subject was engaging enough for people to remember.

On my acting side of things I am a full-time actress like every actress do you work on getting the next big title to add to your IMDb.

I am always modeling as well. Whether it’s a one on one photo shoot. Or I am the model for a group of photographers that teach them a new skill, either how to work with a professional model or some thing new to learn about a lighting and how to light a model properly in a class like setting. In modeling I also love to incorporate cosplay. I make all of my own outfits so that takes up a little bit of my time plus I get to have downtime while I create some thing it’s a win-win.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my creative journey, is when someone recognizes me, be it in a grocery store, an events or even a gas station which happened recently that freaked me out. Nonetheless, being recognized by somebody means that you touched them in someway with what you’re doing. For me it means somebody saw my picture watched one of my films, or is a subscriber on my YouTube channel or perhaps TikTok. These people are true fans. I was once recognized from just my voice. I walked into a shop and was talking to the person on the other side of the counter and someone else came behind me and said hey you’re that rock girl the one from that channel. I know your voice. They couldn’t barely read remember my name but they knew my voice from somewhere. And when I turned around they knew exactly who I was. And screams it’s Elley from Elley knows Rocks.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The best way to support an artist or a creative is to simply watch their videos, or look at their pictures like those videos or pictures, comment on those videos or pictures, and always follow and subscribe to what they’re doing. Following and subscribing to creators is your way of saying thank you for what you’re doing we like it.
It’s also completely free for you to do. And it makes a huge difference for artists to know that we have that kind of support. And especially for monetizing things. When you’re monetizing TikTok, Instagram, YouTube you need numbers you need subscribers and followers.
It’s different when you are advertising your Patreon (which I have) that is something that is of a monetary subscription. But that’s only for that upper level of people who can and are willing to do that. I know that not everybody can do that. But for those people that just subscribe and like and comment…. I know I sound like a broken record, but it truly means the world to us. I know that I subscribe and follow my favorite creators and my favorite people. Not only to show my support but I also like what they’re doing. And I want it to come up on my feed so that I don’t miss what they’re doing.
I can only hope that people want to do the same thing for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://etsy.me/3F2jlIg and Elleyknowsrocks.com
• Instagram: @elleyknowsrocks @elleyringo @model.elleycat
• Facebook: @elleyknowsrocks @elleyringo @model.elleycat
• Twitter: @elleyknowsrocks @elleyringo
• Youtube: @elleyknowsrocks @elleycat
• Other: TikTok @elleyknowsrocks @elleyringo

Image Credits
Dan Chain, Angel Ruiz, Dave Kelley, Ryan Morgan, Myself, Dave kelley, Dave kelley Todd Smith and Minazona