We recently connected with Toccarra Cash and have shared our conversation below.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I wear a few hats (actor, voiceover artist, writer, entrepreneur), but all of them operate under my core mission: to make sure Black women are seeing themselves and their experiences reflected authentically back to them in a complex, honest and nuanced way. Whether I’m playing a role that makes them feel seen, writing a script that makes them feel heard, or leading one of my workshops that makes them feel understood and connected, my “why” has always been clear, and continues to sharpen in clarity with each project.
Speaking of my workshop, I consider it the ultimate manifestation of “my why” (and also one of my favorite things to talk about lol!). The Image Monster is my workshop (of which I’m the Creator & CEO) developed to help young Women of Color adopt a mentally healthier sense of body image. It seeks to help them navigate the complexities of self-image specifically as it pertains to existing in bodies that are considered on the margins of–or outside of–the “beauty standard”. Especially in our social media driven, image-obsessed world. The workshop targets middle school, high school, and collegiate young women, but we are currently expanding our offerings to different demographics of adult women as well (such as postpartum mothers, moms of teens, Black actresses, etc.) which I’m very excited about! Drawing on my many years of experience as a teaching artist and facilitator, the workshop utilizes the tools of interactive games and activities, improvisational drama, writing exercises, and facilitated discussion. I work to guide the participants towards personalized strategies for self-empowerment. Connection between girls and women is the centerpiece of the workshop. I believe we learn the most about ourselves when we are in genuine community with one another in-person… when we feel seen and heard by others and realize we are not alone in what we’re experiencing.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Whew, what a question lol. It was critical for me–both as a creative and an entrepreneur–to unlearn the deeply entrenched lesson of perfectionism. In many ways, I’m still unlearning it. I often describe myself as a “recovering perfectionist”. Due to being one of those overachieving, A-student types as a kid, it had me wired to be afraid of failure. That led to me wanting to be sure I knew everything about everything before I dove in and took any risk, whether that was spreading my professionally creative wings from acting into writing, or starting The Image Monster. I wanted to have every “i” dotted and every “t” crossed. I needed to have the answer to any question and the solution to any problem before even taking a baby step in the direction of what I desired to do, which led to a sort of creative paralysis. What I’ve learned is that every single person who has made major strides as a writer or entrepreneur didn’t have all the answers either, nor did they have the solutions to every problem. Some of the most successful people we know are flying by the seat of their pants and learning along the way. They’re asking for help when they need it. If they don’t know how to do something, they’re utilizing their networks to find somebody that does (it’s mind-blowing when you realize how many people really, truly want to help you and see you win if you just ask). It’s not that they aren’t scared of failure too, but they are unwilling to let it paralyze them into inaction. They understand that courage is being scared and doing it anyway. It’s a daily muscle to work, but I’m committed to working it, baby step by baby step in an effort to silence that nagging perfectionist voice. I’m currently working my way through The Artist’s Way (if you know, you know lol) and it’s been revelatory how much it’s helping me to continue unlearning this lesson. It’s like being in the gym working that particular muscle lol!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
It’s when I get to actually see or hear the impact my creative work is having on someone. So often, we as artists wonder if our seemingly small contributions to society are actually helping someone, so when it’s confirmed that it is… nothing compares to that feeling. It’s that feeling when someone comes up to you in the lobby after you’ve performed in a play in New Orleans about a family in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and tells you with tears in their eyes , “Y’all got it right. I felt like y’all were telling my story on that stage. Thank you.” It’s that feeling when after a table read of you and your co-writers’ script, one of the people in attendance says “Oh my God, I need this show on my TV immediately, because this is EXACTLY what I’m going RIGHT NOW.” It’s that feeling when after one of your workshops at a high school, you find out that the next year, one of the students was inspired by it to base her senior project on race and body inclusivity in the beauty pageant industry… and she actually tells you that experiencing your workshop birthed that idea. When the invisible ripple effect of what we put in the world all of a sudden becomes visible… it’s rewarding and fulfilling on a level I can’t even describe.
Contact Info:
- Website: The Image Monster Website Coming Soon!
- Instagram: @toccarracash, @theimagemonster
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toccarra-cash-72583110/
- Twitter: @toccarracash
Image Credits
Brooks Brantley, Nijeul X, Ali Nezu