Daily Inspiration: Meet CC Riley

Today we’d like to introduce you to CC Riley.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in Germany, my father was in the military, but from the age of two, I was raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I’m from a small town, but we have a big impact on the world. The entertainment industry has always interested me. From singing in the church choir, being on the dance team to modeling. The path to get where I am today has been a windy one. After high school, I attend THE University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff with plans to major in Nursing that quickly changed after the passing of my grandmother. I was determined to graduate in four years due to my scholarship so I chose Accounting. Still not in the arts so I decided to join a modeling team on campus. Growing up, being in the arts was not considered a “real job” so I didn’t try to pursue it seriously.

After graduating, I packed my bags and moved to Dallas Texas where I started my accounting career at Fossil Group. For the next four years, I walked around with one thought in the back of my mind, “You should be doing more with your life.” I got in touch with this amazing photographer in Dallas named Carlos Vincent. He really got me excited about modeling and actually being able to pursue it. The last straw was when I found a casting for background on the set of Queen of the South being filmed in Dallas. Even though I was background, the atmosphere was beyond amazing and inspiring. On December of 2016, I turned in my two weeks notice and headed home to Arkansas to spend time with my family for Christmas. January 5, 2017 my dad, mom, sister and brother packed up my U-Haul and drove across the country from Arkansas to Los Angeles, California to pursue my dreams in acting and modeling. I am so thankful for the support of my family.

I hit the ground running taking acting classes, signing up for casting networks and background work. I met so many amazing people. One in particular was my acting coach KJ Rose from the Dustin Felder Actors Studio. She is so full of energy and so inspiring, not to mention a soror of the best sorority Delta Sigma Theta Inc. Throughout this journey, I was able to land a few web-series such as “Situationship, a short called “When the Gun Talks” and “NoHo” A North Hollywood story streaming on Amazon Prime. In the mist of all of this, I became a wife to an amazing man on 9/4/21 best day of my life to date. This is only the beginning of my story so excited to see my own life unfold right before my eyes.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No not at all. I struggle with putting myself out there and sharing my gifts because of the fear of not being good enough. I’m still working hard at that every day. When covid hit, the world stopped literally for 2 years of not knowing what the new world would look like was scary. On top of trying to break into an industry that is so big yet so small. But when you think about it nothing worth having is easy. Yes, I would be lying if I said I don’t get defeated going on audition after audition and not booking a role. I have to keep telling myself,“It only takes one role to change your life.” Your path is just that, yours! It might not look as fancy or nice as others may “seem”, but follow what you have and success will surely come.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an actress and model. So far I am proud of winning a Telly Award for Season 1 of A North Hollywood Story available on Amazon Prime. I think my faith set me apart from others. I have been sitting on my gifts because sometimes I feel I’m not good enough, but the mustard seed faith has taken me far and will continue to do so.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
HA! Growing up I was an adventurous kid I was going to try everything and my parents let me. I was in so many sports like dance, gymnastics, softball, track, band and cheerleading. I had an activity pack childhood. I was very outspoken and couldn’t take no for an answer without a proper explanation. Being the oldest of three I was very protective of my siblings, I swore they were my own kids. I use to get in trouble because I would pick up my 1-year-old sister, mind you I was only about 4 or 5 and she was a juicy baby lol. My little brother was born when I was 10 so at that point my mom gave up he was officially my baby, not hers lol. Growing up we didn’t have it all but my parents made sure we had what we needed and did their best to get what we wanted.