Today we’d like to introduce you to Sierra Johnson.
Sierra, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
With a family acronym of S.O.C.A.L, the love affair with LA and acting are literally in my blood.
Like out of a scene from a movie, it all started when my acting obsessed Australian- Lebanese Mom, Angela moved to Southern California to study at LAVC.
It was from this bold cross-continental move that she met and fell in love with my Black American Father, Courtney; who at the time used to casually share his lunch breaks with Stephen Spielberg on a lot of Universal Studios.
Now, whilst I can confirm there are no kangaroo’s hopping down the main streets of the Australian City called the Gold Coast; it has a lot of similarities to California with its pristine patrolled beaches, perfect weather, ubiquitous theme parks, gold bikini-clad meter maids and the bright flashing lights of its tourist destination hub called Surfers Paradise… also affectionately known as the “Glitter Strip”.
It also happens to be the place where my eldest sister Ocearn (who has a degree in film editing), younger brother Lakota (Tik Tok star) and myself, were all born and raised.
For me, my singing/acting/modeling opportunities started quite young. I was only three when I modeled with my older sister doing commercials, catwalks and catalogue shoots. I then transitioned over to music and acting when I got into high school, where I realized that I loved to be on stage.
When I was 15, I got casted as the lead role of ‘Gigi Van Tran’ in my first musical being Miss Saigon. From then onwards, I started to really get into acting work, where I did stand-in work for Thor Ragnarok. This experience saw me casted as a lead in a documentary series for Sony Japan, as well as commercial work and local short films.
Being blessed to have dual citizenship, I’ve decided to follow my Mom’s lead and hopefully, the heavens above will sprinkle down some sparkle and see what opportunities transpire from the Glitter Strip to the City of Angels!
Has it been a smooth road?
I’m not going to lie… there certainly have been bumps along the road. I felt like I was a professional couch surfer for the first two months of living in LA.
I guess that was mostly by choice, as I am lucky enough to have family in the States. However, I’ve always had an independent spirit to want to be able to conquer LA on my own and without help.
My journey thus far has certainly taught me tenacity, resilience, and adaptability.
In terms of advice, I think it’s important for women to be multi-skilled, so they can juggle having multiple jobs to make ends meet, whilst they’re on their journey to success.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
By day, I work in retail, but by night I’m constantly pushing myself to improve upon my acting, singing and modeling opportunities.
I like to align myself with companies who have a strong ethos in the environment and are also passionate about their brand and what they stand for.
I guess what sets me apart is that I look American, but sound Aussie. Like iconic Australian actor Paul Hogan, I’m not about to throw a shrimp on your BBQ, but I’d like to think, I try and impart a little bit from Down Under, everywhere I go!
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
LinkedIn is one of the most important 21st-century tools in terms of finding out “who is who” in your chosen industry.
It is a great way of sourcing a mentor, as it enables you to see what they’ve done in their career, but most importantly how that can ultimately help yours.
For me personally, Church has been a great way to not only meet new people but also further develop my singing skills in a creative and freeway!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @sierrajohnsonx
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBuTxOs2E3aFF5KV9NfhyFg
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