We were lucky to catch up with Monica English recently and have shared our conversation below.

Monica, appreciate you joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

I have accepted the fact that people tend to mischaracterize me, whether it’s my ethnicity, occupation, or past. Some people are committed to misunderstanding who I am, what I do, what I stand for—and honestly, it’s not really my business what others think of me. Growing up as a hybrid, or in other words biracial, you develop a mixed identity. Living in a small rural town that was predominantly white, I was always referred to as “the Asian,” but when I attended college at UC Irvine I was baffled whenever Asians assumed I was anything but Asian.

I always find it most interesting being told that I look completely “American,” especially considering the “all-American look” I don’t particularly identify with. One of my classmates even saved my name in her phone as “Monica Fake Chinese.” It’s strange when you realize that your own people don’t even consider you as their own. Though I experienced a bit of an identity crisis and culture shock, it was during this time when I learned to fully embrace my roots and nowadays am very proud to be a ‘Hapa.’

During my third year of college I studied abroad at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, a place I consider my second home since it’s where my mother is from and I used to visit as a little girl. However, people were always surprised when I spoke Mandarin and especially my elementary level Shanghainese. Many times, Chinese people respond to me in English when I speak Chinese and always ask me to be their English teacher because of my surname – English. I’ve learned that people’s perception of you has more to do with them than you. Being misunderstood can be frustrating, but when you realize that other people’s behavior and comments are simply projections of themselves and not you, you find grace.

Monica, 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?

My name is Monica English and I’m a bit of a multi-hyphenate. I’m a Realtor, Entrepreneur, Model, Actress, and Musician. As a multi-instrumentalist I play the violin, piano, and guitar. I’ve played violin in national commercials including a GAP Holiday Campaign with Katy Perry and a Super Bowl Promo for NBC American Song Contest. As a serial entrepreneur, I’ve also coached other models and pageant girls. Most recently, I was crowned in August as Miss World America International. As someone who went from the foster care system and temporarily homeless to helping others achieve their homeownership goals, I aspire to use my title to spread awareness on foster care and serve as a mentor to help youth succeed in the arts and entrepreneurship.

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.

I believe since entrepreneurship and the arts are widely misunderstood, many non-creatives and non-entrepreneurs struggle to see the value in pursuing an unconventional career path. If you’re not doing it yourself, it’s hard to understand how or why someone else is. It’s like trying to understand a foreign country you’ve never visited. I’ve been told many times to get a “real job” like my work is somehow less of a job than any other. Don’t get me wrong… both the entertainment and real estate industries are extremely competitive, but it’s not impossible to make a living and thrive, not just survive. I believe it all comes down to having a purpose and plan.

There have been times I reached a breaking point and was so close to giving up, but it was those precise moments I needed to push even harder. Right around the corner, I would find a way to break through and prove others and even myself wrong. If I had listened to those who told me to give up my dream of becoming a national titleholder after failing to place in multiple pageants I wouldn’t be your reigning Miss World America International 2023. Looking back, it’s disheartening to think that many of my closest friends and families were the most unsupportive, yet I understand that their unsolicited advice were fear based responses. I only achieved my goals because I decided I was worth it and that if I don’t try I’ll never know. I would rather fail again and again than feel like I had missed out on an opportunity to grow.

Another misconception is that you can succeed in either industry through shortcuts, but the truth is that there is no fast track to success. The get rich quick scheme is a myth. Just like any other job, you have to be prepared to put in the work to reap the rewards. People perceive the work as easy when it couldn’t be further from the truth. As an artist and entrepreneur, you will constantly face rejection and be unsure of when your next paycheck will come in. If you are pursuing a career in this field, it’s important to have realistic expectations so you don’t get discouraged when it gets hard, as it gets harder before it gets easier. Failure is inevitable, as it’s part of the journey to success. However, most people quit right before they succeed. Keep going because once you hit your stride and build momentum, you’ll be so glad you chose to bet on yourself.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Not everyone is aware that during my teenage years I spent time in foster care. This experience has shaped my perspective, and I’m committed to using my platform to advocate for the 400,000+ foster youth in the United States, being a former foster youth myself. Many people see my life on the surface and have no idea of the challenges I faced to reach where I am today, dealing with limited resources, an unstable home, and facing overwhelming odds. My journey through the foster care system inspired me to demonstrate that it’s possible to achieve your wildest dreams, despite your background. It has been far from an easy or smooth path, including struggles like failing English (my last name) and experiencing housing insecurity. Nevertheless, there is always hope, a light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m proud to say that I’m part of the 3% of foster youth who obtain a 4-year college degree and am booked and busy. However, the journey doesn’t stop there. I’m grateful to be in a much better place now, but I recognize I will always be a work in progress as I continue my healing process. Nearly 80% of foster youth have significant mental health issues, as opposed to roughly 18 to 22 percent of the general population. My mission is to help bridge that gap, as someone with lived experience.

In today’s world, there are far more programs and resources available than there were when I was in the system over a decade ago. Personally, I found solace and purpose in my heavy involvement in extracurricular activities, particularly music. There is now the Level Up Enrichment Program that offers students STEM, Arts, Sports, & Educational programs. My wish is that other youth who come from similar walks of life know that they are never alone. I choose to be vulnerable in sharing my story because I firmly believe that if I can inspire someone out there to choose themselves, then it’s all worthwhile.

I hope whoever is reading this decides to take risks on themselves, have unwavering faith, and chase their dreams wholeheartedly.

Contact Info:

• Website: topsocalrealestate.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/missmonicaenglish
• Facebook: facebook.com/monicaenglishofficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@monicaenglish

Image Credits
Dinara Baizakova Yiannis Batsakis Bobby Chi