We recently connected with Cheyanna Lavon Zubas and have shared our conversation below.

Cheyanna Lavon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Absolutely! Acting is something I have had a burning passion for since my first theater role as Goldilocks in Goldilocks and the Three Bears when I was just five years old. I still remember the crowd of people watching as I acted, sang and embraced the stage in costumes made by my loving grandmother.

I have always known that working in a “regular job” was not an option for me personally. As an artist I need the freedom of late nights or early mornings on set, collaborating with fellow artists whenever the opportunity strikes and not having the distractions and restrictions that a Monday through Friday job would bring. That being said, I am extremely grateful for the privilege and freedom of doing what I love for a living. This industry is not for everyone but acting truly fills my heart and soul, I could not imagine a life without it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a classically trained actor with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in the acting techniques of Konstantin Stanislavski, Sanford Meisner and Improvisation.

After moving to Los Angeles, CA from Atlanta, GA, my career has grown rapidly through my performances, training, on-set experience, tireless work ethic and love for the craft.

Most recently I can be found acting alongside Bailey Coppola in the film “Pay Phone” by Loreto Di Cesare. I have also appeared in productions including Marvel’s blockbuster film “Guardian’s of the Galaxy Vol.2” directed by James Gunn, Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim “Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace”, Netflix original film starring Kevin James ”True Memoirs of an International Assassin”, “State of Survival X The Walking Dead” by FunPlus and “Bring ‘Em Young” by Titus Richard.

As well as acting, I also work in the music and modeling industry.

With my career starting in musical theater, I have had a love for singing and music when I first sang for an audience at the age of five years old. Since then, I have learned how to play the piano, guitar and ukulele. My performance experience includes musical theater, studio sessions and live performances. I have most recently recorded with Multi-Platinum Music Producer, Ford of “Ford Productions”, for my house music single “Capture”. My musical training includes vocal, guitar and piano and through my training, I have achieved a four-octave vocal range.

My modeling career began over 10 years ago at a test photoshoot and grew into modeling for international publications, clothing companies, hair salons, runway and more.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I was still green in the film/television world I was doing everything I could to learn and succeed. This included hiring private coaches specifically for on-screen training, attending classes, workshops, many sessions of headshots, networking and creating reels. After building my experience, relationships and gaining these new materials I began to pursue an agent or manager. To my pleasant surprise, a large agency with an impressive client list agreed to meet with me. I flew across the country and took a deep breath (or two, or three) before entering their offices for what I thought would be a very successful meeting. It was quite the opposite. I left with a gut wrenching feeling after sitting through an hour of being told that I was not a fit, from my materials to my physical appearance. I was even told to shoot scenes looking as ugly as I possibly could so I wouldn’t be typecast as a “cheerleader” or “dumb blonde”. I politely thanked the agent for their time and left.

This experience could have definitely made me rethink my career path, I think most artists would have if they were in my shoes at the time. Instead, I took what this agent told me and used it as fuel to prove that I CAN do this and no matter who or what stands in my way, I will triumph and continue to make strides in my acting and art. The only thing that can ever stand in my way is myself.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is by far one of my favorite inspirational books and I urge everyone in this world to read it at least once.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cheyannalavonzubas.com/
• Instagram: @cheyannalavonzubas
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CheyannaLavonZubas
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cheyannalzubas?lang=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CheyannaLavonZubas
• Other: http://imdb.me/cheyannalavonzubas