Meet Ekeobong: Actress, Model, Photographer

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

Hi Ekeobong, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I am a big believer in taking risks. Every major step that I’ve taken that has brought me closer to my goals required me to take a risk. There is no getting around it. My parents took the ultimate risk when they left their home country with hopes of more opportunity for us. I took a risk when I decided to take my chances at pursuing a career in entertainment, praying the entire time that I wasn’t wasting the opportunity that my parents fought so hard to provide. And there have been so many risks taken, big and small, throughout the journey. I view risks as an opportunity to see something amazing happen that would not have happened without taking the risk. It’s a win-win because all risks taken bring something new, even if it’s just a change in perspective or new lesson learned.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My main craft is acting though I also model, write, and do photography, all of which I truly enjoy. I grew up on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and at 10 yrs old, I knew I wanted to be an actress. However, living on a small island didn’t provide many opportunities to explore theater arts, so as a result, I had to wait until I went to college to enroll in my first acting class. Once I finally got my first experience with acting, it was an instant love connection. I knew that this was the direction I needed to go. Upon graduating with my B.A. in Communication Studies from UCLA, I began my journey of trying to navigate the, at that time, very intimidating entertainment industry. It took a few years to figure out how to make a living while auditioning, so there was a period of time where things were very rough. I know that part of the journey isn’t unique to me, as many young artists struggle to find the balance initially. During this period, there were many lessons learned. I felt like I was constantly being tested. It felt like a bootcamp for life lessons. I became exhausted, and quite honestly, very jaded. There were many many moments where I felt like I’d reached my limit, just to find out that wasn’t actually my limit after all. I had just enough hope, faith, and endurance in me to keep going. I had a few victories along the way, but sometimes they didn’t seem to make up for the major disappointments. In 2018, I took a 9 month break from acting to attend ministry school. This was a personal turning point for me. As my faith is a very important part of my life and journey, it was a moment where a lot of things started making sense for me. I understood my unique journey and why I went through certain things. I felt like I made peace with my past, and was able to move forward without the chip on my shoulder. I moved back to LA in May 2019 and was able to sign with a new manager shortly after. Though 2020 slowed things down, I am finally getting to experience the open doors that I have been praying for. I want people to know that our paths to our dreams are all unique. I used to question mine so much, and why it looked so different from others. But I now see what was being developed in me and how it has helped me to stand out in this moment. I want the world to know that all dreams are achievable and you will get pushed, sometimes past your breaking point. It’s okay to take a break and regroup, but any dream is going to require all of you to come to pass. No one is going to do it for you. You have to really and truly believe in yourself and in your story. You have to know that you have something unique to offer, and that is your authenticity. You have to do the work. You have to get back up each time. I promise you, it will all be worth it and nothing is wasted.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite places in LA are the beach (for obvious reasons) and Downtown LA. I spent a lot of time in the Santa Monica area since I lived in West LA post graduation, and it’s still one of my favorite areas in Los Angeles. The Santa Monica pier offers great activities for everyone and beautiful view. So many places to shop and eat, you can spend a full day there. If I wanted to hit the town, I like to visit the rooftops bars in Downtown LA. I find them to be the most scenic and attracts a lot of artists from all over LA.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Produced by Faith by Devon Franklin was one of the first books I read after college and it really set the tone for how I wanted to move forward in the industry. I give a shout out to my faith communities that have encouraged me along the way, my friends who have spoken life to me when I needed it, my family that have always been there for me through the ups and downs, and last but not least, my acting coach Anna from Steers Studios who has play a key role in moving my career forward.

Instagram: instagram.com/ekeobong_

Other: https://www.imdb.com/videoproembed/vi2997600281

Image Credits
Jhordan Munn/Meraki Photography