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

Ashley Nadine, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have always loved performing; I recently found a pre-school project that said I wanted to be a singer and dentist which is hilarious but it proved to me that I always wanted to perform and make a difference in people’s lives. I always found any opportunity I could to perform growing up and when I moved to a new state in middle school, there were even more opportunities to perform. It wasn’t until high school that I realized that this was a career that I not only wanted but that was possible. I decided I want to to study musical theatre in college; as a lower income student, I was given 3 college applications for free and so I applied to 2 in NYC and 1 in my home state of Pennsylvania. When I arrived at my first college audition, I quickly realized that I was a small fish in a big pond- many of the other prospective students had years of dance and voice lessons, professional headshots and were auditioning at 10-20 schools all over the country. After not getting into my dream school, I went undecided but felt completely lost. I ended up studying English and Women’s & Gender studies, but a small voice in me always knew that performing was what I really wanted to do. I interned in the theater world and eventually a year after graduating, I fully dove into a Tv and Film career. I learned everything from zero about how to have a successful on-camera career; took every unpaid job I could and asked as many questions as I could. Now roughly 7 years later, I’m going just that- having booked several commercials, films and my first TV booking!

Ashley Nadine, 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?

After graduating from college, I felt extremely confused on my direction in my career. I had never let go of my connection to performance, but not getting into college for musical theater, my confidence really took a hit. Turns out it was a redirection because I discovered a passion for women’s and gender studies. I had the fortunate opportunity to intern for an NGO at the United Nations supporting girls rights. It exposed me to a deep passion for global women’s and girl’s rights – which left me confused with how I could make an impact in the world while pursuing an acting career. I thought I had to choose so after taking a year to decide, I dove into acting classes. I started reading everything I could about the business of acting, took my first set of professional headshots, set up my acting profiles for auditions, and worked through a whole lot of imposter syndrome. I knew I needed to learn as much as I could so I took as much acting work as I could, mostly unpaid at the start. While on set, I asked every actor I could about where they took class and the resources they were using in their careers. I kept taking action and learning although, I was terrified and felt so behind – who was I to call myself an actor? But I remember after about 2 years into this journey, something clicked; if I was going to give this a real shot, I needed to stand firmly in my decision to pursue this career so I did. I’ve never looked back! And after a couple of years, I realized I had left something valuable behind, my passion for women’s rights and elevating women’s voices. That’s when I founded Life Curious Women which started as a podcast in 2022, centered on women of all backgrounds sharing about their personal journeys pursuing their passions in order to fulfill their purpose. Life Curious Women has grown into a learning community for multi-passionate, ambitious women looking to grow, learn and take action. We offer our podcast, NYC women’s events and we are headed on our first retreat to Guatemala March 7th-15th 2025. We help women build the courage to live their most purpose-driven life! So in the end, I have found a way to combine all of my own personal passions and create my own unique career path- turns out I didn’t have to choose. I want to help others realize that we can all lean into our curiosities and passions, that we don’t have to limit ourselves and that we are all able to do things that scare us, even if we aren’t clear on the exact path to get there. I went from not getting into my dream musical theater school to having an agent, manager, multiple commercial/film bookings and this year, my first TV role. Plus- creating my own platform and community supporting women and helping make a real impact in the world. If there is anything calling your name, this is your sign to lean into that curiosity.

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

This past year, I went through a transformative wellness journey that reshaped not only my health but also my career and creativity. It’s often said that mental and physical health are the foundation of everything, but I truly experienced what can happen when you make them a priority.

For most of my teenage and college years, I struggled with anxiety and depression, though I didn’t have the language to fully understand what I was going through at the time. After college, I sought therapy, and after a few years, I decided to try anti-depressants. They were a tremendous help, and after three years, I felt ready to come off them.

But during that time, I noticed my physical health was declining. As someone who had relied on genetics and being an athlete growing up, I had never learned how to properly fuel my body. When my doctor raised concerns about my health, I was faced with a choice: make significant lifestyle changes or start new medications. Around the same time, I began noticing signs of ADHD—something that runs in my family. After reading about how ADHD often presents in women and girls, I realized that many of my lifelong struggles might stem from it. Women are frequently misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression when the root cause is undiagnosed ADHD. Sure enough, I was diagnosed shortly after.

This marked the beginning of a deep commitment to prioritizing my well-being. I worked with a dietitian and a fitness coach, learning how to take care of my body in a way I never had before. Slowly but surely, I started feeling better—physically and mentally. Within months, my doctor confirmed my health had fully normalized, and over the past year, I’ve made incredible progress. I’ve also embraced living and working with ADHD rather than fighting against it. It’s an ongoing journey, but one I’m grateful to be on.

The results of this commitment to myself have been undeniable. This year, I’ve had the most successful year of my career to date: my first TV role, eight commercial acting bookings, and the launch of new community offerings for Life Curious Women, including our upcoming retreat in Guatemala. I’ve learned that everything starts with you. When you’re deeply connected to your mind and body, every other part of your life has the chance to thrive. Resilience isn’t just about pushing through challenges—it’s about pausing, recalibrating, and committing to yourself so you can show up fully in every area of your life.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. My creative journey is driven by a mission to empower women, especially women of color, to live purpose-driven, multifaceted lives and most importantly make them feel seen. Through my work as a creative, actor, and founder of Life Curious Women, I aim to inspire others to embrace their passions, pursue personal growth, and redefine what it means to live a fulfilled life.

I deeply believe in the power of connection—connection to oneself, to others, and to the world around us. This belief fuels everything I do, whether it’s creating meaningful stories on screen, hosting transformative retreats, or fostering conversations that encourage women to step into their full potential.

For me, creativity is not just about expression; it’s about transformation. It’s about giving people the tools, courage, and inspiration to take action in their own lives. At the heart of it all is the idea that when women feel confident and connected to their purpose, they have the power to create extraordinary ripple effects—in their communities, their careers, and beyond.

This mission keeps me grounded and motivates me to keep showing up in every facet of my work, no matter the challenges.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleynadinelopez/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynadinelopez?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Other: https://lifecuriouswomen.myflodesk.com/lifecuriouswomen

Image Credits

Suburban Photography
Curated Creations