Meet iyesha damali | Actress & Model

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

Hi iyesha damali, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
For a very long time, I have been the only one I trusted. While I am proud of my integrity I am learning that we all need other people to succeed. It may take some time and due diligence but you have to believe that other people want to see you win and help you. You may work really hard but nothing beats having your name and talent mentioned in the rooms you haven’t been in yet.

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.
I have always dreamed of seeing my work in television and film. As a child I got my start in plays at church and school. There was always something new I wanted to incorporate from having seen other child actors. Whether it was accents or improv, I wanted to master what I saw kids like me being able to do. I studied acting in college and knew that for my goals it was time for a big move. It is challenging when you begin independent work as an actor because it’s usually working with a microbudget and lots of conflicting ideas with other creatives. You can be working with 10 of the most talented people in the world but you have to find common ground to collaborate if you want to succeed.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of LA’s best characteristics is variety. When I’m hosting visitors I like to mix touristy activities with the “if you know, you know” vibes that come with living in LA. I follow really cool instagram pages that will give you the tea posting cool parties, the best hikes, and restaurants that are having special events. With friends, I may start the day with a hike, grab an acai bowl, hit up a flea market and end the day with sunset whale watching cruise. LA is nestled between mountains, the ocean and desert so no matter what your vibe is, you can find fun things to do, usually under the best weather in the world!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of my biggest blessings is that I had parents that always told me how special I was. They never told me I dreamed too big or that I should minimize my goals. Shoutout to my parents for believing that I am star.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iyeshadamali/?hl=en