Today we’d like to introduce you to Aurianna Angelique
Hi Aurianna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in southern California. My father was incarcerated my entire life and passed away before I got the chance to meet him. We grew up in a low-income community, and my mother did the best she could, but one thing we never lacked was love. She always pushed us to dream big and have faith despite our circumstances. Growing up without knowing my father has been a challenge I am still trying to overcome as an adult. To this day, I am still searching for a photo of him to hopefully fill the gap that has been missing my entire life. My love for music started at church, and I joined a gospel choir at age 7.
I was blessed to have mentors and free youth programs in our area that introduced me to performing arts, and it saved my life. I discovered my love and passion for singing and dancing, which gave me purpose. I attended a performing arts high school followed by a performing arts college and traveled the world as a professional actress for over a decade.
2018, I decided to end my performing career because God had another calling in my life. I moved back to California and began writing and creating for children’s film and television. My passion for creating representation for Black children in the media is the belief that it shapes their understanding of the world and their place in it. Characters who look like them in influential, positive roles can inspire confidence, ambition, and a sense of belonging.
In 2020, I founded a youth nonprofit organization in Los Angeles called ROC ERA (Regardless Of Color). ROC enriches, empowers, and invests in underserved Black and brown youth through the transformative power of performing arts, wellness, and mentorship. Our mission is to provide a safe and inspiring space where young people can explore their creativity, build confidence, and develop essential life skills. Through workshops, performances, film and TV classes, and goal-intensive mentorship, we empower these youth to overcome challenges, pursue their dreams,
and see themselves represented in positive, powerful ways. Ultimately, our organization is committed to fostering community and belonging, helping every participant realize their full potential. My life purpose is to mentor these children, like the mentors I had growing up.
With my nonprofit thriving, I am developing multiple show ideas for children’s theater, film, and television to change the narrative and create groundbreaking characters.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up in this country as a woman of color, specifically a black woman, I faced the stark reality that there were very few roles in theater that authentically represented us. I always had to work much harder to be seen. I didn’t let where I came from, or my background ever stop me from discovering my true potential. I use it as fuel to keep me going, and I am determined to pave the way for our future generation of Black women in theater and the media.
I also needed help believing in myself and seeing my greatness. Throughout my life, I have had many incredible mentors who have given me the tools to truly know the meaning of self-love. I have also found my relationship with God, and I give all glory and honor to him for every success in my life.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Aurianna Angelique is a multifaceted artist, showcasing her talents as an actress, singer, director, songwriter, and playwright. Her diverse skills have been demonstrated in off-Broadway shows such as Sistahs the Musical, BroadwayHD and National Tours, A Night with Janis Joplin, and multiple original roles with Disney Cruise Line.
Her recent accomplishments include an interview and feature on the Jennifer Hudson Show in February 2024, where she discussed her non-profit organization R.O.C. ERA (Regardless Of Color), which provides children of color in underserved communities with access to the performing arts. Aurianna has also written and directed several youth musicals in Los Angeles, including her most recent show, “A Will to Rise”, which aims to create a safe space for at-risk youth to express themselves through live theater. She is an dedicated social activist and philanthropist
Her portfolio includes original children’s music, multiple treatments for children’s theater, and T.V. and film concepts. She is developing a new YouTube series called “The Girls From The Block.” The series follows a group of young girls from the projects in Los Angeles who help kids like them overcome challenges they’ve experienced. Through their adventures and acts of kindness, they inspire resilience, unity, and positivity within their community.
In 2019, without representation, she pitched her original work to several networks, including Netflix, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Dream works Animation, and Apple T.V.
When offered a deal in 2021 to option her original animated feature film, Aurianna made a moral decision. Despite the opportunity, she declined the offer due to the lack of diversity on the creative team, a value she holds dear.
Her mission is to create representation in children’s media that reflects Black and Brown culture as it truly is, a commitment that inspires and garners support from all who share her values.
How do you define success?
To me, success means knowing who you are, being authentically you, and having people around you who want to see you win and root for you during those challenging moments. I define success as waking up, being grateful for your life, living your purpose every day, and leaving behind a legacy that will shift generations is my definition of success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rocera.org
- Instagram: Auriangelique
- Facebook: Aurianna Tuttle
