We were lucky to catch up with McKenzie Melia Calderon recently and have shared our conversation below.

McKenzie Melia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

So much goes into acting that people outside of the craft don’t know or think about (even for a 5 year old): The last minute audition and travel requests. Juggling school, booked gigs, and time for fun. That paired with the amount of time needed for studying and setting up for at-home auditions can be challenging. Despite those aspects, working with other creatives and the ability to experience once in a lifetime opportunities make it all worth it.

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

McKenzie Melia is a 5 year old from Harlem, New York, but spent her last two years living in Maryland. She is an actress who has been on Broadway (as Lulu in Waitress, the musical) and has appeared in multiple TV commercials and national campaigns. McKenzie started her creative journey at just 3 years old, has been singing since she could talk, and dancing even before then. She loves trying new things, and making people laugh.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Social media! In the beginning of the journey, we didn’t document as many moments as we would have liked to, nor did we use social media to its full potential. We now use it for so many things related to the creative journey, like staying in touch with the amazing people we’ve met, and “meeting” new people that live in places as far away as other continents, who share a similar journey. We also use social media to connect with others, learn more about the business, and grow relationships and opportunities. It’s so much fun to show support for other creatives using social media, by watching, commenting, and sharing their content. Social media also allows us to document our experiences. We love looking back at the amazing opportunities we’ve had, and hope others can watch on and be inspired to start their own journey.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The excitement for the work, the opportunity to express passion through art, and the ability to use natural talent as well as work ethic to bring stories and characters to life. The goal is to continue to bring diversity to the field and inspire all creatives around the world.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mckenzie.melia

Image Credits
Grace Stockdale, Songbird Studio NYC