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

Mariana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

One of the greatest risks i have ever taken..

I was nine years old when I decided to become a Fashion Designer. However, my parents got divorced and my mom moved to The Bahamas. I never saw her again and many things came from that. I stopped my last year of high school because we couldn’t afford a private school anymore. I thought my life was over. I started getting gigs as a babysitter and as a dancer. Everyone who was born in South America knows we have it hard sometimes and even more when you want to be an artist.

I got my first salary and started my first acting class. When I started working in commercials, photoshoots, theatre. Everything changed when I turned 18 and decided to move to The Bahamas and quit my job. Everything turned out differently. I got signed for the first time by CMM Agency, an agency of modeling and acting in The Bahamas.

I mean I grew up with my siblings having no electricity and creating our own content. I could walk around the room pretending to be the greatest artist model and playing some Hollywood interviews by myself. I chose myself to play, and play hard and never quit letting my dreams be more than that!

I started working in a retail company in the Bahamas, after a few months I got promoted to be an Assistant buyer and all that love for fashion I always had just came back in. I started Fashion Management.

Being 21 and saving money is the best thing young generations can do. I am talking about my experience and how happy it makes me to work in what makes me passionate about being a young Peruvian artist.

This risk separated me from my family at a young age but gave me the strength that I needed to keep pushing myself forward. Get out of your bubble and allow yourself to do more than one thing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Mariana Ortega, Actress, Model and Fashion Student. I started acting when I was nine years old but I never thought it was gonna be part of my life.
I started studying Acting professionally when I was 16 years old. Saved every single penny to pay college and start my career. Lucho Caceres, who is a great Peruvian actor, recommended us to go to our first casting. I did not have any idea what was coming. At the age of 16 I did my first TV commercial, my first short films, and many more photoshoots. My dad put me in some makeup classes, contemporary dance, musical theater, archery, every single art class you could think of. I was there thanks to him. He thought I had to know everything if I wanted to become an Artist.
I created many of my first test shoots with my brother or my best friend that allowed me to grow as a Model as well.

There are people who believe in you, and there are people who don’t. I see myself as my own personal company, as a dream that would never stop. I would like to maximize the potential of the young acting industry in my country and inspire them as I am. Peru has magnificent art, culture and history, but nobody has to know how to make things right. There is something more important that no one sees. You have to work on your own self, your own mind, your own choices. I studied contemporary dance in Lima, Peru, took some classes at the New York Film Academy and graduated in performing arts (acting for film & cinema). I had the opportunity of being part of many commercials in Lima since I was 15 years old. I started to expand my hobbies and interests. I had the opportunity of being part of COA Mexico, a Mexican school that promotes young, aspiring actors who are currently working in different international projects.

I keep thinking and asking myself, “Should I be a model, or an actor?”. Maybe EVERYTHING. Sometimes I would like to be a writer too, and sometimes I just wanna stay here on the beach and enjoy life.

I would like to offer some inspiration from this story to many people who are in the same dream as me. The ones who want to achieve their goals and dreams. I truly believe this young generation can do so much more. We only need to put everything on the table, start from 0. Young people are always scared. We are still scared of what is coming.

Celebrate your own small steps. When I started acting was the most depressing time of my life. Having no electricity in your house, missing high school classes and having an economic crisis. I always knew what I wanted to do and that I would never quit, even though I had those questions on my head. Is this worth it? I was scared.

I also knew that I had to expand my contacts, my place, and enjoy the present.

I made everything a story and part of me. Of my life, of my world. I only see myself doing what I love, stop worrying about things you can’t control. See yourself as a movie. Because life really gives you a completely different plot twist and you could be ready or not but YOU have to make those choices in life.

My inspiration has always been my family, my work and all the kids at school I told I was gonna be on the big screen.

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.

Non-creatives, we do have something in common: We are humans full of experiences. It’s not about how much money you are worth as an artist. It doesn’t matter if you are famous, if you won many awards. Everyone starts like me.

Some will never understand and it will always be a mystery. However, I just want to tell you that being an actress opened many opportunities for me mentally and personally, telling stories and interpreting other individuals moves us all in a rewarding way. We as artists create songs that make us cry, movies that move us and make us justify existence, life, books that have broken our hearts, we are only interpreters of life itself. My journey started a few years ago, however I don’t think this is the end. Now I understand, this is just the beginning for me and for others around the world.

My mission now is to combine many arts such as fashion, acting, modeling and make my own fashion business one day. Currently, I’m lucky to join an emerging team of artists in The Bahamas and collaborate with photographers to expand my portfolio and career. I am so proud that I can call this island my new home.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist. Simple: Seeing the place where you started and seeing yourself now. It’s not over. You have so much more to explore that you never get tired, bored or not inspired. You can create so many new things. Grabbing a book, writing some stories, keep pushing yourself to new adventures. Learning more, life is a whole new learning experience. You always get a little better in every aspect, even as a person.

I grew up in a house full of artists, photographers, producers, DJ’s and I think that I couldn’t be happier doing something else that is not art. If I like something I simply chase it until I get it. Making a small decision could change your life. It’s more rewarding when you work with people that appreciate you, your work and your ideas. People who work together, who are present and listening to you. Being an artist has been an introspective studying journey of my own life and perspective by itself. I chose myself to follow the path of what we are passionate about.

I do this for that little girl alone in her room, preparing, dancing, singing, playing the guitar and having crazy dreams, we never stopped believing.

Best of luck to all of my Peruvian artists,
This is for all of us. Thank you for sharing this story with me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @marianaorttega
• Facebook: Mariana Ortega
• Youtube: Mariana Ortega

Image Credits
Pablo Cifuente Florez, Renato Ortega Diaz and Genesis Huerta