Meet Ashley Hawkins | Professional Dancer & Model

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

Hi Ashley, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
Inky Johnson said, “If every decision and choice you make is just about you, at a certain point you are going hit something that is a lot tougher than you that is going to make you quit because you don’t a have driving force for why you do what you do.” This resonates with me because my passion is at the center of everything I do.

I was blessed with a gift from God and count my blessings by honoring those who came before me, inspired me, and gave me opportunities.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is the art of dance. I am a professional dancer, model, choreographer and influencer. I am most proud of how resilient I am. My resilience sets me apart from others; I continue to have doubters. While overcoming hardship, I continued to believe in myself and stuck to my dreams. It was hardest when no one believed in me, while pushing out all the negative noise.

The lesson I’ve learned along the way is to continue to dream big in spite of the negative messages I was told growing up. I had experienced emotional and physical abuse as a child and being kicked out right after high school which led me to be homeless; all these adversities that I had to gone through, only made me realize that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was. There’s a slogan by my favorite sports brand, Actively Black, which states, ” There is Greatness In My DNA.” In its simplicity there is so much power. No matter what life or circumstances try to break me, I can’t and won’t be stopped because of the greatness that is embedded inside of me. I will not give up for as long as live. Looking back, none of this was easy. It was because of my faith in God that made it easier to go through. As well as understanding that no matter the outcome, there’s beauty in the process That’s where integrity is built that’s where your character and the essence of your mind is formed. Embrace the process. The lesson I have learned is that you don’t overcome challenges, you have to go through hardship to come out on the other side. I want to leave a legacy of faith, hope, and authenticity. A lot of my blessings have come from being my real, raw, authentic self. Being YOU always wins.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Los Angeles has a lot to offer! Ideally, the weather would be beautiful. I would start in North Hollywood because that is where the dream of dance begins. Then we would go to Hollywood and Vine and check out the walk of fame. I would go to DTLA. Head to Santa Monica. The BEACH! Go to WeHo and explore what the culture brings there. Hiking to the Hollywood sign with an amazing view of the city. Fashion District. SoFi stadium. Krypto.com Arena.
Inglewood, Long Beach
Find all the best hole in the wall food spots.
Universal Studios where movies and TV shows are made. And cinema comes to life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There have been many mentors throughout my life. Russell Jenkins is the first person I think of when I think of real mentor. He gave me opportunities to live out my dreams. He was a father figure, a mentor, guiding light, and allowed me to make mistakes. Most importantly, he never gave up on me. He saw my potential and greatness that I
was unable to see myself. I will forever be grateful to him. I am blessed and honored to have him in my life, supporting everything I do.

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dopeashdancer

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ashley.hawkins.184881?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ashleyhawkins1544?si=Gg-uOQIhCH-O5FgJ

Image Credits
Photo 1 Photographer: Demetria Logan
Photo 2 Photographer: Jalen Jenkins
Photo 3 Photographer:Manuel Espinoza
Photo 4 photographer: Sonya Mills
Photo 5 Photographer: Bobby Swan
Photo 6Photographer: Demetria Logan
Outfit: Actively Black
Photo 7 Photographer: Joyce Charat