Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Mechelle Johnson.
Hi Alyssa Mechelle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Some time ago in the southside of St. Louis, Missouri, a scrawny five-foot pre-teen girl was glued to the television screen, trying to replicate every single challenge on America’s Next Top Model. That girl with huge dreams of being like the stars she watched in her living room was me. As a kid, I remember begging my mom to take me literally anywhere to try to get representation.
Finally, by Sophomore year of high school, my persuasive and effective begging paid off. I began taking classes at Barbizon of St. Louis. Soon after, I started going on auditions and booking local modeling gigs. With cheerleading, taking ACT practice tests, and trying to just survive high school, my schedule was packed to say the least. Nonetheless, I’ve always made time for auditions and castings because it was my dream above all else. When I went on to attend college at Northwest Missouri State University, I majored in Mass Media: Multimedia Journalism, in the hopes of possibly becoming a news anchor. But in college, I never let go of my first dream, going on to work as the lead in a student film during my time there. And though I had other modeling and acting experiences in college, it wasn’t until I moved to New York City and started taking classes at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting that I truly fell in love with the craft. Taking those classes catalyzed my serious pursuit of being on television. They helped me take a serious look at what it really took to make that long-held dream a reality. But after living in New York City for three years, COVID hit and I was forced to decide-continue living in Brooklyn working a full-time assistant job, struggling to find acting jobs, or pack up and move to LA, where I didn’t know anyone, to pursue this wild dream full force in Hollywood.
I, of course, chose the crazy option. I quit my full-time job, took out my 401k, and packed up my things to move out to LA. With no job lined up and in the middle of a pandemic. I used some of my savings to get an acting reel and sent it out to every agent I could find in LA. After a few weeks of this, I started getting calls and emails from a few agents. I ultimately went with my gut and chose Aqua Talent Agency, who currently represents me. Since getting started here in LA, I have booked two commercials and was featured on an Apple billboard. I am continuously working for that series regular or guest star role and I truly believe I will get the role when it is meant for me.
Alright, 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?
Back home, on Facebook and Instagram, I think it seems to most people that I have come such a long way from the southside of St. Louis. While a sliver of that picture may be true, it has not been even remotely easy getting here. I’ve had many struggles throughout the years and continue to struggle, mostly financially driven, as most actors or creatives who try to find that balance between “staying available” and being stable enough to pay bills in a timely manner. But, my biggest and toughest challenge came this past June when my older sister, Ciara, passed away. Grieving alone, while still trying to make my life in LA work is an ongoing struggle I face daily. When coupled with auditioning for theatrical and commercial roles, to call it an obstacle is an understatement. I had to cope and learn to turn that into something that pushed me to go even harder.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Acting hadn’t always been my number one dream. I began with modeling and brand ambassador work for companies like Yankee Candle, Toys R’ Us and Martell Cognac. I am most proud of breaking out of my shell and really going for my theatrical goals. I want to be known for acting, specifically in the drama genre of television and/or film. This past year, a feature film that I had the pleasure of being a part of premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. This is a moment I will cherish my entire career, no matter how far I get. Seeing all of the hard work we put into that film and being able to watch it (and myself) on the big screen was indescribable. Since, I was blessed with the opportunity to appear in a Samsung/Google commercial that was shown prior to both recent Marvel movies: Wakanda Forever and Black Adam, as well as various channels. My ability to really place my mind in others’ stories is what I believe to set me apart from other actors/actresses.
I am also a small business owner. I created Me by Mechelle to represent all types of hair types/textures. I hand-make and sell natural conditioners, satin hair accessories and satin robes. I truly created this company because I wanted to make products that got people excited about wearing their natural hair. You can’t go wrong with looking fashionable while protecting your hair!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk-Taking is such a tricky thing. You truly have to trust your gut when it comes to risks in my opinion. I have taken many risks to get to where I am currently. The major one being moving from New York City to Los Angeles. I had nothing in comparison to what I had in New York. It was a huge risk and I am truly glad that I trusted myself to take it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alyssamjohnson023.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssamechellejohnson/?__coig_restricted=1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssa.johnson.3766
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC99bu5MWgkp7nvWcjEhywJA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@alyssamechellejohnson?lang=en
Image Credits
Carlton Semple @carlton.aka.carlton Anthony Bryce Graham @thebrycestudio “I’m In Love” Music Video by Yerin Baek
