Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Samaha.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Maya. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m from a small town in eastern Washington, but both sides of my family are from different parts of the world. So culturally I grew up different than most people around me. My love for art, performing, and comedy started with my mom. She was a hard-working single mother who sacrificed everything for her children, so I knew what hard work and determination looked like at a young age. She would always set up her video camera and we would make skits, dance, and perform in front of the camera. It was a way to escape the daily struggles and hardships and it made us laugh.
I grew up spending most of my time in a dance studio with my mom who was a ballet teacher. The combination of performing at home for the camera and on stage for an audience is what makes me good at what I do today. When I was 18 I moved to Seattle to become a hairstylist, a career I knew was both creative and financially stable. While in Seattle, I managed myself as a model and artist, booking myself with major brands and having sold out art shows. I recently moved to LA to pursue my creative dreams and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. Three months in I got signed to Nous Model Management and my life has changed completely. I am modeling full time now and also pursuing acting, creative directing, and my art. I’m so happy to be here.
Great, 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?
I have definitely faced a lot of adversity in my life. I didn’t grow up in the healthiest environment. I grew up fast, which was good and bad. I was bullied pretty hard for the majority of my time in school which affected my confidence and still does till this day. The town I grew up in was pretty conservative and white. Being gay and middle eastern in a small town is very confusing, and I struggled with my sexuality and overall identity for years. If you told me I would be a signed model in LA back then I wouldn’t have believed it.
I’ve been told “no” countless amount of times. It’s just apart of this crazy journey and process and I’ve learned if you listen to what other people think you will never do anything great. What remained consistent for me was my vision and faith in my abilities as a creative. I’m thankful that I have people who support and love me for who I am, especially my mom. She has always encouraged me to be exactly who I am and to pursue my dreams. I have faced many struggles in my life but I always come out resilient and stronger. I am thankful for these struggles because they are lessons.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
My brand is me. I am a dancer, model, entertainer, performer, comedian, actress, artist, and creative director. I am proud of the fact that I’ve never had a 9-5 job because I know where my skills can take me. I am proud of my determination, punctuality, attention to detail and overall understanding of how things work in the process of making art. My spirit is what sets me apart from others, as well as my unique look. Every time I’m on set I bring the energy that’s necessary to create something meaningful. My intentions are set and I give it everything I’ve got. People will remember me and feel inspired. It’s what I do best!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory is making home videos with my mom and brother. It was something that united us and made us laugh. Laughing is the best medicine and we did a lot of that together.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mayasamaha.com
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Photo and Makeup by Magdalena Ayon
swim photo the photographer is Claudia Goetzelmann
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