We were lucky to catch up with Meji Black recently and have shared our conversation below.
Meji, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
As a child I was put into so many extra curricular activities. Acting, dancing, singing, modeling and more! I always knew I never wanted to stick or be committed to one thing, I loved trying new activities wether it be in sports or in the arts. Over the years, I was drawn more to my acting. It makes me happy. I can be anyone or anything when I act. I can show many emotions. I want to make others just was happy when they watch me on screen or on stage. Acting also allows me to express my other talents. My singing, dancing, modeling, gymnastics. All of these things are built me to be who I am. It has empowered me within my acting and within life. Being able to bring someone else just a moment of peace through a screen is my biggest goal in life! Everyone has had a moment where they have come home from a long day and just needed an escape from reality, turning on your tv and watching your favorite show gives you that escape and that comfort is what want to give other people. I want their eyes to light up when they see me on the screen because I am their comfort character.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My parents always said that I was a daredevil, and that gymnastics was my first love. It all started at the age of one when my mother started taking me to mommy and me classes. From there, my interest, expanding, I begin to dance at the age of five, and became competitive at the age of seven. My styles of dance arranged between ballet, hip-hop, jazz and acro dance. Acro dance was my favorite as it incorporated my love for gymnastics with hip-hop. When I was seven, I did my first acting audition for a Lifesavers commercial and at the 8 years, I sang “Let it Snow” in the school talent show. It was then that my love for acting and singing became clear.
I stayed active in all of these things through middle school and high school. My world shifted when Covid hit as it put a stop to everything I had grown to love. I was no longer able to do gymnastics at the studio, I was no longer able to act, model or sing on stage. I’d grown accustomed to do one or all of these things everyday as I had become an after school gymnastics coach as well as being an avid actress that was involved in numerous plays and musical at school and in local theatre’s.
In all that was taken away from me during Covid, I was able to put all of that time and energy into my schoolwork. Since my mom was teaching me at home, was was able to complete my junior and senior year simultaneously and graduate high school a year early. This allowed me to heard off to my dream college, AMDA at only 16 years old and graduate there with my acting degree at the age of 18.
Attending school didn’t stop me from doing what I loved. As soon as I was able, I went back to gymnastics. I started acting again for both stage and camera and I also got deeper into my modeling career. I played Gabbie, the lead role in a movie titled “take me home” alongside Hollywood actors Dave Sheridan and Amber Rivette. In this movie you can see my awesome contortion skills. Take Me Home is scheduled to be released in the coming months.
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?
I’ve had multiple impactful moments in my artistry career, but with my acting it was my first full house. It was the first time I ever got to talk and sing on stage with a sold out house! My second moment in life is two fold graduating high school early at the age of 16 and then graduating college at 18, this lead for me to be able to achieve my goals earlier on! The last thing I’d say that made a big impact in my life was my first big lead screen role. I played Gabby in “Take Me Home”! Some advice I’d have for anyone reading everything that is meant for you will come in time! When I was 10 I auditioned to play for that in the Wizard of Oz I didn’t get the role but 5 years later I got the opportunity to play Dorothy in The Wiz!
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I think the most impactful thing my parents have ever done for me is support any and everything I have wanted to do, and I mean literally everything. When I was in early middle school I knew I wanted to graduate early and move to California to pursue my acting career. My parents did everything in their power to help with that, from funding my projects, helping me with school work after late night rehearsals, and most importantly they helped me build and a plan for a fast track graduation. They were also always there for emotional support, picking me up every time I didn’t get a role and celebrating me whenever I did. Their love and support has given me the strength over and over again to keep pushing for the life I want.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/officially_meji?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meji.black.2023?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meji-black-b95a37269?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/blackmeji
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mejiblack-jx2gc?si=FwHkvvLyZnPMkB54
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mejimania?_t=8hFk6ft2L4V&_r=1
Image Credits
@shopmyviolet
