Conversations with Jasmine Cowan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Cowan.

Hi Jasmine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
At two years old my Dad recalls that I sat on his lap watching tv with him and I told him “Daddy, I’m gonna be on tv.” He said that I voiced it with such confidence and assurance. He told me “yes darling you will be “ my mom and dad have been and anchor for me they supported my dream from that day forward. I took theater in high school in SanBernardino California . Where my idea to produce an original play rather than continue to redo the Shakespeare that everyone was doing was celebrated by my teacher , classmates and the school. I had a passion for television and film but I also loved being athletic and I was a Varsity cheerleader that excelled in tumbling and stunts. I approached cheer like a sport with an athlete mentality not just trying to be cute in a skirt . As a teenager my body developed muscle mass faster than the others which caused me to be teased by classmates . I knew that I was only passing through the inland empire and my heart was in Hollywood . But it took a lot of faith to get there and to continue throughout years of rejection, false starts, strikes , and a pandemic .
I booked a few short films while in college but my first big break came on the TV show “To tell the Truth “ hosted by Anthony Anderson . I begin to train and groundlings but found there was hardly any African Americans getting through their core classes.. so I committed to train else where . I knew I love improv growing up choosing to watch “ In Living Color “ instead of Barney or cartoons. I would then reenact those character with my dad’s home video camera . I would use this gift booking several commercials which helped me to pay for living in the city of Los Angeles . I came with nothing . No savings just tons of faith. I believed it was my God given destiny to be an actress to be in LA so I went and I believed it would all workout. It was a struggle but it did . I booked A huge Commecial
For Budlight seltzer right after the shut down of the pandemic which was an answered prayer . It helped me to recoup financial loss and also boosted my faith in what I was doing .
Shortly after that I booked a role in Julia Robert’s lead limited Series on Stars called “Gaslit” we filmed in my hometown of San Bernardino at the airport. I remember sitting in the cast chair remembering how someone in my college told me “it’s so stupid to want to be an actress that can never happen to you. Be realistic!” Of course I wasn’t going to listen to that person I was going to listen to God. So I kept training at Ivanna Chubbuck studios and other acting classes . I even did behind the scenes work as an audience coordinator , stand in for other actors , and production runner to maintain a presence in the industry .
These small roles really were huge to me especially seeing how miraculous they came about . Many of my roles have been not based on auditions I was given the role !! It just shows that your path is yours alone . Some people have a great audition and call back rate but I have booked other roles such as gaslit , commercials such as Sam’s club , and American Gangster trap queens role on two separate season by what I believe is the favor of God. Some people believe that it’s only hard work that gets you things. I’m not knocking that but I know the things that happen to me along the way are way beyond my ability.
When we were shut down at the pandemic I had no money saved and there was a statement with a production company I had worked with I received a few thousand dollars .
Even with the strike last year I was pushed by my mom , who has been my bestie and biggest support , to go on Let’s Make a Deal Game show with Wayne Brady . I ended up rolling the dice and winning $10,000 that helped me to pay bills in La , it helped me to purse another fitness passion that helped me through the strike . I couldn’t do that in my own strength .
So I’ was teased for being muscular . But it has been a blessing for Bodybuilding in which I’ve won several
First place awards after only training for two years . So many people were inspired by my physique and wanted help so I went and got my certification during the strike of ag aftra . That time off helped to develop as a coach to help others who wanted to get in a healthier lifestyle . I even trained my client to win first place at her very first bodybuilding show. My bodybuilding has also influenced my acting roles booking again without an audition a Demi Levato Music video “fast “ that was recently released at the time of writing. I also worked films that wanted to highlight a muscular yet feminine physique . I’m so glad that I didn’t listen to the teasing that I received in high school. Even several hateful comments online about my physique saying I looked like a man. I realize it’s part of my destiny to bring the body positivity movement to muscular women . If women can build muscle then muscle is feminine . Even though I’m thankful for my cop and soldier roles I would like to break through without covering up my muscles . I’m grateful for roles I booked on OWNs tv series “All Rise” as the surgeons Beautiful wife but I found that they wanted me to wear long sleeves and loose fitting clothes. My heart desire is to promote in media that muscles can be viewed as not just for bodybuilders, personal trainers , or masculine women but for any woman in any field . It’s a part of having a healthy life and body. Muscle is feminine and healthy .
I’m very thankful for where I am today and my current projects I’m building with both fitness workout videos coming out later and acting roles booking again. But most of all I want to inspire people to have faith that anything is possible if you believe . I didn’t have an easy road but I wouldn’t change any of it .

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?
I struggled with body image I’ve never been the skinny girl
I’ve always had an athletic build
I struggled to pay bills especially during the strike .
I’m so thankful for the opportunities in print ads , commercials that came through but there were many rough days where I didn’t know where my next check wa coming from
There were movements I was getting harassed by creditors
There were moments I wanted to tell my agent drop me because I’m not getting even a call back

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m most proud of my role in Gaslit because I booked a role in a show starring Julia Robert’s and Sean penn without an audition . You can see me in episodes 1 and 2 as Sandra the flight attendant
I’m also proud of winning on game shows I remember praying for a miracle when my tires were bald , I needed and oil change my vacuum and microwave were broke, my computer was even busted on the side. I was so broke I didn’t even know how I could fix any of it so I prayed . I received a call from a casting director asking me to send in a tape for a rush casting for a one off game show Sears and Kmart called “Ridiculously awesome cash bash “ I ended up wining $26,000 in sears and Kmart money I was able to replace everything in one day . The money was put in electronically so I walked up to the counter with whatever I wanted including sears where there were tires and an oil change in my very city !!!!

What are your plans for the future?
I’m working on a workout video with a huge fitness company .
Im continuing to prep for pursuing my IFBB pro card in bodybuilding
Working on film project
So many exciting things are happening
Meanwhile still working with clients as fitness and nutrition coach and I’m excited for their success

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminecowan?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jasminecowan242?si=_G7TJnufj_jXrRaO

Image Credits
my headshot photographer David Muller