Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Hays. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Honestly, let me be myself. Through all ages and phases! I always felt supported and loved.

Amanda, 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?

I’ve always been passionate about performing. My journey in the arts began as a child in dance class. My love for dancing quickly evolved into a love for expression through art as a whole. A few years after starting dance, I joined an acting school in Beverly Hills and my world shifted forever! Acting is 100% what I am most passionate about as an artist. Impinging others, creating something that people relate to and that gives people something to talk about is what I was made for. I am a natural storyteller. I also sing and am trained in classical and jazz music. Music and songwriting is something that always came naturally to me. Another form of storytelling that I absolutely adore! I can still look back on music I’ve written as a teenager and find relevance to my life at 27. Like music, modeling became a big part of my life as a teen. I grew up with a model mom, of course I modeled as well! She taught me how to appreciate my beauty and my flaws. And then how to own it all in front of a camera and on the catwalk.

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

There was a time shortly after college where I had a lot of considerations about my craft and whether or not I was capable or worthy of the success in the industry I wish to attain. That mixed in with the reality of becoming an adult really scared me away from my dreams. I stepped away from performing and creating entirely and wasn’t happy at all. I felt as if I’d never reach success quick enough. Bills needed to be paid, okay!? So I worked long days with little time for art. Neglecting my passion really changed me into someone I did not recognize. For a few years I was truly not myself. Then one day I decided I was leaving the spaces that did not suit me, never to return. I needed to be free and creative! I went back to focusing on what I wanted for myself. At the top of last year, I was blessed with the opportunity to work as an extra on a feature film. It helped bring me back to my roots. I immediately after got back into training and working on my portfolio. Another year later, I am a full-time artist! I vowed to never go back to the places where I wasn’t happy and that was that. I just simply made it work for me. I am so blessed to have so much support around me from friends and family. That has been very big on this journey.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing for me as an artist is when people come to me and say that my work changed them in some way or helped them with something. I remember a time where a wonderful lady came up to me and told me that my performance in a play made her decide to reconnect with her loved one. It’s moments like those that let me know I’m doing something right.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @amandahaze1

Image Credits
Malaiye , 10EV Productions