We were lucky to catch up with Angela Henderson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Angela , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I’ve always had a positive outlook on everything in my day to day life. I definitely owe having this trait from my Mom. If things don’t go quite my way I view it as a learning experience or temporary setback. The glass is always half full and if things don’t work out the way I hoped, it just means something else better is around the corner. I also strongly believe that we have to remember that others need a chance to win too.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I grew up in the Bay Area and dedicated most of my life to preparing myself to be in the entertainment industry. Since age five I knew I wanted this reality. I took more than five dance classes a week and modeled in local fashion shows. My parents have always been my biggest supporters. When I made the big move to Los Angeles I took all the skills and what I’ve learned along the way to take the first steps into making a career. It’s been a really fun journey because I’ve never just focused on one talent. Every day is new and I’m very thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had. I guess you could say I’m a double threat having been fortunate to book commercials, tours, movies and live shows as a Model and Dancer. The most exciting part was being able to perform with my dream artists like Beyoncé and travel the world while doing what I love. My life is unpredictable and there is no better feeling than accomplishing your dreams and living in that moment of them.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
First I would say this is a fun career choice but the key is remembering it is a business. First quality is being professional and treating it like a job, being on time and ready to work. Secondly being kind and treating everyone you meet with the same respect. Last but not least self confidence. It’s a tough industry with lots of rejections but you have to have the belief in yourself that you are worthy of succeeding.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
It was actually a website that taught me many useful skills. After I Practiced and competed in dance for many years, I was ready to try to become a professional. The problem is I had no idea how to begin. After a google search of “ how to become a professional Dancer” I discovered a site called Answers 4 Dancers. They listed all the advice and tips that I needed. One was that you need an agent that specializes in Dancing. They also listed all the top agents and even auditions coming up. My favorite section was the interviews from working Dancers. Until then I never got to hear the story of how these Dancers that I wanted to be like got their start. I took note of everything and reached out to agencies. Eventually I signed with an agent and a few months later I got to dance with one of the women I read about. That in itself was a big come true. The site even interviewed me about my story which I still can’t believe. I learned to write down my goals and do the work to achieve them. The website still lists really important information that I continue to read and learn from.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/angela_henderson?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Other: I sell my fashions from Instagram here: https://depop.com/angela_henderson
