Meet Leatha Joyner of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leatha Joyner

Hi Leatha, 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 am Leatha Joyner, an actress, singer and the reigning Teen Miss Juneteenth America – Queen 2024! I have loved acting, song and dance since I was a child. I am always, singing, dancing and working on my acting. With Pageantry and being Teen Miss Juneteenth America that journey began when I heard the previous (at the time reigning) Queen Karrington talk about her journey with the title and what it meant to her. I was so inspired by Karrington and her story that I wanted to do what she had done for me and others, inspire, share and learn more about African American history. That is when and where my Queenly journey began in Los Angeles, CA and now throughout America and Europe!

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?
On my journey I have hit some bumps and was challenged by obstacles yet most of my journey has been smooth, purposeful and fun. As Tisha Campbell and others have said “Its the journey” and this has been quite the journey! It has been a lot of fun and a lot of hard work, not just the days before the pageant or during the pageant but also after. During the Summer of 2024 I had a lot of things happening, but two significant achievements were that I won the title Teen Miss Juneteenth America and did theatre in Germany with CSU Summer Arts. With both of those journeys there were bumps in some places but those bumps led to growth and I wouldn’t change a thing. At the time with Juneteenth America three big bumps that I had was that I still needed my final dress, a hotel room and a plane ticket to and from Alabama. With those bumps I almost wanted to quit but with prayer, determination, and hope I kept on the journey and came home with the sash, crown and trophy! For theatre in Germany although I was really excited a bump was also that I needed a way to get there and back, but with God’s help, scholarship and the help of family I was able to go and do what I love internationally.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an actress and singer! I have worked on different shows and films you may know of like “Abbott Elementary”, “Mixed-ish”, “Black Widow “and more. I have also worked in theatre which combines three things that I love, song, dance and acting, for theatre, one of my favorite performances was during Rumpelstiltskin as Queen Beatrice at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center. That performance is really special to me because it was me coming back to my theatrical roots and to come back with such a big role on such a time crunch was just amazing to see and do with our ensemble. With music I am still growing, just as I am as an actress and human, but I currently have 1 song out called “I praise God for you” which I made in honor and memory of my father and I have a cover of Ariana Grande’s “My Hair”.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Ooh! This is a great question, lol the first book that popped in my head was the Bible. I am always pulling verses out of my head for real life situations like “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger” which is really helpful because there are times when you realize you need to calm down or just need help day to day. Another book that I would say is really good is Shonda Rhimes “year of yes”, Shonda is amazing and so is her book. Reading her book and watching her and her work is so inspirational not just as a young woman to know that I can excel but as an African American young woman and fan!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://missjuneteenth.org/2024-miss-juneteenth-america-scholarship-pageant-recap
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lele_joy_/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leathajoyner/featured