Not many people can say their first job was for NASA, but 12-year-old actor Mckayla Salceda can! Believe it or not, the young actor’s first-ever gig was a NASA commercial. Since that foray into the business, the ambitious performer has gone on to book several jobs, including a print ad and even a national commercial for a “Star Wars” product, all with the help of Backstage.
Before she ever stepped in front of a camera, Salceda felt a yearning to perform. “Mackayla has always watched Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, since she was 2 years old,” explains her mother, Melina. “She definitely wanted to be a part of it.” Serendipitously, Salceda’s career came full circle last summer when she booked a Disney Channel commercial, starring alongside Disney stars Peyton and Spencer List.
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Salceda (with assistance from her mom) checks Backstage five times a week, ensuring that she never misses a job she could be right for. Each time she books a gig, she happily gets to work.
“[Acting] gives her an amazing feeling that she can do anything in life, and to continue moving forward,” says Melina of her daughter’s spirit. “She fully believes in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality.”
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