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

Hi Fredericka , thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Although I was raised in the arts, singing and dancing from a wee tot, with both of my parents heavily involved in the music industry, I never really considered pursuing this professionally until my senior year in college. I was never specifically told this, but I had it in my mind that college was mandatory, with literal jail time if one didn’t go to college right after high school! I remember senior year, one of my friends told me she was taking a semester off after graduation to work My response to her was “Oooh! you’re going to get in trouble with the government!” True story. When I told my papi about that he had a good laugh, but didn’t say I was wrong, Hmm. Lol. So, fast forward to the summer after graduating from college. I moved to Los Angeles to go to law school. I filled out my financial aid paperwork incorrectly (perhaps subconsciously on purpose?) and had to defer the law school scholarship I received for a year. During that year I auditioned for and was selected to be on a dance scholarship with Jackie Sleight, a very well known choreographer in the dance world. I took 18 dance classes a week while I studied to retake the LSAT, hoping to get a better score. I did indeed score higher my second go-round on the LSAT, and I also cemented my love for dance. I finished the dance scholarship and subsequently retracted my law school scholarship…the rest is mystory (hee hee)

Fredericka , 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?

I am what is called a multi-hyphenate performer. I am a singer, actor, dancer, writer and comedienne. I started this journey at the tender age of 5, when I received a slot on my fathers radio show called “Children’s Corner”, where I talked about various issues facing 5 year olds and even interviewed some adults. Since then I’ve acted in over 15 commercials, done guest parts on television and movies and toured as a performer across the United States and the world, What do I provide? As an actor/performer, I provide an escape, be it through humor, sadness/emotion, anger, I allow you to leave your reality for a while.
I have many inspirations. Billie Holiday, Dorothy Dandridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth, Josephine Baker and Fredi Washington, to name a few. These women are pioneers and trailblazers, and without them I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.
My mission is to continue to create. For as along as I live, I want to be able to utilize my God-given talents to the best of my ability.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Bring back the arts as mandatory instruction in all schools. Studies have shown the benefits of arts education for years. students in the arts or athletics consistently outperform their peers in STEM subjects. Children who have arts education have better relaxation methods and better focus in school.

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

One thing we creatives have to learn very early on is that our business is more about rejection than acceptance. The art of knowing who you are, what you have to offer, and how special your art is helps make rejection less personal. Sometimes, though, it definitely feels like the rejection is personal. One of my first jobs in entertainment as an adult (well, I was 19, does that count as adult? lol) was singing and dancing in a musical theater-esque monster show at a theme park. There were 5 roles and 7 or 8 people all hired for the same part, because of what was called “multi-casting”. At the end of the rehearsal period, 2 people would be hired as “full-time” performers, 1 would be hired as “part-time” and the others would be ranked as “alternates”, that would work when the full-time and part-time performers had other jobs, or auditions, etc.

I was rehearsing for 3 weeks with people who had done broadway, touring, and starred on TV and Film. To say I was intimidated was an understatement. However, it seemed like the director of the show really liked me, even though I was brand spanking new and very shy. Throughout the rehearsal process, I kept hearing buzz that I was being considered for the part-time position, which made me absolutely giddy.

After rehearsals ended, the list came out. I scrambled to find my name. Full-time? No. Part-time? No. I ran my finger alllllll the way down to 3rd alternate…there I was.

I. WAS. DEVASTATED. I thought the director liked me! I went home to my mom and literally cried in her arms. She thought someone had died. When I could stop blubbering and told her that nobody died, except for maybe my spirit, she told me I was beautiful (which, is in her mommy contract), and that this was not the end of the world. I will go in, do my shows, and learn. and I did just that…after pouting a bit longer haha.

In retrospect, that first rejection really set me up to believe even more in myself. I know that director liked me and we are great friends to this day. I consider her a mentor. She knew that I wasn’t quite ready for the responsibility of being in a full-time position and wanted to ease me into it.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://FrederickaMeek.com
• Instagram: @FrederickaPatricia
• Facebook: Fredericka Patricia Meek
• Twitter: @FrederickaMeek
• Other: linktr.ee/frederickameek

Image Credits
Headshots – Joanna DeGeneres Photography