The following Career Dispatches essay was written by Kiana Madeira, who stars on Netflix’s “Trinkets.”
Liberation, honesty, connection, and yearning are some of the words that come to mind when I ponder life as a human and my journey as an artist; the feeling of freedom when I am granted the space to play in my craft; the honesty that is required when communicating in our lives; the connection that is felt when we truly open our hearts and listen to others; and the yearning that I feel in my soul to evoke raw emotions in the viewers, so that every single person can see that we are made of the same light and love.
I know that God created me to be an actor because of how sure I feel about these things. In a world where there is so much uncertainty, it is imperative that we stand in confidence in those things that we feel are true. However, it isn’t always easy to step into our purpose.
How to Audition for Netflix One thing I can say about pursuing a career in the arts is, it is an adventure—a beautiful, intimidating, and fulfilling adventure. One of the biggest lessons I have learned along my journey thus far is to embrace myself. Early on in my career, I struggled with body image and feeling comfortable in my skin. I thought I needed to be very thin in order to “make it” in this industry, and that I needed to be considered attractive by everyone around me. I spent a lot of time worried about how I looked on-camera and how I was being perceived by others. Most of my energy during my early twenties was directed towards this battle of superficiality, and it ultimately drained my self-confidence and resulted in a plateau in my creative capabilities.
I was exhausted and knew that I was not living in alignment with God’s purpose for me. Through the love of Jesus, prayer, meditation, yoga, and sincere self-reflection, I embarked on a new path of my adventure: the commitment to surrendering myself to my art while removing ego from the equation.
We are living in a society that is saturated with judgement and comparison. I have learned that as an artist, I cannot succumb to the temptation to please others. It is my job to lead with an unfiltered, open, and vulnerable heart. In order to positively contribute to the world in the way that is so desperately needed, it is my responsibility to lead with love. This includes loving myself and my instrument; my body. When I realized this, I was able to shine through my work onscreen in a way that was impossible when I was lost in negative self-talk of not being enough.
We are enough. We are beautiful. If you have a dream, focus wholeheartedly on pouring yourself into the crafting of that dream. Our lights shine brightest when we accept and love all that we are, inside and out. Speak kindly to yourself and know that everything you are experiencing and feeling is what makes you special. This life is an adventure and we all deserve to explore it with the peace that comes with knowing your true worth.
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