Daily Inspiration: Meet Erika Apelgren

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Apelgren

Hi Erika, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Sweden, but my path has taken me across the world. Before finding my home in Los Angeles in 2012, I lived in Miami, London, and Abu Dhabi, each place shaping me in ways I never expected.

From a young age, I was drawn to storytelling and performance. I studied acting for four years in Sweden before continuing my training at Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles for two years. Over the years, I’ve worn many creative hats—as a writer, director, actor, producer, and model, working across film, theater, music videos, and commercials.

But my journey hasn’t been just about creating stories—it’s also been about rewriting my own. Through personal challenges, I experienced a profound healing and spiritual awakening that led me to discover the power of energy work, light code activations, and self-love as a transformational practice.

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?
I had a somewhat unstable childhood, which led me to dissociate from a young age, leaving my childhood memories feeling sparse. Despite this, I was fortunate to be surrounded by loving and supportive people—my family, great friends—and in that sense, I always felt deeply cared for.

From an early age, I felt a strong need for independence. I got my first job at 13 years old, and by the time I graduated high school, I had already decided to be fully self-sufficient. I moved out right away and have been on my own ever since, navigating the challenges and lessons of adulthood at a very young age. At 22, I left Sweden and began bouncing around the world, before finally settling in Los Angeles in 2012. While exciting and adventurous, this lifestyle also came with its own set of challenges—learning how to adapt, rebuild, and find stability in unfamiliar places.

But my biggest challenge was a long-term abusive relationship that lasted nearly six years. It was a karmic relationship—one that was emotionally turbulent, filled with gaslighting and manipulation. At the time, I didn’t fully realize what was happening, but in hindsight, I now see it as the catalyst for my spiritual awakening. It was this relationship that forced me to rebuild myself from scratch as an adult and truly understand what it means to cultivate self-love, self-worth, and healing from deep trauma.

Rather than staying in a place of pain, I chose to turn my experience into purpose. Now I’m creating a Self-Love Toolkit—something I desperately wished I had at the time—to guide others toward healing, self-empowerment, and reclaiming their lives.

I’m also writing a feature film script about my experience. It’s about the subtle, psychological layers that often go unnoticed: the gaslighting, the emotional manipulation, the loss of self-identity. My hope is that this story will help people.

This conversation is so important because this kind of abuse is far more common than people realize.

Today, I feel grateful for everything I’ve been through because it has shaped me into the person I am. I’ve learned that healing isn’t just about moving on—it’s about coming home to yourself, finding your own power, and embodying the love that you are. And if my story can help even one person feel seen, understood, and empowered, then it’s all been worth it.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My Work: Storytelling, Healing & Challenging Perspectives
I am a classically trained actor, screenwriter, director, and model. My work blends cinematic storytelling with deep, thought-provoking themes that explore human conditioning, psychology, and societal structures. I am drawn to projects that challenge perspectives, amplify voices, and start conversations.

As an actor and model, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with global brands like Chanel, Fear of God, Fenty, Tyra Beauty, IKEA, and Toyota, bringing creative visions to life in a variety of industries.

As a screenwriter and filmmaker, I create narratives that delve into human complexity, personal transformation, and healing. My screenplay “Where Dandelions Grow” was a finalist in both the Cinaverse Dubai Screenplay Awards and the Cannes Cinaverse Screenplay Awards. I also wrote, directed, produced, and acted in BFFR, a short film currently on the festival circuit, where it has won multiple awards including Best Director, Best Screenwriter, Best Performances, and Best Comedy.

I am also part of For Love Productions, with Norwegian director duo Mariel and Marita Gomsrud. Our focus is on creating bold, concept-driven narratives that challenge social norms and spark meaningful conversations. Our first narrative project was BFFR, and we are currently in production on our second, No Words Necessary—a short film that explores healing from sexual trauma through BDSM.

Currently, I’m involved in several projects, including my screenplays, a video series, and the Self-Love & Healing Toolkit.

🎬 Echoes – A video series exploring women’s voices throughout time, highlighting the struggles and resilience of women worldwide. Each piece is directed by a female filmmaker and filmed in nature, symbolizing Mother Gaia as the sacred space where women feel safe to express their deepest truths. The project is shot on iPhones to ensure accessibility and creative freedom.

✨ Self-Love & Healing Toolkit → Beyond film, I’m developing a transformational toolkit to help people reconnect with self-love, inner peace, and emotional healing. I believe in creating spaces—both through storytelling and healing work—where people feel safe to explore, express, and transform.

What Sets Me Apart?
My work is always driven by concepts, deeper meaning, and the power of storytelling as a tool for change. Whether in film, writing, or healing, I create spaces for truth, healing, and exploration. I’m passionate about challenging perspectives, pushing boundaries, and starting necessary conversations—especially around societal conditioning, trauma, psychology, and the complexities of human nature.

What I’m most proud of is that everything I create has a purpose. Whether it’s through an emotionally charged film, a project giving voice to underrepresented stories, or a healing toolkit, my work is about awakening something in people—sparking thought, evoking feeling, and inspiring transformation.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I don’t remember much of my childhood, but one memory that has always stuck with me is making music with my best friend when I was four. We had a little synthesizer and would spend hours creating and recording our own songs, completely lost in our own little world of sound and imagination. We even took it a step further and had a photoshoot for our “album”.

Looking back, it was such a pure, uninhibited expression of creativity—just making music for the joy of it, without overthinking. In many ways, that same playful, artistic spirit still drives me today in everything I create.

Contact Info:

• Website: www,erikaapelgren.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erika.apelgren
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erikaapelgren
• Twitter: https://x.com/ErikaApelgren
• Other: https://www.forloveproductions.com

Image Credits
Brian Archie
Mason Robinson
Paul Rivera
BFFR still – directed by Erika Apelgren
Scott Robert Lim
Dice of Destiny still – directed by Chip Rittenhouse
James Ryder