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

Jessica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Tenacity, Integrity, & curiosity. I would say talent too, but one can always learn a skill, and become successful and talented at something. It can be trained. Of course natural talent comes into play sometimes, but you must have the drive to want to continue on with your work, and the curiosity to start.Many people feel the need to answer their curiosity, I feel like it drives you into starting something in the first place, and if you’re not interested in doing it, why start it? Having integrity helps you complete or finish your task and carry out your dream when you lack in motivation or curiosity. I also think it important to have an open mind and allow yourself to network and share your goals and dreams, with others alike. Collaboration brings forth new growth and opportunities.

Jessica, 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 an entrepreneur with experience in creative arts, photography, dance, acting modeling, singing, songwriting, drawing, graphic design, makeup artistry and creative directing.
My passion is to bring my network of creative together to collaborate and create something through art. Bringing visuals to life and fruition.
I started at the age of five dancing and acting, and I’ve been in love with entertainment arts ever since.
One of my biggest inspirations has always been my dad and grandma as they grew up as artists and musicians.
I was always around music and art. I used to watch Shirley Temple movies all the time with my Nana and that’s how my interest sparked in the entertainment field.
Since then, it has helped me tremendously with understanding the entertainment industry with my experience in performing arts on stage presents camera work in front and behind the lens, and artistry.
I was always taught to have tenacity, strength , integrity and heart in anything I did. I still carry those qualities as I find them essential to be in the industry.
I think one of the biggest hurdles to overcome, was being a female in the industry, and not being heard.
That is what inspired me to share my singing, songwriting, and poetry with the world. They gave me an outlet to be me and be free.
What sets me apart from others is my capability to multitask to put 100% in anything that I do and my strength and resilience to move forward. Thanks to god. There have been many challenges being in the entertainment and arts industry, and I have learned to bounce back from anything!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Everyone has a purpose. I believe your purpose in life is to find your passion, share it with others and educate others and to grow.
One of my biggest pivoting moments came when I realized what it is I should be doing with my career and my passions versus just surviving. Everyone has a different vision further life, and everyone is all trying to reach the same goal of being stable being happy and living life. I used to work in the food and beverage industry and even though it was fun and sometimes hectic and stressful I made money, but I was miserable because I wasn’t doing something that I enjoyed.
I became depressed and questioned what to do with my life. I came to the point where I either chose to settle and make money and not have time to do the things that I love or to make time to do the things that I love into a career.
And even though it is not easy being a creative or a business owner, especially in today’s economy and society, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I wake up happy to do what I love and excited to do what I love and grateful.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

By turning this passion into a career ,& building up to where it now , was challenging , but worth it. I was left to question how do I go about finding clientele and building a network of individuals that are like-minded to create projects and tangible outcomes . I think one of the most important things as an entrepreneur in any business owner is to know your network is your net worth . Might sound cliché, but it is very true . When I decided, I wanted to continue on with the entertainment arts and industry, I had to allow myself some grace. I had to continue with resilience and tenacity, as I made opportunity for myself by putting myself into rooms of like-minded individuals and creatives building a network and having opportunities grow from that is one of the biggest Reasons, I am where I am today . Some key milestones …. I think most of all it is inspiration going to New York fashion week one year being invited to a Writing Camp another year another time I was nominated as new best artist for an award show, being on stage with lights in your face, and you being able to showcase your talent with the world, being published as a model or a make up artist in a magazine ,
Becoming totally immersed in the creative world as a creative Director or executive producer ….I think these are all key mild stones in my career in which were turning points for me as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://LinkTr.ee/j.anne.h
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.anne.h?igsh=MXJva3RhYWQxdGg1dA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artistjanne?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-hesselton-92795012a

Image Credits

@collinscollectives
@what_lulusees
@brionpricephotography
@shots_withbre
@bae_agency
@anointedvisionsphotography