We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vanessa Perea a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, thanks for joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

It’s an ongoing battle in society to be put in a box. We are constantly trying to label each other, assigning aesthetics to people and not allowing them to explore all areas of expression. I find myself expressing so many different parts of my personality and sometimes I second guess who I really am. In order to be one thing you have to stick to it, dedicate yourself to a specific ‘look’. Often times in the acting industry this is helpful, to be typecast and help you find work. But we attach ourselves to our identity far too often. I try my best to explore all parts of myself, and leave the attachment at the door. It’s a problem that may never be fixed, but if we’re aware of it, life can be much more rewarding.

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.

My name is Vanessa and I am an actor, dancer and YouTube. Acting was my first love and I recently moved to Los Angeles to pursue my career. I’ve been a dancer my entire life, but a few years ago I took a heels class and it completely changed my life. It opened a door to a new form of expression. It made me feel strong and confident. So heels dancing has become a huge focus for me. Especially since coming to L.A, being surrounded by talented dancers who treat every class as a performance has really inspired me. From the clothing I wear, to the choices I make in class. Coming to L.A has also really inspired me with my YouTube channel. I’ve been making YouTube videos since I was 14, but I was never consistent with it. This is the first time I’ve ever moved out of my childhood home, and the idea of being in a big new city where I can start fresh was amazing to me. So I decided to get over my shyness and pursue Youtube again. I love making lifestyle vlogs, self care content, and really just capturing my life’s journey through the camera.

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

The feeling of accomplishment. Whenever I nail a dance routine or truly connect with my scene partner, I get such a rush of joy and adrenaline. It’s such a gift to have a sense of knowing in your heart that you are fulfilling your purpose. Art is never perfect and there are so many struggles behind the scenes, but when you create something that you’re proud of, you prove to yourself that you are capable.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

To watch and participate in the art themselves. Whether you go to a concert, a play or invite your friends to go out painting, there is creativity within all of us. I think expressing that as a means of fun is incredibly important. Many of us choose to combine our creativity with our career so we are constantly practicing, but those who go a different route don’t discover what is within themselves. To create something just for the joy of it is something we should all do, not every hobby we have needs to make us money.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_vanessaperea_/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3fWW1zIqccJC1_3WApUBKw

Image Credits
Chris Jon