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

Hi Rissa , thanks for joining 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?

I’ve only recently reached a personal milestone of making enough from my dreams to fund my life. Of course, it wasn’t always like this. I kind of looked at it like any business job. When you first start in anything, it’s like being an intern. You do a lot of free work to find your Rhythm and learn about that industry. I shot with a lot of other up and coming creatives, to really perfect my craft. That eventually lead to brand work, better photos, and ultimately paying jobs. I think those starting experiences are priceless, because you learn so much about yourself and others and can better refine your craft. You must be a student of the game first to master it!

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

My name is Rissa, and I am an American- Moroccan model. I’ve been pursuing modeling for about 6 years now but, the arts have always grabbed my attention. I grew up in a small town south of LA, where there were few creative opportunities. However, since the young age of 5, I knew I had a destiny. Finding peace in theater, arts, and musical camps, I realized my passion. I’m grateful for all my experiences because I think it has helped me bring something special to my modeling.  It has provided a fresh, upbeat approach that reflects in my work.  Ultimately, I believe that true faith in my path and resulting manifestation will get me where I need to be. Dreams are placed on your heart for a reason. One should strive to achieve them even when no one else supports your vision. I want to use my platform to spread this message far and wide.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think the hardest part for people to pursue being a full time creative is having the faith. Having faith you have a dream for a reason, faith that life will take care of all the worries while you pursue, etc. It can be scary to go against everything society says and just let go and let be. But like with the job you may currently occupy; you must start somewhere Right? And eventually you work your way up. Have that faith in yourself to just start.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is expansion! Having an idea/ vision, connecting with other people with similar interests and working together to bring a project to life. For me, nothing beats that feeling of seeing it all come together. I feel, it is one of the best highs life has to offer. With each project I get to work in new places, meet new people from all over, and grow in my craft. What beats that?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://iamrissa.com/
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/iamrissarich/

Image Credits
Amelia Romulo Paige Wilson Kylie Govinchuck Charlie Charlie Esperonfer