Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Tejada.
Hi Sandy, 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 grew up with a single mother who migrated from the Dominican Republic. She was my superhero growing up because she played both roles: mom and dad. My mother always prioritized education first. She pushed me to work hard to achieve the “American Dream.”
I was born in New York and raised in Queens. As a child, I wanted to assimilate to be solely American, but how could I? My mother clearly didn’t know any English. I was confused with who I was. Being the daughter of immigrant parents, I was not comfortable speaking Spanish outside of my home. In most of the programs and sports teams that I was a part of, I was more or less the only non-white person. The community where I lived was mostly an all Spanish-speaking neighborhood. The people in my community knew I was American-Dominican, but anywhere else I went, people often asked for my ethnicity or assumed I was white. When I would tell them my heritage was Dominican they wouldn’t believe me or questioned it. They would say that I didn’t look Spanish or I wasn’t dark enough to be Dominican.
It wasn’t until after college when I started pursuing my acting career and auditioning full-time, that I started owning my heritage as a Latina. Then, I quickly realized that I was not Latina enough for Spanish roles, as I don’t fit the Mexican stereotype cast. I noticed that every actor who ended up booking the Spanish roles I had auditioned for had lighter skin and darker black hair.
Latinos come in every shade and I do believe the industry is changing to represent real-life Latinos, not only fair-skinned ones. The casting conversations are being brought to light for the future generations: to represent diversity for Latinos of all colors and to be casted as Latino. Nowadays, I start my auditions by slating my name in my Spanish accent rather than Americanizing my name in English. I hope that I can one day be the Afro-Latina leading actor on screen that other Latinos watching can relate to and who looks like them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, it hasn’t been an easy journey! It has been a big challenge breaking into the industry. I am mixed, my dad was black and my mom was white both Dominican. I am Latina and I speak Spanish fluently in several different accents. Also, I identify as Afro-Latina. Just like many other Latina actresses in this industry, I’ve been rejected for Latina roles for not looking Mexican-Spanish and by white roles for not looking white enough, as well as biracial roles for not looking biracial enough.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am known for my hard work, dedication, resilience, consistency, and for making a ton of sacrifices; especially for pulling many all-nighters just to book one job. What sets me apart from everyone else is that I will never quit. I will not give up on my dreams despite any setbacks or challenges that may come my way. I will get through the challenges, as it’s all part of the journey. I am most proud of overcoming adversity and defying the odds. I hope to inspire others to follow their dreams and passion.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is setting my home VCR timer to record my favorite TV shows and Telenovelas. Then I would re-watch my favorite scenes several times until I fully memorized it. Eventually, I’d reenact the scene and add my own twist to it. I’d play the act over and over again in front of the mirror and would sometimes record it on a cassette player.
Contact Info:
- Email: sandy@sandytejada.com
- Website: https://sandytejada.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandytejada/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SandyTejadaPage
- Other: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/community-top-stories/visiones/visiones-angelfish/2247123/
https://m.imdb.com/name/nm4000255/filmotype?ref_=m_nm_flmg
https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/kSz/sandy-tejada
Image Credits:
3 Photos in red curly hair are by photographer Harris Davey 4 other photos are by photographer Susan Bowlus
