In this article:
Hi Friend,
They say hindsight is 20/20. How strong is your prescription? Can you make sense of your past? Better yet, can you make sense of your future because of it?
Recently, I sent an email I’d dreamed of for years—notifying finalists and marking the official launch of Infinityland’s Creatives in Residence program. This program brings artists and changemakers to Costa Rica to focus on their craft and mental health, uninterrupted. It was a proud moment that made me pause and reflect: How did I even get here?
Looking back over the last decade, I began piecing together the twisty, turny road that led me to the destined self I was always meant to become—today. Each experience revealed more about my talents, interests, values, and intuition. Then it hit me: most people truly don’t know your full journey. They see a snapshot—a single page—and think they know the whole script. But here’s the truth: their opinions don’t matter—you’re the director; they’re the audience.
Here’s part one of my story—a reflection on the twists and turns that led to this milestone. Take note: by staying true to my vision, countless lives will now benefit and reap the rewards.
Hollywood
Lights, CAMERAS, Action.
There I was, riding in the back of a Rolls Royce with the suicide doors, sitting next to one of the biggest superstars of all time. Suddenly, the car stopped, and they surprised me with my very first red carpet at the SLS Hotel. I’d officially entered my Hollywood era.
A couple of years before that, I was scouted on my college campus, kicking off a modeling career I was fortunate to maintain internationally while studying abroad in Europe. After graduating, I was right back in school—starting my first master’s degree three days later. Literally graduated on Friday, and started grad school on Monday. I know... qué loca!
There I was at USC, working toward my Master’s in Teaching, getting closer to my childhood dream of becoming a professor and one day owning my own alternative school (clock the foreshadow). Being in Los Angeles was one thing, but living in Hollywood was another. When I look back, I laugh because I was definitely living a double life. But that was totally normal for LA. You know the classic “waiter by day, actor by night” lifestyle. Anyone who’s lived in LA knows how wild reality can get with the entertainment industry as your backdrop. One day, I’m in class, teaching students in a program I designed to strengthen race relations, reduce bullying, and improve mental health. The next day, I’m at a dinner table with Denzel Washington to my left, Floyd Mayweather to my right, and a bunch of celebs cracking up at jokes me and my homegirl Rima Fakih (aka Miss USA) are telling.
What began as a hobby started to get real real, real quick. Somehow I’d found myself featured on the cover of Nike’s website, in commercials for brands like Mastercard and David’s Bridal, and even winning “Model of the Day” on Model Mayhem (did I just date myself with that last one? lol).
On video sets, is where things really started to change for me. Front of the camera was fun, but my curiosity grew about life behind the camera. I was fascinated by the storytelling of it all. I had stories I wanted to tell! Lucky for me, I had friends who were directors. Once they saw the spark in my eyes sharing my creative ideas, the homies started putting me on. Before I knew it, I wasn’t just gracing screens, I was writing treatments and creative directing for the likes of Akon, Common, Busta Rhymes, Chris Brown, Jay Z, Kanye, and others.
My circle started intertwining with industry icons like Quincy Jones, Alex Avant, and other powerhouse families behind the music scene.
Over the years, I accumulated a whirlwind of wild memories that seem like scenes out of a movie. I worked with Will Smith’s family, scouting rising musical talent, and directing studio sessions at the Boom Boom Room. I found myself celebrating at holiday parties alongside Bradley Cooper, Leonardo DiCaprio, and OG friends like Jaleel White. There were box seats at Dodgers games with Snoop Dogg, late-night sushi at Katana’s with Dr. Dre, and birthdays spent binge-watching Ancient Aliens with Too Short. It even became tradition to hit Mr. Chow’s with Jamie Foxx, ordering half the menu surrounded by all our friends.
Random nights were spent chopping it up with Jerry Lorenzo, talking about his vision to transition from club promotion to launch Fear of God, all while music blasted around us at Greystone. And then there’s moments like being personally mentored on filmmaking by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton), after riding his Harley through the winding roads of Mulholland Drive. I told you, life was a flippin movie.
Continue Reading
Read the rest on toinfinityland.com, "How I went from Hollywood to➡️Silicon Valley to➡️the Jungle🎯Part 1".