We were lucky to catch up with Mandi Monday recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mandi , appreciate you joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

As a creative person, I’ve learned that if you don’t speak up for what you want, how you want to be viewed, or what you’re trying to accomplish, people will dictate it for you. I believe many creatives are judged for knowing what they want and being assertive about it. In my experience, if you aren’t cutthroat about your goals, you’ll fade into the background.

Mandi , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

From a young age, I expressed creativity. I danced for 13 years with the goal of becoming a prima ballerina. However that dream became unrealistic as I grew into my body. I was involved in piano lessons growing up, and choir, so music always played a big part in my upbringing.
In high school I was very active in my theater department, competing all over the county. Long story short my father really broke my spirit and made me believe I didn’t “have what it takes”. Even though I was booking small roles at a young age I never pursued acting.
I was always responsible as a makeup artist backstage though and after high school I pursued makeup as a career.
I started freelancing with young photographers and also got wrapped up in premature modeling.
I believe that this really helped my creative director side. I was helping pose models as well, and had friends who went on to become professionals due to the work we did together.
I hated the makeup industry on set and wanted to be in front of the camera so I quit pursuing makeup.
I still do it on the side now for close friends and family. However I found that people really valued my ideas when it came to conceptions and executing them.
I met my best friend Chelsea a few years ago and she really helped me find my confidence. After a night of karaoke she invited me to tag along with recording some music.
After meeting with the producer I decided to pursue music and it’s been the most fluent, liquid transition for me.
A jack of all trades I think I have something to offer on multiple scales but I would not have gotten to where I am today without my fellow creative friends, and naturally, trial and error,

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I remember when I was 16 and pursuing acting. My dad told me I was not pretty enough and that I’d never make a successful career from it. I asked him to support me through makeup school and he refused because again he thought it wouldn’t pay off. I pursued it anyways because I believed in myself and my talent.
My first paid makeup gig landed me a an IMDB profile. I sent it to my dad and he told me he “always knew I could do it.”
I think the best thing I ever did for myself was to choose myself and believe in myself even though he didn’t.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think in all my other endeavors, I had the goal of making it big, or making money off of it. I’ve taken a different approach with music though, I’m just enjoying the process of it and I think that’s why it’s come so naturally for me. I’m. It forcing it. What’s meant to be will be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mandimonday
• Facebook: Mandi Monday
• Youtube: Mandi Monday

Image Credits
Chelsko Omar Alamandili Cristian Guerrero Arik Bibicoff Victor James