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

Anja, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

The first time I became interested in an artistic pathway was as a teenager; however, I never thought to pursue it professionally at this time, as a stable financial career was the most important goal. My first acting experience was with the school theatre group, and we had various performances on stage from when I was 14 till 18 years old. Being a little shy, I enjoyed being on stage, expressing myself, and playing characters absolutely unimaginable in real life. The audience often complimented my performances and said they would never expect that of such a quiet person like me. For me, it was like transforming into somebody else, which was one of the most joyful experiences. Other than that, there weren’t a lot of acting opportunities in a small city while growing up.
So at university I studied industrial design to put my drawing skills to use and also at this time had the long-term goal of a more financially stable income. However, at university, I took a photography course and photographed models to initially learn more about photography. As some other photographer students encouraged me, I tried to be a model at the workshop just for fun and realised that I enjoyed it much more than being behind the camera. At this time, it was merely a fun hobby which then led to the first paid photoshoots over time. The more experienced I got, the more successes it brought me, and so I decided to pursue modeling as a career. So there wasn’t one specific moment that caused me to decide to pursue a creative pathway professionally; it was the journey that led to it over time. In addition to being a model, I also moved abroad and studied acting at the William Davis Centre for Actors Study in Vancouver. I did not think this was a business, just a hobby that I enjoyed and would undertake in my spare time. Little did I know then that I would be travelling the world doing what I love doing.

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

As a veteran of the entertainment industry for over a decade, originally from Germany, I have been working as a model for numerous prestigious brands, ad campaigns and commercials in Europe, Australia, Singapore and Canada, and this year, in 2025, I just moved to Los Angeles in the USA.

I have modeled for fashion e-commerce, catalogues, and lifestyle brands, including Lug Bags, Ukiyo Co yoga clothing, Singapore Airlines, and many more. The majority of my expertise is in numerous videos and commercials for iconic brands like Siemens, HP (Hewlett-Packard), and Pinkberry Canada. As a hairstyling model I worked at various hair education events for ghd hair and Oribe hair, with celebrity hair artists including Michael Beel, Alan White, and Joey George.

Because of the way the industry has changed during the pandemic, I put most of my energy and focus into creating content for a social media app called Bigo Live, contracted by a modeling agency. I joined in March 2019, but only since the pandemic in March 2020 have I been in full force and focus, gaining popularity through large events on the platform. With the challenging times of Covid-19, most of my modeling work, photoshoots and castings got completely cancelled! Like many, I lost my job, and it was terrifying. With countless hours and effort, I was able to grow my income and success on Bigo and make a living from the comfort of my home, socially distanced but yet connected to the world virtually through my screen. Due to the lockdown, I had all the extra time to focus and study the app and master it to a level that is only possible with all the extra hours I was able to put in. Similar like my own TV show, I get creative hosting various broadcasts, talk shows, virtual fashion shows, live drawings, etc.

I am most proud that I could turn the initial side hustle into my main source of income and even have earned status as the most acclaimed BIGO Live host in Canada by winning multiple awards. Due to Covid-19, the 2020 and 2021 Gala Awards were held entirely virtually. In July 2022, when I was based in Toronto, Canada, I got flown into the US and awarded “Champion of North America” at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood for the BIGO Awards Gala 2022. For the 2025 awards ceremony, held at the prestigious Marina Bay Sands, Sands Theatre in Singapore, I won the award ‘Top 4 Broadcaster of North America’ and posed for numerous pictures on the red carpet. Additionally, I won the preliminary rounds for Miss Bigo International, scored ‘Champion Miss Bigo North America Top 1’ and was on billboards in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in April 2025. I was flown to the Miss Bigo International Finale in Vietnam in April 2025, representing the North America region along with 1st runner-up Tu Nguyen as the two North American finalists at the global beauty pageant. I walked the runway in gorgeous evening gowns and on stage performed an inspiring poem about what it means to be “beautiful”.

Those were such exciting and unforgettable milestones: I received prize money, paid flights, accommodation, and a trophy or a sash. During the pandemic, Bigo was all about being socially distanced broadcasting remotely at home, and now it has transitioned to incorporate in-person red carpet events and on-stage performances, like a journey “from screen to stage” while connecting with the community and meeting them in person.

Over the past few years after the pandemic, modeling and acting projects also picked up again after a while. Now I have the freedom to broadcast remotely from home and can make my own schedule for the most part, and it allows a lot of flexibility to make time for modeling shoots and castings.

I am a model, host, and mentor. I also support and teach other hosts on the platform. I like to pass on my years of experience and share tips and knowledge with other creators. You can find a contact link to submit questions on my website, and I will guide you on how to become a paid broadcaster.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me is the success of winning, i.e., working as a model for a big-name brand or winning an award. This happens often after times of challenging journeys of ups and downs, of countless rejections in casting and auditions, and of questioning yourself at times. Yet with perseverance and consistency, I was able to get stronger, more resilient and more competitive.
With a curious heart, I was fortunate to have worked on four continents, experiencing cultures and languages and embracing the challenge to adapt and learn. I have been blessed to have worked for numerous iconic big-name brands’ ads and commercials; for example, sitting in the prototype of Singapore Airlines, learning archery and tennis on set or filming at stunning locations such as Gardens by the Bay in Singapore were such exciting experiences. Over time I gained success and popularity through large competitions on the app Bigo, and I, among the top broadcasters in each region worldwide, got honored with trophies, paid flights, accommodation, prize money, in-app fame medals and badge rewards. This year alone I won a paid trip to Singapore in January for the Annual Bigo Awards to accept my award on stage and to Vietnam in April for the Miss Bigo International pageant to represent North America on a global stage.
It was such an exciting and unforgettable milestone: It was my first time ever visiting Vietnam. After I arrived at my hotel, I went for a walk, and I couldn’t believe my eyes seeing myself larger than life on numerous billboards in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This victory is not just about a title or a sash – it’s a symbol of a strong, empowered global community and the strength and resilience of many women who are challenging stereotypes and chasing their dreams. I am beyond grateful for all the opportunities, the gala awards celebrations that bring the global community together and the travel worldwide, and it truly feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. An award isn’t just a trophy; it’s a testament to the journey: the challenges conquered, the power of collaboration, passion, and perseverance.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I truly believe that what you do for work should bring you joy and not just a salary to survive. I don’t believe in the ‘living for the weekend and hating Mondays’ culture. I’m a model at heart. I believe that when you enjoy what you are doing, success will follow. Most of the time I get to work, I enjoy it or even love it, and I also don’t mind it when it’s odd or long hours. In fact, I prefer working night owl hours because I am more productive at midnight. Indeed, oftentimes it occurred to me that non creatives will struggle to understand my drive and desire to work, especially when it’s extremely long hours. Some people are not able to relate at all, as they simply work for a pay cheque and wait to live for their paid vacation days to enjoy their days off work.
Long hours late at night or at weekends are especially hard to understand for non creatives, who wouldn’t work on a Sunday unless it would pay overtime. As a creative, I tend to be extreme at times and am excited to work on a project on set for long hours or to compete in a broadcaster competition streaming 15+ hours a day, completely forgetting that it’s actually a Sunday, just laser-focused on winning a competition or progressing in my achievements. With a clear vision and when you truly believe in your ability to succeed, you will, and you can achieve extraordinary results. Once you experience how powerful your mindset is, you realise just how much you’re truly capable of.
However, some people were also inspired by my work ethic to also aim to find a job that they enjoy and that aligns with their purpose. They admire the ambition and told me that I am the only person they know personally who actually likes to work. I absolutely understand that being financially able to live a good life has to come first, and for many their job isn’t necessarily a dream job. But it’s all a journey, and the goal should be to accomplish the best of both worlds: a well-paid career that also brings joy. Diversifying income sources to reduce financial risk can be an approach as well. It doesn’t have to be a creative career, as that’s clearly not for everyone, but I can only recommend finding something that speaks to you personally and brings you joy and fulfilment with positive energy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anjameyers.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anjameyers/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anjameyerspage

Image Credits

-First man photo and Fashion ecommerce photos: Jules Oille
-Bigo Gala Awards and Miss Bigo International Photos: Bigo Live