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

Hi Jai, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
What made me pursue my career in acting, was the sheer love of performing & entertaining. Evoking emotion from an audience while expressing my strongest desires on a stage, was where I fell in love for the first time at such a young age. I grew up in a small town called Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the arts are not as valued as other forms of entertainment, such as sports. Pursuing entertainment allowed me to be courageous & stand out among my peers & family members, & do something that had never been done before. Acting has also been so therapeutic for me & an essential tool I’ve used on my journey of self-discovery.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I began acting & dancing at just 3 years old in my hometown. I moved to Los Angeles just 10 years later, at 13, where I began professionally acting & studying theatre. What sets me apart from others is that I am just like everyone else. So many people can relate to coming to LA to pursue their career, and I am no different. Those experiences are what brings us all together, but also sets us apart. What makes me different is, who I know that I am. We oftentimes spend too much time trying to prove to others how we stand out from the rest, instead of observing ourselves & recognizing the strengths in our differences. My perspectives, my drive, my passion, my kindness, & my inner glow, are features that I have not experienced in others that I see within myself.

What I am most proud of is my ability to dream. I have dreamed of things that have come true, with imagery & hard work. Even today, I am most proud of that & the consistency of my imagination.

How I got to where I am professionally was due to my overactive imagination, my stubbornness, & the need to be right. I’ve taken so many risks to get where I am, & I have heard so many no’s. I will not stop until I hear a yes. I really love that about me, my bull-headedness. I also need to constantly prove to myself that I can accomplish anything I want to accomplish, I cannot prove myself wrong.

It’s not easy at all being stubborn & pursuing one of the most competitive industries in the world! I’m very grateful to have the support system that I do, which has always been my mom. She contributes to my stubbornness in the best ways possible, always reassuring me that I can achieve whatever I want, & it’s not ever a matter of if, but when it’ll happen. My mom & my grandparents have also instilled in me an unwavering faith, that reminds me that things are always working in my favor, & I truly believe that.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in my journey has been that my faith & my will are unmatched, & they have to be to succeed. Recently, I’ve realized that the pursuit of this career isn’t just for fame, it’s the path of my self-discovery. This is bigger than a career for me, so the lesson is that I cannot fail at this. I may lose a few battles, but I’ll never lose the war.

What I want the world to know about me is that I am here as a vessel for connection & self-discovery. I am here to share love with the world & to bring a little peace in the midst of this chaotic time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve been in LA for 10 years now, and truthfully, I don’t go out! I’m a homebodied earth sign tried & true! However, I LOVE to EAT! I do follow a plant-based diet, so I know all the good vegan spots. First, we’re gonna go get ramen at Red White Boneless Ramen in Studio City. Then, we’re gonna go get some fried oyster mushrooms & peach cobbler waffles from Vegan Or Nah. Then we’re gonna go to Simply Wholesome & get cabbage patties and a Nipsey Smoothie!
For drinks, we’ll go to my favorite Vegan bar in Downtown called Beelman’s & we can go to Bike Shed Motor Co. too!
I also would love if we went to Six Flags! Lol!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my Shoutout to my mom & to my God. Without their endless & unconditional love & support, I would not be who I am or where I am today. My mom is the greatest influence on my life & my most beautiful muse for all of my work. Seeing her belief in me, fueled my own belief in myself. I hope to continue to make her proud & repay her for all of her sacrifices. I love you MJ!

Website: https://www.jaishannon.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084448907502

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jaishannon/featured

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