Meet Lindsay Dickens | Model, Actress & Screenwriter

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

Hi Lindsay, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in the north west suburbs of Chicago, IL. When I was younger, the majority of kids I went to school with were white. I struggled a lot with identity issues being bi-racial (Black & Italian). Kids would call me “dirty” “Oreo” & “zebra” and make racist remarks frequently. Around my white friends I wasn’t “white enough” & around my black friends I wasn’t “black enough”. I even struggled with checking the race box on standardized tests or forms because back then you could only pick one–you could only be one thing.

I never felt that I was beautiful on the outside not only because of where I grew up, but also because of societal beauty standards. I only ever saw the successful models have blonde hair, blue eyes, be a size 00 & fit the mold. I used to put on my moms heels (which were way too big on me) & strut around my family room watching “Americas Next Top Model” hoping one day that could be me.

It wasn’t until High School that I had a sprinkle of belief that I had what it took to be a model. My friend needed help in their photography class & I stood in as the model. When they sent me the images back, I saw that I was comfortable, confident & had great potential. My love for acting & screenwriting followed soon after.

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 like to say that I’m the jack of all trades when it comes to the creative world! Modeling, acting, & writing all allow me to tell a story in their own ways. Many don’t realize the power that story telling has & the amount of skill it takes to portray.

My modeling & acting journey has not been the easiest. Although I knew it was a competitive industry, I didn’t realize the amount of rejection I’d hear on a daily basis. It was especially hard first starting out constantly hearing “no” from casting directors, producers & agents. I had moments of self doubt wondering why I wasn’t good enough & if I even belonged in this industry. Luckily, I had enough self love & confidence to know that just because I wasn’t the right fit for one casting, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be perfect for the next.

Screenwriting has allowed me to combine two things that I love: writing & watching movies! At California State University, Long Beach, I majored in screenwriting. I’ve never struggled generating ideas because there is inspiration all around us! Using my real life experiences hasn’t always been easy though. Last year, I ended a twisted relationship that (at the time) completely destroyed me. I was in a dark place mentally & had writers block for months. I ended up using that experience as the inspiration for my feature length drama, “Beauty” & my TV Pilot, “Gold Coast”.

When it comes to haters, rejection, heartbreak & betrayal – It only motivates me–it doesn’t shut me down. If I listened to the hate & let the rejection get to me, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

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?
There are so many great things to do in Chicago! There’s The Architecture Tour, The Art Institute, kayaking on the river, & of course, the Bean. Me and my friends love to go out to nice restaurants & try new places! I’m a sucker for a good Sushi restaurant. My favorite places are Nobu in West Loop & Friends Sushi in River North. I also love Londonhouse & RH Restaurants for the classic options.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without my friends Kyle, Carly, Melanie, Bria & Kylee who have continuously supported me & encourage me to preserver.

Website: https://www.stewarttalent.com/profile/lindsay-dickens-chicago-print-adults-women#portfolios

Instagram: http://instagram.com/lindsay_dickens/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaydickens/

Youtube: Lindsay Dickens

Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11566830/

Image Credits
Cydnee Mame Creative Kelly Randall Photography