Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Clayton.
Hi Bethany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Philly but raised in California. I’ve been acting and modeling since I was little. In high school, I was a part of the drama team and starred in several theater shows and did my first film at ten years old. Over the years academics became my main priority but after my first year of college, I told my mom I wanted to drop out and pursue modeling and acting. She gave me a whole list of famous black actors who all had their college degrees and convinced me to at least finish getting my bachelor’s. I went back to school and made her proud by pursuing my degree in neuroscience and psychology with a minor in acting and film & television. I finished my bachelor’s degree and as soon as I graduated, I moved straight to la to chase my dreams. I started working as an intern in Atlantic Records, then decided I wanted to be serious about my acting and modeling. I started to grow my social media presence and was able to create close to a 100k audience across all social media platforms. This opened me up to working in the hottest commercials, top print campaigns and music videos in Los Angeles at the time.
From growing my social media presence, I was to open up so many opportunities and really get my foot in the door working for all the major hair and makeup companies I used to look up to. Such as ColourPop, Revlon, and NYX which I currently have contracts with. I also signed to a commercial and theatrical talent agency called Eris Talent Management for theatrical and commercial. I was featured in a national commercial for Bio Oil and campaigned for Coco and Eve, Sephora, Lanza, Ancient Cosmetics, Icon Swim, 437, RosenSkincare. Partnerships with Pretty Little Thing, Oh Polly. With feature roles on Station 19, Ballers, Young Sheldon, Insecure, and Euphoria I will be making my debut in my first principal role in the Rise of Terragon which begins filming next year. Looking to continue to build my modeling portfolio and join more film projects until then!
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?
The pandemic was a huge setback for me, I got distracted from my purpose and I dealt with a lot of personal life drama that really took my life for a turn. I learned a lot about myself during that time and what was most important to me. I grew discouraged and I really doubted myself even thought about switching career fields entirely but now I am rebuilding my brand and chasing my dreams again and it’s been such a huge transition but it’s all about the journey and I’m grateful for the setbacks, because I learned so much about myself along the way. I appreciate that time the most because it allowed me to take a step back and realize what was most important to me and above all that is my family and my relationships with my friends and people that I work with who have become family. And most importantly, I realized how I wanted to impact the world. Not just get reach. And I have been working towards that ever since.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am known for my many viral modeling photos across all social media platforms. Being a part of several major beauty campaigns for brands such as Maybelline, Colourpop, NYXcosmetics, Revlon, Shea Moisture, Devacurl, Fashion Nova, Camille Rose Naturals, She’s Moisture, Lanza Curls, Pretty Little Thing, oh Polly, etc. I have worked on major television shows such as Insecure, Ballers, love and Hip Hop, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Young Sheldon, Station 19, All American, and Euphoria.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was super sweet and bubbly, very kind-hearted and always trying to serve others and do what was best for my family. I was very shy and soft-spoken and was very close to my parents always. I was a daddy’s girl. I was very involved in church activities like pathfinders and the church choir. I did a lot of church outreach programs and church camps. I was also very funny and goofy and always wanted to make people laugh. I didn’t mind being the class clown sometimes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/itsbethanydani
- Twitter: Twitter.com/itsbethanydani
Image Credits
Barbie x Colourpop Collaboration shot by @hector.movie
