Today we’d like to introduce you to Chasity Saunders.
Hi Chasity, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My story starts as a small-town girl from Roanoke, Virginia with big dreams of making it as a model and actor. My dreams led me to explore every single opportunity to do so. After being scouted by Wilhelmina Models at 17 I had a major choice to make. My father told me that he was either financing my first modeling portfolio or buying my books and setting me up for my first year of college at Norfolk State University. Valuing both beauty and brains, I chose to go to college before pursuing modeling and acting professionally. I graduated and immediately moved to New York City the same week and hit the ground running. 6 months after moving to NYC I was discovered at an ESSENCE Magazine open casting call; signed my first modeling contract and secured my very first client, Miss Tina Knowles, now Lawson. Modeling alongside Beyonce on tv shows like The View and The Today Show. This modeling job with the Knowles was a dream come true and it took me all over the country to do tv and in-person appearances from Texas, to New Orleans and Los Angeles, which I fell in love with. I started training to be an actor back in undergrad and was an NSU Player, putting on plays and musicals at our campus theatre. I continued studying my craft in NYC after graduating from college, studying at The Directing Actor’s Gym and Susan Batson Studios with Marishka Phillips. During my time in NYC, I appeared in Off-Broadway Plays and Independent Films. For a few years, I was bi-coastal, balancing my modeling, tv hosting, and acting career, training at Ivanna Chubbuck Studios, and eventually moving to LA to pursue acting full time. After over 2 years of training in the master class at Tasha Smith’s Acting Studio, I landed my first co-star tv role in the Second Season of TALES on BET. From there my most current recurring role where I can be seen as Michelle Sylver Esq. a love interest and powerful defense attorney on Double Cross Season 2 streaming on @watchallblk which will also air its highly anticipated third season February 3rd, 2022; and most recently my first feature film and theatrical release for “A Holiday Chance” now available for streaming on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and all digital platforms. I am filled with immense gratitude for where I am in my journey and for all that is to come!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My mom has always told me that nothing worth having would simply be a walk in the park. My journey has honestly never been easy. I have always been a curvy girl and while living in the south that wasn’t something that made me stand out, it absolutely has in the world of fashion as well as in my acting career. I’ve always had to truly believe in myself and in my talent and not focus on the many people who told me no or that I couldn’t accomplish my dreams because of one opinion or another. Being a confident, educated, resourceful, black, curvy woman has always intimidated most people. But I’ve chosen to walk boldly in my purpose anyway, knowing what’s for me, God has specifically for me and that nothing and no one can change that… as hard as many have tried. I was also the first person in my immediate family to attend and graduate from college, that was not easy either; as well as being the first in my family to move far away. In the beginning, I didn’t have a lot of support, not even from family. My grandparents were afraid of me moving to New York City alone to become “a model” and “actress”; nobody in my family had ever moved so far away or found success in the entertainment business but I was determined. I also don’t come from a wealthy family or have any sort of security blankets in place, so oftentimes in my journey, I’ve had to get “survival” jobs. I’ve been a waitress and I’ve worked many high-end cater waiter jobs on both coast in between modeling and acting gigs. I’ve also missed a lot of time with family and friends and made a lot of sacrifices for my dream. A crippling challenge that I’ve had to face is losing my father tragically to gun violence in 2015, a loss that I am still working through on a daily basis. I’ve also had to deal with traveling on my journey most times alone. What I’ve discovered is that all in all, it’s always just me and God…and my mother! Thank God for my praying mother, who always helps me through life’s challenges. I approach each obstacle I have to face with grace. I’m also not a fan of focusing on obstacles or challenges, we all have them, but I am a fan of solutions! Listen, being a black woman in America is not something I got to choose, but it is something that I get to cherish!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an artist. Specifically, an actress, model, and tv host and I specialize in showing up in my art as a strong, black lead. An image activist if you will. Representation is truly important to me and whether you see me in a film, a television show, fashion or beauty campaign, hosting a red carpet, or interviewing one of today’s biggest and brightest stars; I’m known for representing and being strong, bold, and courageous! I’m truly proud of that. As an actress I’m most proud of my latest film, “A Holiday Chance” now streaming on Amazon Prime and all digital platforms, it was my first theatrical release. By being cast as TERRI in A Holiday Chance, I got to work with friends, peers, and legendary actors that I’ve admired for years, and because Christmas was my father’s favorite holiday and the fact that I lost him during this time; I finally have something joyful to look forward to and to celebrate again during the holidays! I dedicated my performance in the film to my late father. As an entertainment journalist, sitting down for lunch at The Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood and interviewing the late, great Chadwick Boseman for my first Ebony Magazine cover story is most certainly a huge standout and as far as modeling, booking, and becoming an ULTA Beauty and appearing in a worldwide beauty commercial and campaign during a global pandemic, which carried me through such a difficult season as an artist financially, simply can’t be beat! I’ve had some really amazing career highs and I absolutely do not take them for granted. I am truly grateful for each and every time that I get to express myself as an artist. God favors me and has allowed me to be used as a vessel, that’s the most exciting part! And honestly, I believe that is what set’s me apart from others, I always keep God first and I’ve never allowed the world to put me in a box! I’m multi-talented and multi-dimensional and when I pray and talk to God, he gives me the plays! I just show up ready to give 100% every single time! And being asked to do this interview, really made me take a deep look at just how far I’ve come and what it took for me to reach this new tier in my career and I’m reminded of something one of my favorite rappers Jay-Z once said, and that is…”The genius thing that we did was we didn’t give up” and that’s my advice to anyone pursuing anything great, just don’t give up!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I’ve personally re-read my favorite books a hundred times and would highly recommend The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, and a new favorite All About Love by bell hooks. For artist specifically, I would highly recommend The Power of The Actor by Ivanna Chubbuck, TRUTH by Susan Batson, and The Artist Way by Julia Cameron. Another book I read daily is Jesus Calling which I also highly recommend! For the podcast I would suggest In The Envelope by FYC, ESSENCE, Yes, Girl podcast ‘where black girl magic reigns’, and The Deadline Podcast, New Hollywood.
Contact Info:
Chasity is managed by Cultivate Entertainment Partners and can be reached through her managers Corey Simon at [email protected] and Robert Szertics at rs@cultivateent.com
- Website: www.imdb.me/chasitysaunders
- Instagram: @chasitysaunders
- Twitter: @itsmechasity
Image Credits
Vel Images
