We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Azizi Donnelly a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Azizi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
The short answer is NO i have not always made a full time living as a model and actress. I’ve been modeling since I was 17 and now I am 27 and am making a full time living! it’s taken ten years! i say that to be fully transparent not pessimistic, in fact I am an extremely optimistic person! You really need to be to make it in this industry for the long term. The biggest thing that kept me going was all the “small” wins, the signs that I was on the right path along the way. The jobs along the way, the things that made me know this is what I want and need to be doing right now at least. I think for me when I turned 23 and got sober i became way more responsible and more of a business women about my creative craft that’s when things really shifted for me. i also strongly believe growing as a person, having confidence in who you are while also being reliable, kind, punctual all the things you do in a “normal” job that’s what is required for a career in the creative fields. There is no room for a diva anymore not that I ever was but I think at one point when there was only 10 models and 10 top actors the industry glorified that, not anymore. As an Actress I’ve done so many classes, courses, private trainings, workshops you name it I probably did it. The thing that has helped me see a huge shift in my career is working through my life and working on my self has allowed me to show up in my career fully as myself, with deep self worth and confidence and excitement to try things! I’m no longer trying to do what I think casting wants to see from me, I bring my own flare and it either is it or not it but when you try to be what you think they want you to be it makes you blend in and diluted your spark then your just another cork in the cork yard.. that takes time and I’ll continue to grow and evolve I know that but that’s something no class or course could teach me just time, life, and not giving up. shifting YES but not giving up. there is always a new challenge and I’ve learned once I I work through that I receive my next break through. Also lastly not having an ego about what jobs I did and sometimes still do! I’d rather be working then not working! i feel into things but not eveything I do is the big big stuff. We all start somewhere, have to build and make a living. Things change month to month. Keep it real with yourself. You never know why something has come into your life and what that will lead too! don’t let your ego block your path, keep it moving don’t over think that.. work in the inside first, feeling and believing it’s yours already then go out and wow the world by being fully authentically your amazing self. Be kind and on time and you will always be brought back. Creative jobs are normal jobs. Act as if.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am an Australian born Lebanese Model, Actress and producer. I do many things but they are my main focus points. I moved to the USA at 18 by myself with no work lined up, no Visa just my savings I had from my jobs in Australia. Not fully knowing what I wanted to do but I wanted more. To make a long story short after a year of traveling from NYC To AUS trying to get an agency to sponsor my visa getting rejected many times I landed on my first agency at FORD models Miami. I spent three months in India building my book and getting work, tear sheets to file for my first work visa in the US. Fastworward that landed my in LA with FORD Models La. That was 7 years ago, in those 7 years I have been a host, cleaner, Uber driver, baby sitter, personal trainer, agent, assistant, barista, and so much more I’m probably forgetting! AND some I’m not ready to talk about publicly that I will one day. I say that because it’s been a journey to be able to live fully from just modeling and acting but I have been here now for a couple years and that feels amazing, I am now transitioning into producing and entrepreneurialship ( if that’s even a word) because it’s never enough right?! We want one thing get it then on to the next. It’s never what we think it will be. It never full fills us, it constantly shifts and changed and the why is always evolving. the more and more I am good with myself and my life the less I need from others, from the entertainment industry. There are things and goals I learnt and would like but don’t need them anymore.. and oddly in that energy more seems to be flowing my way. I have worked with clients from Louis Vuitton,Pat McGrath, Milani, Neutrogena, ELLE, GRAZIA, Addidas, Urban Decay and so much more. In my modeling Career. As an actress I have worked on several independent projects and studio films such as Life time Tv, paramount studios and ABC network.
My Goal now in my career and all my pursuits is so be seen fully as myself for all that I believe in, to add value to others in all that I sign on to do and to live a life I truly enjoy. Not a life that looks like I enjoy to others but a life I truly enjoy when no one is looking.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
You have to think like an entrepreneur as a creative. Investing in my mental health, spiritual and personal development has been the KEY to my success I believe. That shifted everything for me. I took a corse in 2022 By Kathrin Zenkina called MBA the manifestation Babe Academy and you know what? Yes I was embarrassed for so long to say the name out of fear of being judged but it was what I needed and it helped me so much! it’s took me so deep and opened up doors for me to work on my self further, I then explored breath-work, plant medicine, non traditional therapy, energy work, and so much more. ALL of these investments in myself as keys to my happiness and to my success for me they go hand in hand. My energy attracts my success it starts from within. i went years hustling and willing everything and only got so far and was destroying my body and my soul without even knowing. when I made that shift over a year ago about how I approach my life, my self and all my work, my entire life changed truly.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
i have so many. I have had moments having minus 0 in my bank account, family 14 hours away and not being legally allowed to work in the US outside of modeling, and I had to get so creative to make it work, to not give up, to stay here, to keep going. This all lead me to feel so damn grateful for all that I do have now.
I got rejected for 12 months stressful before I got my first modeling agency.
I went 4 years with not one call back in Acting yes through the pandemic and also after, I was in a really toxic relationship and that was heavily effecting my energy after I made some hard but important changes I start working, booking, getting call backs again! It all started to flow. Once I took so seriously who and what I let into my life into my energy. What words I speak and staying in an abundance mindset. It’s all made up, it’s all in the mind. Not many people think that way so it can be lonely at times too.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azizi__donnelly/
Image Credits
CHRISTOPHER CLOUD, DAVID PAUL LARSON, SHANNON STUTENROTH, MATT LEE MORGAN, CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ