Meet Jaida Henley

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jaida Henley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jaida, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by consistently consuming art and surrounding myself with places that inspire me. I make an effort to stay in creative environments or travel to experience new ways of life. Whenever I feel like I’m in a creative rut, I start by moving my body. Going to the gym is a great way to get stagnant energy circulating, and it’s usually my first step toward tapping back into my creative flow. Music also helps me connect with different frequencies. If none of that works, I know it’s time to journal to release tension or simply rest.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Jaida. I grew up in a small town called Douglasville, GA. My parents weren’t rich, but we were comfortable for the most part. We always had what we needed, just not a lot of room for splurging. I grew up listening to pop from my mom, alternative from my dad, country from my sister, and hip-hop from my friends and the radio. Music is a huge part of Atlanta culture.
As a child, I fell in love with High School Musical 2 and Taylor Swift. I wrote my first song after watching The Little Mermaid on VHS. I started acting at drama camps when I was ten. Growing up, I wanted to be a successful YouTuber—I loved the idea of getting paid to record my life and travel the world. Because of that, I learned how to use a camera and navigate social media at a young age.
When I got to high school, I started doing celebrity event photography in Atlanta. I did that for about four years before moving to Los Angeles. I haven’t stayed as consistent on YouTube as I originally planned, but I discovered livestreaming, and my supporters have truly changed my life. They encouraged me to release my first song. I had been making music for years but kept it to myself for the longest time.
Now I get to do acting and music full-time. It’s definitely a challenging career path, but it’s incredibly rewarding, and I love sharing my art with the world. At the end of the day, I’m a media umbrella—I create across different lanes. My goal is to become a high-grossing touring performing artist. My backup plan is to become a successful real estate investor on HGTV. Honestly, it sounds fun to get paid to be on TV in cute outfits with a lower-third showing how you’re about to make a ridiculous amount of money. That’s two income streams in one if you think about it. And then you can write off practically everything you buy to build your on-screen image. Either one of those paths sounds amazing.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three things that shaped my journey the most were being adaptable, trusting my voice, and staying consistent even when it was hard.
Adaptability mattered because nothing about my path has been straight. I went from photography to YouTube to acting to music, and every chapter forced me to grow in a new way. If you are just starting out, give yourself permission to explore. Try different things. Pivot when something no longer fits. You usually find your real path by staying open.
Confidence in my voice took time too. I used to make music and never let anyone hear it. It was my supporters who pushed me to finally release something. When you are early in your journey, remind yourself that your perspective is enough. Every time you share your work, your voice gets stronger.
Consistency is honestly what moved everything forward. Talent helps, but showing up over and over again is what creates momentum. Whether I was practicing vocals, learning camera work, or going live for my supporters, being consistent is what actually changed things. If you are new, start with small steps and keep going even on the days you are not inspired.
My advice is to stay flexible, trust what you bring to the table, and keep showing up for your craft. That is how you build something real.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My biggest challenge right now is balancing all the different areas of my career. I’m acting, making music, livestreaming, and preparing for shows, and sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. I’m learning how to slow down when I need to and put systems in place so I don’t burn out.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Shutterw3rks
JHENLEY MEDIA

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