Conversations with Tiffany Channer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Channer.

Hi Tiffany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I was eight years old, I knew I wanted to be an actress. Nothing was stopping me from making that dream become a reality. I was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in Fort Lauderdale, FL for a part of my childhood and moved back to Brooklyn for the rest of my childhood going into my adulthood. While I lived in Florida as a young child, I knew I did not belong. I did not blend in and felt I was too artistic to be there.

There were not that many acting classes, and the only acting classes were in Miami and weren’t that good. My mom ended up getting scammed out of the acting classes I took in Miami promising my mom that I’ll be in a showcase for Disney and Nickelodeon; that I’ll have a manager and agent as well. Which neither happened. I was ten years old at the time. My mom put a hold on me pursuing my career because she didn’t want to get scammed out of any more money. Therefore I was only practicing my craft doing plays at my church. Eventually at the age of 13, I conceived my mom for us to move back to Brooklyn, NY so I can pursue my career in acting again. I knew It would be better career-wise because of the history and opportunities NYC has to offer. I owe everything to my mother. She is my world to believe in my dreams at the young age I was is unheard of. A lot of people doubted us when she told them that she is moving back to NYC so her daughter can follow her dreams. I can’t wait to prove them all wrong when I am hitting the red carpet with my mother by my side for an outstanding nomination in any category I am recognized in as an actor.

We moved to NYC the following summer and I auditioned for various performing arts high schools to be a theatre major. I got accepted to Brooklyn High School of the Arts and attended. I studied drama at the school learning the foundations of theatre. I saw my career going further doing high school plays and then eventually doing acting showcases to be represented. During that time as a freshman in high school I learned I am not supposed to pay for a manager or agent. They’re supposed to get a percentage for what I book from them. Then realizing my mom was right that she really did get scammed in Miami. It’s really sad that people would be corrupt to take money from parents who want to help their children’s dreams come true and take advantage of it. I saw my career getting better in high school auditioning for high school plays and off broadway shows. I felt my potential getting up there. I was in five school plays and three off broadway shows. During my time in high school, I realized I wanted to do tv and film instead of theatre. Theatre was more in NYC and Tv and film was in LA.

At 16, I realized I will move to LA after high school. I graduated high school and went to school upstate New York at Buffalo State. My plans changed instead of going to LA after high school because my mother was worried that’ll be too far away from home. Even though I put in applications for schools in LA and did auditions to get into their drama programs. I got accepted to some of the schools in LA but my mother’s answer was still no. At Buffalo State I studied theatre but switched my major to journalism and made theatre a minor. The drama department did not meet my expectations nor challenged me as an artist. I felt I was repeating my high school experience on what I learned in drama in college. During my junior year at Buffalo State as a journalism major and minor in theatre and fashion merchandising I learned that I still had a strong passion for acting and I did not see myself in any other career path. I am happy I explored different career paths to have that clarification. I knew once I graduated from college, I’ll be heading straight to LA. I told my parents and they both supported my decision.

Fast forward, I graduated college and moved to LA. My father helped me find an apartment in LA. It’s been a crazy journey with a lot of ups and downs but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am blessed to be at the position I am in to keep chasing my dreams and never giving up. I’ve got closer in my career being in LA compared to when I lived in Fort Lauderdale or NYC. It’s been a lot of rejection and keep hearing no but I know once I get that yes, it will make everything worth it. For my mother to sacrifice everything just for me is my daily reminder to keep going and push myself harder each day. I’ve been hungry on my grind since moving to LA, I learned to celebrate all my accomplishments even the small ones. It helps me to keep moving and stay focused on the right path of success for my career. I hope to motivate my generation and the generation after to never give up on your dreams no matter how big or small and follow through with your heart. A daily reminder I tell myself “What’s meant for me will be for me. Everyone’s path is different.” A few times telling myself that helps the dark times become somewhat bright again.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been obstacles and challenges financially and emotionally. My mother sacrificed A LOT to move back to Brooklyn to let me follow my dreams. Both of us living in uncomfortable environments moving back to Brooklyn. It was not a smooth start at all. It was a very humbling experience for me as a young teenager. Moving on my own to LA was very hard on me mentally, trying to balance auditions, different jobs, acting classes and on top of all that pay my bills. Not knowing how I was going to pay rent was always on my mind. I was extremely homesick being away from all my loved ones on the east coast. My mental state got bad to the point where I started getting anxiety attacks which led me to go to therapy. Therapy has definitely helped me with my anxiety and keeping it in control.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an actress, print model and content creator with a youtube channel giving hair tips and tutorials and sharing my experience of becoming an actress in LA l. I specialize in tv and film in acting. Acting is a journey, I appreciate the craft! Having to become someone else besides yourself to get into character can take a lot out of yourself but I love it! I love bringing the story to life! I create content for natural hair; growing up I hated my natural hair, used to get bullied for it. I ended up getting a perm behind my mom’s back at the age of 13. I was very insecure with my natural hair and wanted to have bone straight hair. I always got more compliments when I was younger when my mother would hot comb my hair for Easter or Christmas. During my sophomore year in college that’s when I decided to stop perming my hair; learning how to love my natural hair. Learning how to love my natural hair. It’s crazy because now as an adult, I get so many compliments of my natural hair compared to when I was younger.

I am happy society switched up their beauty standards for us to love our natural self. I’ve been making vlogs about my daily life of being an actress in LA and posting the content on my Instagram and mainly on my YT channel. I love giving tips to actors! I remember when I was young, I would search everywhere for the keys of becoming a successful actress and I could never really find them. I want to give that chance to other actors who are curious or want to become a part of the business and give them all the help they need. My DMs are open and I love getting asked questions about acting from individuals who see my videos on my channel and have more questions. I honestly want everyone to WIN! There’s more than enough space for everyone to make it happen and live out their dream!

What makes you happy?
Waking up every day thanking God I am alive. My mother makes me happy knowing that she is healthy and doing good. She’s my inspiration on everything I do. My loved ones make me happy checking up on them making sure they’re okay. Doing the things I love makes me happy. Those things are hanging out with my loved ones, doing self-care, acting and traveling. Self-care is very important to me making sure I am good mentally. Journaling all my thoughts down helps ease my mind. I also love to volunteer. It always brings me a great kind of happiness ever since I was young. Just being able to help others.

Contact Info:

• Email: tiff.channer@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanytori/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tiffanytori_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgnqwXe09UtEWmfjCj_rb0g?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Huebner headshots Bertram Knight