Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Waya Kellie Hooker

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Waya Kellie Hooker . Check out our conversation below.

Hi Waya, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Who are you learning from right now?
Currently i listen to Denzel Washington motivational speeches and interviews. With Me diving into my acting Career. Ive always been inspired by his work ethic.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an actor, model, spiritual life coach, and tantric healer who refuses to wait for Hollywood’s approval to tell my story. When the industry said I needed their backing, I built my own lane. I co-created, acted in, and co-produced Transition To Love as a declaration that love, freedom, and self-acceptance deserve center stage.

Everything I create is a rebellion against silence and a call for others to live boldly. My mission is to show that we do not have to wait for permission to live in truth or to turn our lives into art.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My adopted god papa James Mclean. He took me under his wing and showed me how he built his empire from a young age. My father wasnt in my life much
So having a father figure shaped the man I am today.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized it was never meant to be hidden.

For years I carried it quietly, thinking strength meant silence. But pain unspoken only grows heavier. The moment I started sharing it, I felt myself begin to transform.

Now I let my story live out loud. I share it through my art, through creative moments on social media, and through poetry that gives language to the parts of me that once felt unspeakable.

Turning pain into power is not about erasing the past. It is about turning what tried to break me into something that helps others rise too.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies my industry tells itself is that you have to wait for permission to be seen. That you need a certain look, a certain body, a certain story to matter.

Another lie is that vulnerability is weakness. I have learned that the moments where we are most open are the moments that truly move people.

And maybe the biggest lie of all is that success is measured by someone else’s approval. For me, success is measured by how fully I show up as myself and how many people my work helps feel less alone.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope they remember me as the one who carried my father’s name with honor and pride, holding it close as a thread that links past, present, and future. I hope they see that I lived as a kind man, a Two-Spirit soul standing for justice, truth, and freedom for all.

I hope they feel the weight of my life not as sorrow, but as proof that courage and love can leave a mark stronger than time. That every choice I made, every story I shared, was a heartbeat of defiance, a celebration of identity, and a gift of hope to those who need it most.

I hope they say that in my life, dignity and love were never optional, and that I showed what it truly means to stand fully, freely, and unafraid, leaving a legacy my own children (Biological or just ones i take under my wing through life) can one day carry forward.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
The Weekdai Productions
Waya Kellie
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