Meet Stephanie Lewis | Actress & Model

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

Hi Stephanie, what principle do you value most?
Transparency. I’ve learned not to expect honesty from people who lie to themselves. And so many people do in attempt to save themselves from shame in one way or another. But being totally honest is the road to freedom, and also creates trust. If we own all of our mistakes, short comings, or other faults, no other can use them against us. We don’t have to hide from ourselves, so we no longer have to hide from others either. This eliminates fear, and we open the way for authentic self to be met.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art can be a little chaotic, but then again, so is my personality 🙃 so I guess I’m not far from the mark. I come from very humble means in South Carolina, and often had to surpress my creative tendencies. My mom was a bank teller and my dad was a preacher, and they divorced when I was a toddler. Me and my brother were raised by my mom and blue collar work and survival were the only things she really understood. However, me and my brother were both blessed academically, and graduated at the top of our classes and were able to get full rides to schools of our choice. I spent almost 10 years as a nurse before I finally decided to move out to LA and pursue what I really wanted, and it was nothing short of disastrous 😂 I got roofied on Halloween, punched by a homeless man for no reason, and then went through a horrible breakup, and painfully realized I had no real support system and could not continue to go through hardship alone. A drug problem arose, and I ended up an addict and lost all my resources, and nearly my life. My story was once one of overcoming obstacles, but I was no longer overcoming anything. My identity was starting to shape into that of a victim, someone incapable and too damaged to even be mad at, just pitiful. I was actually losing the ability to take care of myself. And that’s when God reminded me that He was all I started with. He took everything away until it was just me and Him again. And I remembered that He was all I needed. Talk about being humbled. I met myself. My real self. What my real needs are. That I don’t have to perform to receive love, and all of my creative ideas are very good ideas, and I should act on them! Judgement and shame has been replaced with courage and acceptance, and the losses are turning into victories once more. Get prepared to see a lot more of me!

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?
Oh gosh, I’m so touristy so I would toooootallly make them do the Hollywood sign hike first. Sorry not sorry. For drinks and entertainment, WE ARE DOING SUNSET BLVD. Again, I’m making no apologies. But then we’re sneaking into an underground rave at 4 am and getting WILD 😜. Later in the week we’re going to Santa Monica, having lunch’ AND dinner on Montana Ave, and finding some weird restorative store that’s offering the latest health trends because self care. We’re hitting up my favorite hidden beach spot that yes I’m going to gatekeep, as is custom in LA. Then at the end we’re going to find a game show to get on and experience the coveted ‘set life’.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
All of the fellow creatives I met when I first moved to North Hollywood, particularly my friend Cuse. He makes me feel seen, and inspires me to keep going when I’m feeling low. Iron sharpens iron, and his creative aspirations often allow my creative visions to be brought to life as well. ♥️

Instagram: steph_ml

Twitter: Steph_uh_nay

Youtube: steph_ml

Image Credits
Rafael Larin
Tim Stevens