We caught up with the brilliant and insightful NaTori Aliyah a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

NaTori, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Late 2022, I decided to work a regular 9-5 job in retail. I had no experience but i was in a creative funk & needed a steady source of income until could figure out if being a performer & creative was what I really wanted to do. I was hired on the spot & promoted to a manager position two weeks later. It was a job that paid my bills but I wasn’t satisfied. I was 5 months in and I felt like although the job pays me, I’m letting myself down. This wasn’t the dream. Instead of just quitting, I trusted God & worked another 5 months. I learned so much within those 5 months about patience, and discipline, and just to have faith. I was being tested for sure but it was necessary! I eventually decided to put my two weeks in, my last day was on Friday, June 16th 2023. I didn’t know why it had to be this date specifically but I just had to have faith. My plan was to spend the summer in ATL, continue training as a dancer and trust that my creativity and hard work would pay off & even if it didn’t, I didn’t want to look back in 20 years & say I didn’t try. I just wanted to be happy! This was a big risk! All I had was my savings and a dream. Within that last week at my job, I felt like I was losing so much but I didn’t know that the people and things I felt I was losing just weren’t equipped for the elevation that was about to happen. I was defeated though, I still had a plan. The evening I left my job I took a nap and when I woke up to my phone blowing up with a message asking did I want to do the 2023 BET Awards with “The Biggest” herself, LATTO and I was blessed enough to be able to do it with my best friend Breonna Nicolee. It wasn’t in my plan, it was greater than my plan! Taking that leap of faith landed me a job I didn’t even know I was qualified for and has taken my passion from a hobby to a career. I manifested working with Teyana Taylor in 2019 and it happened! It was a dream come true! I trusted my gut. That BET performance has changed my life and the lives of so many people who watched it! It gave my community hope! It showed people that it’s tangible, you just gotta believe in yourself enough and have faith that you can do this! I’m now a Latto dancer & have been blessed to work and network with other artist like Christina Aguilera, Lola Brooke, Teyana Taylor, Glorilla and so many more creatives and really learn about this industry! This is only the beginning of a new journey and it was all being I took a risk!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am NaTori Blackman-Gray, I go by NaTori Aliyah and I am a 23 year old artist from Baltimore, Md. I am a professional dancer, creative curator, makeup artist, and soon to be all around entertainer. I’ve always been creative! It started with just how I dressed and my hair, to then dance, and now to creative direction and music, and so much more. I blessed enough to have been in the room with amazing artist and creatives that I’ve been able to learn from, ask questions, and just watch and it’s allowing me to really understand this industry and step into in fearlessly.

I feel what sets me apart from other is that I have my own unique way of doing things. I’m not afraid to fail, it just fuels me to be the best I can be. I know where I came from and will always remain humble and grateful for every opportunity I’m given. I’m not afraid to step outside the box and go the extra mile to be my best self and provide the best services to my clients.

The main thing I am proud of would be that I allow myself to do what I love regardless of what people have to say. I can go from performing on stage in front of thousands of people to coming home and impulsively creative directing a shoot with my friends or for a brand or coming home just to sing at church. I want to keep that balance because it’s what keeps me grounded and level headed.

If there’s one thing about my work that I want people to know it’s that everything I do is done with the most care. It’s important that whether it’s makeup, creative direction, dancing, singing, etc. I give my all in everything I do. I am my brand and I give 110% of myself everything I create or do! It’s hard work or nothing!

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

What drives me is to making sure all the sacrifices from my parents, my siblings, my friends, even from my self are never in vain. I have to put my best foot forward because all this has to mean something one day. I want to leave a mark in the world. I want to make my mother proud. She was my first cheerleader and she had to give up things just so I’d have a shot. It’s so much more than wanting to be famous. I want to be successful and impactful and the things I create and the person I’m becoming has to represent that!

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building my social media audience started with me just dancing on Instagram which got my noticed locally but what really took off was tiktok and a picture on my instagram going viral. I was in my makeup/grwm girl era and that’s what got me clientele and followers. It was ultimately my style! I was the pink hair girl that loved makeup and loved getting dressed and taking pictures. I was building my brand and taking advantage of the moment. I eventually had to take a break bc it felt a little surreal but all in all, I knew the content I wanted to make & I just went for it.

I’m now about to get into not only making quick content but vlogging for YouTube and social media! Really just opening up more on social media while still keeping a private life but I’m ready to open up and share more of my journey and my creative process!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @natorialiyah
• Twitter: @natorialiyah
• Youtube: NaTori Aliyah
• Other: Tiktok @natorialiyah

Image Credits
Daryll Morgan, Wisdom Davina, Kennia Estep, Arnay Marshall, Donzhané Alexis