You think of your parents as these Gods who can do no wrong. Then, you hit a certain point and you just realize, 'Oh, they are just people trying to do the best they can.' I think that was a big thing for me... And took me a while to just accept.
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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.
*"As We Are" is our no-makeup portrait series. Learn more here.
I am really passionate about the human trafficking issue. It’s happening and it’s horrible. What’s even more horrible to me, is how our society is perpetuating the situation. When you see a prostitute in society, you outcast them and feel this is on them. But you have to realize that the person is probably 17, and was taken under the care of a pimp at 14 and placed on the streets, because she had no option. In what world are these prostitutes not victims? You have to imagine yourself without the upbringing that you had. There is a fine line. These are stories that don’t often get told.
To learn about about sex trafficking, please visit Equality Now.
*"As We Are" is our no-makeup portrait series. Learn more here.