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

Alright, Destiny Faith thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Moving to Los Angeles during the pandmeic was a big, life-changing risk for me but was the best decision I’ve made in a long time. I’m someone who is good at strategizing, planning, and coming up with big ideas, but I haven’t always been stellar at executing. I used to take big risks when I was younger because there was less to lose, however, the older I’ve become, the more cautious and careful I’ve learned to become. So moving to LA seemed to be something I could only do if I had “all of my ducks in a row”. The lockdown quickly demonstrated to me that if perfect alignment was the thing I was waiting for to take control of my life, then I’d be waiting for a long time, and I was tired of waiting. I was tired of living for other’s expectations of me and trying to fit into a box to remain comfortable. Comfortability left me complacent and stagnant, and itching to move forward but I wasn’t sure how. I’d wanted to move to LA for a long time because I remembered feeling so connected to that. environment having worked as a child actor when I lived in California before and hadn’t found that same connected feeling elsewhere. Someone told me that if I was running from something, it wouldn’t feel right. to move. She also said that if I was going because I thought I *should* go, that wouldn’t feel right either. However, she said when I was done growing where I was at, I would just feel it. I would know, and I would go – and she was right. The week I moved to LA, I booked my first national SAG-AFTRA commercial, I had signed with a commercial agent, theatrical agent, and a manager that really believed in me, and that year I booked a lead role in a SAG-AFTRA short that has gone on to win Diversity in Cannes! While these milestone accomplishments sound great, the most important accomplishments I’ve made since moving here has been connecting to who I am, who I want to be, and surrounding myself with like-minded people who feel like home. This and the way this tough city has forced me to step into a better and stronger version of myself is what has brought me closer to contentment and fulfillment. That’s something I might’ve missed out on had I not taken this risk. I could’ve remained stuck contemplating whether or not the feeling of wanting more would ever subside. I would’ve wondered if I was “too much” or “not enough”. I could’ve stayed safer and more comfortable with the discomfort of knowing deep-down inside that I’m not where I’m supposed to be, but consistently challenging myself with, “but what if I’m wrong.” I could’ve kept wondering, “what if”, but when the time came, I knew in my heart exactly where I wanted to be. And let me tell you, the journey from first moving here to now was messy and one of the hardest. parts of my life journey yet, but when I made the decision in my heart to do it – there was nothing but peace on my heart and certainty, and so I leapt – and that feeling of peace and knowing that I’m on the right track, still guides me this day.

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

My name is Destiny Faith Nelson and I am an actor and writer based in Los Angeles California. I got into the entertainment industry at a young age, being involved in music and dancing first. I became attracted to acting when I was 9 years old which began my professional acting career, but fell in love with it in high school theatre, going to a performing arts high school. Since high school, I’ve gone on to perform in local community plays and musicals, and indie films. You can catch me in Take Out Girl on Hulu, as an Nigerian Immigrant mother Imani in the Diversity in Cannes winning film Bienvenidos a Los Angeles, and in the festival running short film, “Blunt”. I’ve also acquired an enjoyment of filmmaking and so have begun the pursuit of writing and producing my own work having produced a short film and music videos. My aim is to use my platform to elevate untold stories, examine identity, challenge perspectives, and promote healing in our communities.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Moving to Los Angeles during the pandmeic was a big, life-changing risk for me but was the best decision I’ve made in a long time. I’m someone who is good at strategizing, planning, and coming up with big ideas, but I haven’t always been stellar at executing. I used to take big risks when I was younger because there was less to lose, however, the older I’ve become, the more cautious and careful I’ve learned to become. So moving to LA seemed to be something I could only do if I had “all of my ducks in a row”. The lockdown quickly demonstrated to me that if perfect alignment was the thing I was waiting for to take control of my life, then I’d be waiting for a long time, and I was tired of waiting. I was tired of living for other’s expectations of me and trying to fit into a box to remain comfortable. Comfortability left me complacent and stagnant, and itching to move forward but I wasn’t sure how. I’d wanted to move to LA for a long time because I remembered feeling so connected to that. environment having worked as a child actor when I lived in California before and hadn’t found that same connected feeling elsewhere. Someone told me that if I was running from something, it wouldn’t feel right. to move. She also said that if I was going because I thought I *should* go, that wouldn’t feel right either. However, she said when I was done growing where I was at, I would just feel it. I would know, and I would go – and she was right. The week I moved to LA, I booked my first national SAG-AFTRA commercial, I had signed with a commercial agent, theatrical agent, and a manager that really believed in me, and that year I booked a lead role in a SAG-AFTRA short that has gone on to win Diversity in Cannes! While these milestone accomplishments sound great, the most important accomplishments I’ve made since moving here has been connecting to who I am, who I want to be, and surrounding myself with like-minded people who feel like home. This and the way this tough city has forced me to step into a better and stronger version of myself is what has brought me closer to contentment and fulfillment. That’s something I might’ve missed out on had I not taken this risk. I could’ve remained stuck contemplating whether or not the feeling of wanting more would ever subside. I would’ve wondered if I was “too much” or “not enough”. I could’ve stayed safer and more comfortable with the discomfort of knowing deep-down inside that I’m not where I’m supposed to be, but consistently challenging myself with, “but what if I’m wrong.” I could’ve kept wondering, “what if”, but when the time came, I knew in my heart exactly where I wanted to be. And let me tell you, the journey from first moving here to now was messy and one of the hardest. parts of my life journey yet, but when I made the decision in my heart to do it – there was nothing but peace on my heart and certainty, and so I leapt – and that feeling of peace and knowing that I’m on the right track, still guides me this day.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In my view, I believe support for creatives in society comes comes through the threads of our systems, meaning our social and political systems. American society does not seem to appreciate the arts as much as they should. No, we’re not doing brain surgery, but we also must recognize and appreciate how art impacts society and is a huge aspect of our humanity. This I believe starts with including and expanding creative arts in our education system, not minimizing it as we are currently doing. Parents must recognize the value of arts and fight for it in their children’s schools. We have to include people who believe in the positive impact of arts in positions of power. We must consider those people when we vote. We have to reinvigorate people’s interest in seeing live theatre and having discussions about film and visual arts by keeping up with the times and finding innovative ways to engage. We must make art and arts education accessible as it is becoming (or perhaps has always been) a commodity for the privileged. If we do not, we will raise a generation of people who will not respect the arts and in turn will not pay for it appropriately. Artists are as important to society as many other professions, and American society needs to recognize that value and contribute to it accordingly.

Contact Info:

• Website: whoisdestinyfaith.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/imdestinyfaith

Image Credits
Stephanie Girard Richard Brusky