We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angela Choe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angela below.

Angela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I have ever taken was choosing to fully bet on myself as an independent artist.

A few years ago, I was working a comfortable corporate job. It was stable, predictable, and on paper, it made sense. I had security, routine, and the kind of structure that most people are taught to hold onto. But deep down, I knew I was living only one version of myself. There was this very persistent part of me that wanted to create, perform, move, model, express, and build something of my own. I knew I was an artist, but I also knew that choosing that path meant stepping away from comfort and into the unknown.

So I made a plan. I saved as much money as I could, prepared myself mentally, and eventually made the decision to leave my corporate job and pursue life as a full-time artist, model, and performer. It felt terrifying, but it also felt honest. I knew it was a risk, but I believed that if I was ever going to find out what I was truly capable of, I had to give myself the chance to try.

Then, shortly after I took that leap, life threw me something I never expected. My bank account was compromised, and I lost everything I had saved.

It was devastating. I had already taken this huge step away from stability, and suddenly the safety net I had worked so hard to build was gone. I remember thinking, “Okay, this is real now.” It was no longer just a dream or an idea. It became a sink-or-swim moment. I had to decide whether I was going to let fear send me running back to what was familiar, or whether I was going to become even more committed to the life I said I wanted.

I chose to keep going.

That season changed me. I had to hunker down, grit my teeth, and take myself seriously in a way I never had before. I threw myself into learning everything I could about the industry—not just what happens in front of the camera, but what happens behind it. I studied modeling, acting, movement, performance, creative direction, branding, production, networking, and the business side of being an independent artist. I became a student of everything. I said yes to opportunities whether they were free, paid, small, big, glamorous, or completely unglamorous. If there was something to learn, I wanted to be there.

There were plenty of early mornings, long days, uncertain months, and moments where I questioned everything. The work was not always consistent, and the path was not always clear. But I was stubborn in the best way. I knew what I wanted, and I knew that if I was going to build a life around my artistry, I had to be willing to sacrifice, start over, and become the kind of person who could hold the vision even when the circumstances did not yet reflect it.

At the same time, I quickly learned that ambition alone was not enough. This industry can be beautiful, but it can also be difficult. It can test your confidence, your identity, your patience, and your sense of self. I realized that if I did not take care of my mental health, my mindset, and my personal growth, I could easily lose myself trying to become something. So part of the risk was not just pursuing the dream—it was learning how to stay grounded while pursuing it.

I had to rewire the way I saw myself. I had to let go of the version of me that only knew security through a traditional path, and I had to learn how to create security within myself. I had to trust my instincts, build discipline, and find balance between working hard and staying connected to my own peace. I had to learn that being an artist is not just about what you create; it is also about who you become in the process.

Looking back, that risk changed the entire direction of my life.

It led me to some of the most beautiful opportunities, collaborations, and experiences I have ever had. I have met incredible artists, creatives, photographers, performers, and people who have expanded my world in ways I never could have imagined. I get to create, move, express, and tell stories through my body, my presence, and my art. That makes me feel deeply alive.

Of course, it is not always easy. There are still ups and downs. There are still seasons of uncertainty. But even with all of that, I would not trade this life for the world. The risk was worth it because it brought me closer to myself. It taught me resilience, discipline, faith, and self-trust. It taught me that sometimes losing the safety net forces you to become your own foundation.

Taking a chance on myself was scary, but it was also the most honest thing I have ever done. And because of that choice, I wake up every day knowing that I am building a life that actually belongs to me.

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

For those who may be meeting me for the first time, my name is Angela Choe, and I am an independent artist, model, actress, and creative storyteller. My work lives at the intersection of movement, emotion, visual artistry, sustainability, and impact. I see art as more than something beautiful to look at. To me, art is a language. It can inspire, provoke thought, open conversations, and bring light to issues that deserve more attention.

I came into this industry by taking a chance on the part of myself that always knew I was meant to create. Before pursuing artistry full-time, I worked in a more structured corporate world. That chapter gave me discipline, professionalism, and a strong understanding of business, but I always felt a deeper pull toward creativity, movement, and storytelling. Eventually, I reached a point where I knew I had to listen to that calling. I made the decision to leave comfort behind and build a life rooted in art, expression, and purpose.

Today, my work spans modeling, acting, movement-based storytelling, creative direction, brand collaborations, and visual campaigns. Depending on the project, that can look like editorial modeling, commercial work, artistic shoots, movement visuals, brand storytelling, or helping bring a creative concept to life through presence, emotion, and intention. I love projects that have depth — work that is cinematic, thoughtful, elegant, and meaningful.

I have had the opportunity to work with brands such as DJI Global and Adidas, and I also work closely with Alan Semsar, a CEO connected to the world of luxury brands and private jet aviation. Being in these spaces has taught me the value of excellence, refinement, and vision, but it has also made me even more aware of the responsibility artists and brands have when creating. I am very intentional about the companies, concepts, and collaborations I align myself with, and sustainability is something I always keep at the forefront when it comes to the brands I work with.

What I provide is more than simply showing up in front of a camera. I bring movement, emotional intelligence, professionalism, creative instinct, and a deep understanding of visual storytelling. I care about the full picture: the message, the mood, the concept, the environment, the audience, and the feeling that remains after someone experiences the work. Whether I am modeling, performing, or collaborating creatively, my goal is always to help transform an idea into something people can feel.

I think what sets me apart is that I do not approach my work as just posing, performing, or creating beautiful imagery. I approach it as storytelling with intention. I want my work to leave an impact. I want it to inspire people, but I also want it to make them think. Some stories are meant to feel soft and graceful. Others are meant to challenge us, reflect something back to us, or bring awareness to something deeper. I am drawn to that balance — beauty with substance, elegance with meaning, art with a message.

My brand, Artistry in Motion, is a very honest reflection of who I am. Movement is central to my work, but it is also symbolic of how I see life. We are always evolving, healing, growing, and becoming. My artistry is rooted in that sense of motion — physically, emotionally, and creatively. I believe in creating work that feels alive, work that carries both strength and softness, and work that connects to something human.

What I am most proud of is that I built this path from the ground up. I took a risk, started over, and chose to create a life that felt aligned with who I truly am. There were no shortcuts. I had to learn the industry, study my craft, build relationships, develop confidence, and grow not only as an artist, but as a person. I am proud that I kept going through uncertainty and that I have stayed connected to my heart and purpose throughout the process.

I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that my work comes from a real place. I care deeply about what I create and who I create with. I value beauty, but I also value responsibility. I value professionalism, but I also value soul. Whether I am working with a global brand, collaborating with a luxury client, performing through movement, or creating my own artistic concepts, my intention is always to bring depth, elegance, authenticity, and impact.

At the heart of everything I do is the desire to make people feel something. I want my work to remind people that art can be refined and raw, soft and powerful, inspiring and thought-provoking. That duality is a big part of who I am, and it is a big part of what I bring to every project.

You can find more of my work on Instagram and TikTok at @angelachoeartistry, and through my website, www.angelachoe.art
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Is there mission driving your creative journey?

At the core of everything I do is the desire to create work that has meaning, but also to bring other artists and creators together in the process. I truly believe that I am only as great as the team around me. To create something cinematic, emotional, professional, and impactful, it takes a village. It takes photographers, videographers, writers, directors, filmmakers, models, actors, hair and makeup artists, stylists, audio teams, lighting teams, editors, and so many other hands and hearts behind the scenes.

I would not be where I am without the people beside me. Every person involved in a creative project brings something important to the final piece. Their eye, their energy, their expertise, their patience, their imagination — it all matters. My mission is not only to create art, but to create spaces where people feel seen, valued, respected, and inspired to bring their best work forward.

That is especially important to me because in a world where big companies and corporate brands often take up so much space, smaller artists and independent creatives can easily be overlooked. There is so much talent in the world that never gets seen simply because it does not always have the biggest platform or the loudest backing. I want to help change that in whatever way I can. I want my work and my brand to create opportunities, connection, and visibility for other artists.

A big part of my mission is also to inspire people to go after the life that feels true to them. I want people to think about the bigger picture of their own lives. What does it mean to live fully? What does it mean to live with intention? What does it mean to choose a path that feels aligned with your soul, even if it does not look traditional or easy?

Through my work, I want to remind people that creativity can be both beautiful and purposeful. It can inspire, but it can also make you pause and reflect. It can bring emotion, awareness, and light to deeper issues. My storytelling is not just about creating something visually appealing. It is about creating something that leaves an impact.

I also care deeply about the environment and energy I create on set and in collaboration. I want people to feel safe, respected, and free to express themselves. When artists feel supported, they create differently. There is more honesty, more connection, and more soul in the work. To me, that is where the magic really happens.

Ultimately, I want to lead with light, love, integrity, and intention. I want to show people that you can stay true to who you are, protect your spirit, and still build something successful. You do not have to lose yourself to make it. You do not have to “sell your soul” to be seen. You can create from an honest place, build with good people, and still make work that is powerful, elevated, and lasting.

That is the mission behind my creative journey: to create meaningful art, build community, elevate others, and inspire people to live a life that feels deeply and authentically their own.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I grew up as a military brat in an immigrant family, and we did not come from much. There were seasons where life felt very uncertain, and from a young age, I understood what it meant to go without. Both of my parents worked long hours, so I spent a lot of time alone and had to learn how to take care of myself emotionally much earlier than most children should have to.

On top of that, I was bullied a lot growing up. Coming from an immigrant family and being different in the spaces I was in made me an easy target at times. I experienced racism, judgment, and moments where I felt like I did not fully belong anywhere. Some of that pain even showed up in places that should have felt safe, including within family dynamics. When you are young and you are constantly made to feel “other,” it can really shape the way you see yourself.

For a long time, I thought being different was something I had to survive. I thought I had to toughen up, stay quiet, and just keep going. And in many ways, I did have to grow up quickly. I had to become strong before I even fully understood what strength was.

But as I got older, I realized that being different was not a weakness. It was actually one of the things that gave me depth. It gave me perspective. It gave me empathy. It taught me how to see people beyond the surface because I knew what it felt like to be misunderstood, judged, or overlooked.

That is where a lot of my resilience comes from. It is not just that I went through difficult things. It is that I made a decision not to let those things make me bitter. I chose to use them as fuel. I chose to let them make me more compassionate, more determined, and more intentional with the way I move through the world.

There is a certain kind of strength that comes from having to rebuild your confidence from the inside out. I had to learn that my voice mattered. I had to learn that my story mattered. I had to learn that the parts of me people once criticized or misunderstood could become the very things that made me powerful as an artist.

Now, when I create, I carry all of that with me. My background, my identity, my pain, my growth, my softness, and my strength all live inside my work. I think that is why storytelling matters so much to me. I know what it feels like to want to be seen, and I want my work to create that feeling for others.

Resilience, to me, is not about pretending things did not hurt. It is about choosing to keep your heart open anyway. It is about taking the things that were meant to break you and allowing them to become part of your purpose. My journey taught me that being different can become a beacon. It can become a way to lead, to connect, and to inspire others to keep going, no matter what obstacles are in front of them.

I am proud of the fact that I am still soft after everything. I am proud that I can still create from love. I am proud that I can look back at the little girl who felt alone, misunderstood, and out of place, and know that she became someone who uses her story to bring light to others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://angelachoe.art
• Instagram: angelachoeartistry

Image Credits

Photographers
Diamond: The Eye Visuals
Lloyd Farris: Photographers2Go
Stefan
Biggy Snaps

Hair and Makeup:
Fries Dyes
Mercedes Hernandez
Beauty by Ash
Designs by:
Maceoo Paris
Anne Fontaine
Haus of VanGaudy by Dae Thomas
Thrybel by Lex