Today we’d like to introduce you to Amaiya Branigan
Hi Amaiya, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey all began when I was a young girl, falling in love with the art of music. This naturally sparked my interest in writing, storytelling and stage performance as well. I remember sitting on the cold basement floor of my parents first home in Indiana, glued to the TV as I watched artist like Beyoncé, Ciara, Amari, Mary J. Blige and many more bring life to their music through cinema on MTV music videos. This sparked the fire inside of me and led to my interest in film, television, and acting! Movies have always had a special place in my heart. As a child, It was the way my mom and I would bond…Still to this day actually. I remember being significantly intrigued by the power a song choice can have in elevating the intensity or intended mood of a scene. I love the way music & imagery date each other to make such magic.
During my adolescence years I devoted my time to school sports like most children in the country but my favorite extra curricular’s we’re always the arts—theatre and show choir. I also devoted a large chunk of my childhood to a gospel choir in my hometown of Fort Wayne, IN where I curated my love for performing arts and invested in vocal development.
Considering my background, I had to remain close to the arts in my career choices because it’s what makes me happy. Later, I studied broadcast journalism at Indiana University, Bloomington. There, I quickly learned that hard news was not the space I wanted to stay in. However, I also gathered enough knowledge and experience regarding entertainment production to know that was the direction I would go in order to get my foot in Hollywood’s door.
After moving to Los Angeles and completing an internship with ABC Entertainment in 2022, I decided to permanently stay in the city to pursue my life-long dream of acting! Since my childhood, I’ve since grown a bit from my commitment to music but I do plan on reuniting in 2025. I believe in fully exercising every gift God grants us with to the best of your ability!
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?
My journey has not been conventionally “smooth”, but everything has turned out to work in my favor as I trust God’s direction (and rejection in some cases). Like everyone else, I hit bumps in the road and face adversity all the time. However, while pursuing this dream you have to be willing face those obstacles head-on with full confidence. That looks like to grinding, work extremely hard to provide for yourself and being your own biggest fan even if no one else is cheering for you. I thank God for the unwavering support system in my family and the grace of God for protecting me as I navigate this journey. Everything meant for me is already mine.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My career goal is to inspire the hearts of the audiences that will consume my work. I emphasize the heart because everything we do flows from it. In today’s society, collective empathy amongst humanity is what we need the most. It is the true cure for every problem in the world and it’s the platform that I’m building my career on.
I believe something that sets me apart from many other actors and actresses in the industry is the fact that I am not bound to one path. As I grow in my faith, I am practicing obedience and listening to God when speaks to me. I’ve come to learn that means surrendering your own agenda in some cases. Of course, I have my own personal goals and aspirations, but I pray that I am led in some way to truly change the world for the better and make impactful changes to the souls of others where I can through my work.
In 2024 I had the pleasure of starring in two short films, “Built to Last” (2024) directed by Jackie Saucer and “Captainess” (2024) written and directed by Tobi Orisa. In addition to these projects, I also booked my first music videos with artist including Mario, Polo G, Lakeyah and Bia. These are just a few projects that I had the honor to participate in within the last year. I can’t until I’m able to share more along the way!
How do you think about happiness?
Creating something out of passion and watching it transform the minds and hearts of the audience is what makes me the happiest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amaiyabranigan.my.canva.site/career-portfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amaiyabee?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
1. @_viewsbynate_
2. @damongoldencreative
3,4,5. @linast.clair
7. Still of “Built to Last” (2024)
8.BTS of “Can’t Get Enough” music video for WNBA regular season anthem
9. “Built to Last” BTS (May 2024)
10. Selfie
