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

Jade , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Yes, I’m 100% happier as an artist, I suffocated trying to conform to a 9-5. Since college, I have flip-flopped back and forth from a professional career to an artistic one. On one hand, my mental health is so much better but it is hard to sustain work as a creator.

Last year was a rough one for me and I was at a crossroads I was saying to myself “Jade you’re 31 years old and you still haven’t had THE BIG BREAK!” Do I give it up or do I dive all in and recommit myself? I choose to leave the comfort of a 40-50K salaried job and benefits for my heart.

Do I regret it? no, Is it the hardest thing I’ve ever done? Yes

I transitioned from management and social media to bartender life on Broadway. I think if you truly have an artistic soul, your soul dies a little everytime you aren’t true to your passions.

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.

For those who don’t know me, I’m Jade your resident showgirl, actress, and filmmaker extraordinaire! I have been in the business for 10 years now here in Nashville. My goal as an actress is to bring femininity, beauty, and vulnerability to the screen for all of my roles to help portray Black women in a softer light in the media. As a writer, I have been writing plays and shorts my whole life. I started writing my projects when early on in my career I was having trouble being casted in anything because I didn’t fit the ” Black stereotype”. As a result of trying to get my stories told I became by accident a producer. Overall, I think I’m just a storyteller through different outlets. I love classic and old Hollywood films. I want my movies to be beautiful visuals and make the audience feel passionate and deeply as I do.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Recently, I had a project close to my heart fail, for a second time. Any entrepreneur knows that this road comes with many setbacks and few triumphs. As someone who usually puts projects together and seeks to give opportunities, the life of a leader can be lonely.

I constantly feel I breathe life into things that I can only lightly take part in because I have to oversee them. Last year, was probably the hardest of my life because I allowed my personal issues to guide my professional choices. I was the writer, director, producer, and lead of my first budgeted project. I did not take on all of these roles for the fun of it, I ran out of time to find the right crew for the small budget. I lead with insecurity and complete self-doubt, I, really, struggled with imposter syndrome last year which I don’t think is discussed enough in our industry.

I made the wrong choice of trying to be a part of the project “like an employee” instead of like the facilitator. So, because I was not able to show up for myself I was not able to show up for my team. Now, all projects have many issues and many faults as a result of different personalities and issues. However, I believe that the success of a project fully rests on the shoulders of its leader. Yes, it was a big job but I have had equally big jobs prior and handled it just fine. So, to see my dream fall apart AGAIN was soul-crushing and almost non-recoverable. My superpower is resilience and the power to press forward. The lesson I had to unlearn or yet relearn is to not enter a project with self-doubt, handle that first, and then go in standing in my full power and have confidence in my role.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I was raised to recognize when and how to pivot. My mama says ” You’re either coming out of something or getting ready to go through something and the only way to survive is to pivot. My daddy always says ” There’s always a way, you either go around it, on top of it, or straight through it.”

So, I have continued to exercise those teachings in my life. Currently, with my failed project I evaluated what I could have done better and what I can fix because that’s what is in my control. Next, I came up with a new plan that comes with A, B, and C options. Now, all that is left to do is continue to work on myself and prepare for the next phase!

What I would tell anyone artist or not, it is very important to take care of yourself first. Work on and heal the things that may be currently holding you back and it’s okay to fall down as long as you learn from it and get back up.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justjadeyyy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjadeyyy

Image Credits

Lacy Hartselle – Headshot picture

Rainy Marie – Black dress picture

Hannah McKellips – Flower picture

Olivia Salter – Close up picture