Life and Work with Jaya Loo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaya Loo.

Jaya, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was 25 years old. I had found myself in a place where my heart felt broken over many things. I felt unsettled with where my journey was at. You make these five years/ten-year goals when you’re in high school, right?… not realizing that we don’t have much control over the way life turns out. I had dreams of getting married, buying a house, having kids. And here I was, single, just getting out of a relationship that was hard to end, still living with my parents and doing hair. I decided I was going to go to Hawaii with my best friend, (because what better way to heal, am I right?) where we had conversations that were excruciating and exposing, where I cried, grieving the loss of the life I so desperately desired. There was a defining moment that we had. The rain had started to pour on us and she asked me “what do you want your life to look like?” I told her “I want it to look completely different than it does now.” At the time, I didn’t realize how significant that question was. I got home, still throwing myself a pity party, and I told my dad with every genuine bone in my body, that I’m going to be FOREVER ALONE. I was in tears. This was my life ya know? There was a lot of listening, a lot of affirmation, but he said two words that would completely shift the road that I was about to walk down: DREAM BIGGER. (can we pause for a moment… are you freaking kidding me?… are we in a home goods store? Is the dream bigger? Did he get that from a Pinterest inspirational quotes board?) I was pissed. I can tend to be a little sassy at times, but I’m willing to be open to change. At this point, I had been doing hair since 2010, I had built a hair business and had planned on just doing that until I died honestly haha. I went to the local coffee shop and I pulled out my journal and wrote this, “JAYA, if you woke up and you were 80, what would make you sad that you never pursued because of fear of failure?” I sat in silence… and I thought about when my mom asked me as a little girl what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said with legitimate jazz fingers, “A SUPERSTARRRRR!” I looked back at all the talent shows I was in, the plays I performed in, the silly skits I made up and made my parents record. I have always loved being in front of people, but more than that, I have always loved storytelling. I was created to create. It was terrifying once I actually acknowledged that I wanted to ACT. immediately, I thought of how difficult this path would be. I wondered if people would think I’m a lunatic for dreaming such a dream that seems so impossible and out of reach. But I am the type of human where once I acknowledge my truth, I can’t unsee it. I am now about to turn 28, and my best friend reminded me of our conversation and she said, “I remember when you said you wanted your life to look different… and everything is.” A lot has happened in the in between, but remembering the beginning has such value because it is what pushed me to move to LA to follow my dad’s advice to “DREAM BIGGER” and pursue my acting career. (Oh! And BIG MAGIC by Elizabeth Gilbert.)

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
So, the ocean is just everything, right? It is wildly majestic. I like to think of the ocean as our dreams. Everyone loves the ocean. But how many people stand on the shore? And how many people swim in the ocean? There is a distinct contrast in that ratio. The first step into the water is the hardest. because it’s typically freezing! you put one big toe in and then run back into the warm sand, thinking “HELL NO!” Then those who find themselves all the way in, usually go back to shore. Maybe the cold is too uncomfortable, maybe the waves are too big, maybe they’re all alone out there, maybe they’re scared of the creatures below the dark surface. The ocean is uncontrollable and unpredictable. Hawaii waters are much different than California waters. They are warm, clear and radiate paradise. There will be times when you will get to experience waters so still that they will lift you on your back and allow you to float and feel the sunshine on your face. times where you will feel free and will get to play and feel the most supernatural of joys. Things will be clear even when you’re underwater… and then, there will be moments when you experience dark waters and tremendous waves. Moments where you will be swimming against the current, where you will be wiped out by the power of the waves you didn’t see. Moments that you will be gasping from the air from drowning. And it is in those times that your strength and your perseverance will be revealed. And it will be clear to you if this dream is worth pursuing even when everything is going against you. Is it worth the fight? Is it worth risking comfort for discomfort? Will you risk everything for the possibility of your wildest dreams coming true?

My road has had some still waters. It has been smooth in the fact that I found and got plugged into an incredible acting school right from the start. I found a hair salon on the same street as it, that allows me to pay to live here while I go after acting. I have the most amazing roomies. and I have the most supportive family that completely believes in me. I count my blessings daily. But I have gone through some dark waters. I never moved out before moving to LA, when I came to North Hollywood, I didn’t have one friend. Talk about uncomfortable. Learning how to budget. Starting a new clientele from scratch, struggling with money, having to eat Top Ramen a lot of days in a row. Feeling alone and scared. Being away from my family who I’m so close to. Falling in love and getting heartbroken. Getting expelled from my acting school and kicked out of three shows that I was in. Just life, ya know? Just figuring out how to even ‘do LA’ and learning the industry, trying to find representation, going on auditions, getting rejected. That’s dark water in itself.

My advice for those starting out is to keep investing yourself in the people who have been investing in you since day one. For me, that is my family and my best friends from childhood. They see the value in who I am right now. They encourage me on my bad days when I am hopeless, but they also keep me grounded when I get off track. We all need people in our life who will remind us of who we are and who we are called to be. At the end of the day, life is about connecting with humans. It’s about love and relationships. My dreams are important to me, but I don’t wanna get so caught up in my career that I miss the ones who I want to share it with. Also, learning the art of balance and boundaries are a good and beautiful thing.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am an actress. I do all sorts of genres, but I definitely focus on a lot of the comedy side. I love film and truly enjoy creating story ideas and writing. My two roomies and I started our own production called The Raggimuffin’s because we were tired of waiting to get auditions, so we started filming our own sketches. It’s been a good reminder that we decided to become actors because we love to act. It keeps us grounded and motivated. I am proud of all the work we make and create because we are taking risks, learning from our mistakes and growing. I am in an improv troop called the Big Booty Baes. We have done a handful of shows and also film short comedy sketches. These are some of the funniest humans I’ve ever met. Sometimes, I can’t believe I get to be apart of them. To be real, I have nothing super significant on my IMDB or my resume. But if I could say what I am most proud of, I would say that I am proud of who I am and the fact that I am even willing to go after something that matters to me. I can’t wait to win an award one day and have that version of success, but success is all about perspective to that person. And I want to be someone who is proud of who I am when I am in seasons of happy and in seasons of hardness. There are moments where I look at my life and where I am, and I’ll write myself little notes that say, “I am so proud of you” “you are so brave” “you are right where you are supposed to be and you are enough even here.” I believe that my contrast and ability for such joy and depth simultaneously is what sets me apart. I love to make people laugh and have fun, but I also value the conversations that explode with vulnerability and authenticity.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
The most important piece of advice to a young woman just starting out is to realize and believe how truly valuable you are. AND you have a story and a purpose inside that is waiting to be told. Whatever it is that makes you come alive, it is burning inside you for a reason. The world is waiting for you. You will struggle and you will fail, but you will grow and you will thrive. The key is in remembering why you started. Every time I want to give up, I think about why I even began in the first place. Your perspective and outlook on your journey is a choice. So, choose who you want to be and why and then commit to the adventure. Passion will persevere past paychecks. You got this.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9332630/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayalooo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaya.loo
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaya_loo
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/theraggimuffins/

Image Credit:
Larissa Pruett, Chelsea Crumpler, Hannah Marder, Chrstine Loo, Chris Gatpo

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