We had the good fortune of connecting with Karissa Brazdys and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karissa, what matters most to you?
I value education in the context of getting to know yourself and the world around you. There are so many ways to learn. You can read books, listen to podcasts, take courses online, engage in conversations with people around you, ask questions, take risks, etc. A smart mind is one that can think for his or her own self. Getting to this point is done by actively seeking out experiences and resources that weren’t mapped out for you.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My modeling career happened unexpectedly. It began as a personal growth challenge to overcome the fear of the camera. I used to hate taking pictures and couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror. I was so insecure and couldn’t take any criticism. In high school if anyone ever commented I should model, I just cringed and couldn’t believe it. After putting health and wellness as my core focus in my mid twenties, my mind, body, and spirit connection lead to me to transformation. I stopped dimming my own light. After one photoshoot, I kept searching for any opportunity that would build my portfolio or give me more experience. I’ll say I definitely didn’t know what I was doing, I was just doing. I did constant trips back and forth between LA and San Diego for castings, commercial work, networking events, and gigs. I’ve learned to get comfortable with rejection, staying focused, and the importance of your support system and environment. It’s never too late to change what you don’t like about your life. It’s not going to happen overnight. Change starts with the small baby steps, and you could be lead to places you didn’t know where possible.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my best friend to the beach cities, Hermosa, Manhattan, Marina Del Ray along the strand. You can ride bikes, roller skate, run, walk, etc for miles alongside beautiful houses and an even more beautiful ocean. It’s also the best place for beach volleyball. There are also plenty of rooftop ocean view restaurants for food and drink. I’d also take them up to Palos Verdes for the most amazing sunset cliff views and grab dinner at the luxurious Terranea resort. The air is so fresh and clean with incredible views.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to Pauleen Chakravorty. She has been my photographer, supporter, encourager, mentor, and friend.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karissaolive_/

Other: https://www.sdmodel.com/user-profile/karissa+brazdys/ viomehq.sjv.io/trustyourgut

Image Credits
image 2: Pauleen Chakravorty

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.