We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Santia St.Surain a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Santia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you’ve thought about whether to sign with an agent or manager?

The process of finding a model/acting coach and what to do when you’re first getting into the industry can be tricky. Guidance is a peace of mind like no other.

Santia, 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 was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, please don’t get it confused with Miami, the people and the vibes are completely different. We even have our own airport. But, being in Ft.Lauderdale, and in south Florida, generally exposed me to a lot of different people, from different walks of life. There was always diversity in my schools. For that, I am thankful for the exposure of getting to know other cultures. I was never told growing up, I can do anything, I put my mind to. As a little black girl, I did not have many examples of Black women I aspired to be, or even saw a healthy relationship between anyone’s parents. But I was drawn to the arts and being creative. I always put my perspective or vision into all things. I just lacked the confidence to do things. I was afraid of failure and having people stare at me for too long.
Fast forward, we are in the midst of the COVID pandemic. I am very much considered a full fledged working adult. I am a flight attendant for a major US Carrier. But I get furlughoed. BAM! No more job stability. My life was turned upside down like so many others…But I finally start having faith in myself. I only had the airline income and vowed to start investing in myself. Live the life I want. Start being more health conscious and so I set out a plan to join the military, model, and act. I wanted to explore things, I suppressed when I was younger.
I am very unconventional. Currently, single black female. Physically, I know my facial features are unique. Something I hated for so much of my life. Now, I LOVE and embrace my physical attributes. I am finally comfortable being myself. I have parts of me that are feminine and masculine. We all do, but now I am aware, that it doesn’t make less of a woman in the way I decide to wear my hair.
I want the world to know, I AM HERE. I exist. I want to live my life and help others in the process. Show that little black girl within me and around the world that we may not be the “standard” of beauty, but WE are still beautiful. We still matter. We are so much more, and give to the world, to make it a better place for everyone.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think its important to be goal driven. I am scattered brain and need to focus more on something at hand. Now, everyones story is different. There is no one narrative for greatness, I do not need accolades or praise. All I desire is my own happiness. Being responsible for my own happiness drives me to be a better human. I care about my water in take, I care about my physical health. I care about children. I care about the school systems that are responsible for our futures. The vitality of knowing, I have to look inward to bring about any change in my life. The mind is so powerful, Simply, you have to think positive for positive things to happen. My black existence in America, and surroundings never gave me the luxury to think, you just do and fall in line, I say no more. Cycle stops with me, within my family. Just like a domino , it will effect the next one in line.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

My black experience has afforded me to be undervalued from my inception into the world. No longer, do I see it as a hinderance, but an expectance. I will tell another narrative. I will share another narrative that others can draw inspiration from. Coming from very little, and the expectance of more was never there. I always pushed for more. More wasn’t the answer. The more is not my purpose. I know the purpose in life is to find it. Purpose gives your life meaning. Otherwise we are just existing and not truly living, I woke myself up, and started to start living.   

Contact Info:

• Website: santiastsurain.com
• Instagram: i.am.santia
• Facebook: Santia St Surain
• Twitter: SantiaIam

Image Credits
IG:imagerybygray IG:studio1.photo