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

Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

When I first started modeling back in 2018, I had NO clue at all what fashion or modeling was about! I never had an interest or even thought of pursuing that career. I was shocked when agents and talent scouts would suggest that I’d be great for this project or that project. Although it was something I wasn’t familiar with, it looked so exciting and new so I decided to commit to modeling. My first year was amazing, but I felt the pressure and competition of the industry and was second-guessing my career every. single. day in my second year. I was not standard 5’7 or felt either skinny or pretty enough. It was hard for me to picture myself doing a shoot or commercial. Later in 2019, I met Rio Summers from America’s Next Top Model for model coaching. She definitely gave me the boost and knowledge I needed to start taking this career seriously. I felt crazy just showing up to a casting call without much knowledge or experience. Throughout the years, I gained support, experience and most importantly confidence. After years of attending casting calls, LA Fashion Week events and much more, I felt at home! The models were so welcoming regardless of the competition and the work became so effortless. The main obstacles that stood in the way were my self-limiting thoughts. As a 19 year old, I was scared of everything! I would turn down opportunities and look for different career paths, I’d do anything but accept jobs or go in search of jobs. Now, I’m definitely more comfortable with working with new companies, new people, events and more. I’m so grateful for all the lessons and rejections I had to face these past 7 years. The hardships I faced are hardships that anyone has when entering a new field from the absolute beginning with no knowledge or experience.

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

I’m Andrea Nicole Anderson, I’m an independent artist born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. I’ve been in love with art for as long as I can remember. I started studying music at the age of 10, modeling at 19 and now, pursuing an acting career at the age of 23. Coming from a family of professional and dedicated artists, I was beyond inspired to start my own projects and share with my family and the world how their passion has been passed on to me. As I’ve been modeling for the past 7 years, it’s been nice being able to focus more on music and acting as well. I’m so grateful to have met, received help and even worked with some of my favorite professional artists like Vera Wang, Billie Eilish, the Marias, Inner Wave, and so many more. These past few years have been such a rush and an unforgettable experience, it’s hard to believe that I’m just getting started!

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

To me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is falling in love with the details in the process. Especially, as a music producer, all the small things and details are SO important. Producing a song and having it come out the way you envisioned it is the most satisfying experience I’ve had. After hours and hours of experimenting, creating the final version of your art seems almost impossible. Even after completing and finishing a song, I still feel the need to pick at it, add or cut something. There’s endless possibilities when it comes to creating music. The perfectionist inside of me won’t let me sleep at night if I don’t record it exactly how I want it to come out.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I definitely wish I started making music years ago! I wish I was bolder and more social about my art! Of course there are a lot of things that I regret when it comes to this career path but I’m truly happy that I got started. I never knew how much fun I’d have and how much I’d learn about myself just from creating music.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamgirldre/?hl=en
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/22gt4AOhIY3MF7ESMcy8px?si=xCaa7I4QRVi3k6Jhha1faw

Image Credits

Myself (Andrea Nicole Anderson) (: