My agent knew that I would make her less money. She would offer Dakota’s name first. I remember sitting in the casting agent’s office and would hear my agent on the phone talking about her lunch meeting with Dakota that day. I knew that I was the second fiddle… the second choice. That immediately makes you criticize parts about yourself; it makes you keep trying to figure out what takes you out of the running before the casting agents even know you. It made me wonder why I was void of chance. I kind of wrestled against that with myself. I think for some people, it destroys them in the industry and in life. For others, they see that there is some injustice and proceed to rise above it. Hopefully the people who do rise above it, do it to for themselves to set an example for others and then they seek ways to ripple that effect to the rest of the community.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISAAC STERLING
CREATIVE DIRECTION BY LUCIA TRAN
*"As We Are" is our no-makeup portrait series. Learn more here.