Meet Charlotte Makala of Charlie Cakes in North Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte Makala.

Charlotte, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
On stage in front of an audience in North Hollywood last week, I found myself naked -emotionally, speaking, almost choking on my tears and partially blinded by stage lights.

For many entertainers this is our norm, many of us expose our raw emotions and passion to an audience in hopes for a warm reception. When I moved to America from the Middle East, six years ago to pursue my acting career, I hoped for the same kind of warm reception. I had hoped that the dreams of a Tanzanian Actress and Author would be validated in this country. What I didn’t realize was that dreams are valid- period.

Landing in the harsh cold bitterness of New York post hurricane Sandy, I found New York and the entertainment industry to be a whirlwind of ups and downs. I questioned the legitimacy of my aspirations and wondered how a foreign black actress would fit into the industry. Auditioning often became my new way of being an uplifting mantras, my new speech as I was determined to forge a path and a place for myself in showbiz.

Watching Lupita Nyongo’s first big Oscar win had me drenched in tears of victory, her win signified more than just a triumph for Kenya, it was my victory too! That moment etched in me the message that there were hope and a home for me in Hollywood as an African female immigrant.

After taking several bites of the big apple, I had found my groove and managed to book shows off-broadway and witness my first American television debut on The First 48 as a Police Officer. My groove gave way to a hustle that stepped in the direction of Los Angeles.

L.A. held new promises for me that I did not know were even possible for my professional career. This year I am resigning as First Princess for the Miss Africa America Pageant representing my country, Tanzania and I as a self- published author (The Color of Promise available on Amazon) I have just crossed the threshold of selling my first 100 copies of my book.

Almost choking on my tears and partially blinded by the blur of sobbing six years ago as I looked out on to a foreign street in New York and questioned if I would evaporate in the melting pot of America, I would have told myself, that my dreams were valid, not because of where I am from or because of where I am but because aspirations are made of faith, a substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen.

I haven’t won an Oscar yet, but I have a platform, and today it might take on the form of a screen, tomorrow- a page and the day after a stage. My desire is that the victory in this publication is a win for someone somewhere as we continue to pursue in faith the things we hope for.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The journey to now has not been a smooth road, I have had to persevere with a positive attitude when it comes to claiming my space. While I reign as a successful beauty princess and today, there is something peculiar about me, and that is, that I am plus size. I’m not a typical size pageant princess. (Actually, I relate most to “Milliie” from the Netflix original – Dumplin’. We are both plus size, positive, Christ-filled pageant princesses!)

It takes a tremendous amount of resilience and bravery to compete in an arena where you stand out for not being a certain body type, and this is where and how mental fortitude comes to play. I had to develop the mental ability to stay strong and positive throughout the competition, and I hate to admit this, but I’m a believer in transparency, so I’ll confess that throughout the competition I was my own worst critic and I had to battle it out with myself to remain positive and hopeful.

“Finding my place” in the industry as an immigrant. One of the challenges I faced early on in my career was finding my “type,” while we see more diversity in television for actresses of African descent today I still feel that there needs to be more representation on television for actors and actresses of color.

As a former journalist, my articles were always edited and reviewed before being published, however, when it came to self-publishing, I struggled with the thought if my work was “worthy” and if I had set the right price for my book again I had to wrestle the voice of the negative inner critic.

Nothing I have accomplished has been easy, there have been many many nerve-wracking moments, and I would be remiss if I did not mention that I have a fantastic support system that includes my family- my Dad and my brother and my best friend Trinetta Olivia among many other supportive friends. It is with their support I have been able to achieve what I have.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Charlie Cakes story. Tell us more about the business.
I like to think of myself as a quirky artist with a heart for devotion. I call myself an artist because I believe it embodies my creative professions as an actress, writer, poet, and speaker. This year I am focusing on my reign as a Tanzanian pageant princess while maintaining time to write and create content for my YouTube channel.

As an artist from Tanzania, I’m most proud of representing my country in the spaces I occupy. I’m proud of both my heritage and my faith. It is no secret that I am a follower of Christ, and I like to think that wherever I go, I am able to shine a spiritual light that beacons brighter than I ever could alone.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck as much as I believe in blessings. I admit there are many areas in which I am blessed, especially in the area of having a reliable and excellent support system. I also believe we all have the equal resource of time; we each have 24 hours in a day to get closer to our goals.

Creating balance while remaining a thriving artist is no easy feat and will require: consistency, sacrifice, and perseverance. I believe luck is undependable, but determination is key to progress, determination and preparedness will take you much further than luck in the long run.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/charli3cakes
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charli3cakes/
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/MadammeCharlez

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