Today we’d like to introduce you to Ami Haruna.
Hi Ami, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I came from Tokyo, Japan as an exchange student for Harvard Westlake. and I loved LA so much I moved here for graduate school. At the same time, I started modeling and I got booked for TV roles and movies such as Crazy Stupid Love and HBO Newsroom. and over 10 major film and TV show credits while I was in my 20s. As a model, my credit includes Bose, Iqos, Southwest Airlines, Ferrari, Apple, Verizon, FHM, Herbalife, Google and many others. but when I got pregnant, my pregnancy was really difficult on me and I couldn’t work at all, and after I had my son…. covid lockdown happened. Since I had almost 1year off from work already, I had to figure out a way to make a living even during covid lockdown. that’s when I was introduced to live streaming. It took me a couple of months to figure out what “live streaming” is really but I became US #1 streamer on the app within a few months and I kept that position for over two years. On every event, every month, I won first place. and I earned over a million dollars just within a few years. And for three years anniversary on the app – I decided I would love to help other entrepreneurs like me and also grow app even bigger so I started a live-stream talent agency. and the first talent I consulted have won second place on the app within one month! Right now, instills stream every day and at the same time finds the right talent/streamer. My goal is to be a bridge in between Japan and California, live and tell the truth about daily life in LA, also talking to US ppl about what Japan is like hoping there is no misunderstanding of the culture and such. and to be able to do that, I’m trying to be more influential.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was smooth and easy till covid. I was only going to take a year off from modeling but I was forced to not work for another two years. And for a freelancer with a baby… three years of no real income was very difficult. Also, once I started doing live streaming, a lot of racist people (during Asian hate) would come and leave awful comments, and also, people who work for the app constantly changes since it was a small startup and so when I have issues with app I had no one to talk to or report to. and the streaming app in 2020 was not that know so had no one to ask for advice. of course, there are so many jealousy going on when I started doing well and people I thought were friends or person I don’t even know were backstabbing me and keep trying to bring me down so they can win… I never associate those types of people before so it was shocking and heartbreaking…
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Known for Crazy Stupid Love
The wedding ringer
HBO newsroom
Tosh.0
Gorburgershow
Eric Andre Show
Happy endings
Loiter squad
And for the live stream app (17live) Top Streamer of US region, I have won 17live Queen for the past three years. (app just celebrated three years anniversary)
I am Japanese Korean but I have been in the US the most in my life and so I am fluent in English and Japanese, also I have real experience of living in both countries, not just experiencing 3-6month, but real experiences like a lawsuit, car accidents, raising a child and buying houses, which most Japanese people don’t experience while they study abroad a couple of years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I consider myself super lucky. My grandpa was several award-winning writers in Japan and wrote a book about Luck. I don’t take anything for granted. I appreciate the fact I was born into my family, never had a debt, and also the way I look and all. If any of it was different, I wouldn’t be here, at where I am today. Yes, I worked hard and earned it but I think I was super lucky that I had a chance to prove myself and the opportunity to earn it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://instagram.com/a_list.management
- Instagram: @amiharuna
- Facebook: @amiharunaofficial
- Twitter: @amiharuna
- Other: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm3984772/
