Life & Work with Aleena Axel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aleena Axel.

Hi Aleena, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. 
I grew up in an abusive home environment. My mom was a teen mom and pawned me off on my grandma for most my life, when she was around, I wished she wasn’t. When I was 16, I lost my grandma to health complications. I didn’t feel safe in my home environment, so I moved out on my own at 17. I graduated high school with honors and without either of my parents there. When I was 19, I lost my mom to domestic violence. She was left on life support after a bad fight with her boyfriend, and I had to be the one to take her off. I had grown up with very poor self-esteem and a bad relationship with my body. As a teenager, I had participated in Plays, Theater, Film Projects and even won a modeling contract!!! I found that art, creation, and expression was a beautiful outlet for all the trauma I was trying to cope with. After losing my mom, I threw myself into my art, creation, and adventures full force. I was shooting 2-3x/week! And traveling constantly. I decided to take my work on the road and remodeled a Toyota Highlander to live in a travel across the country, using social media I scheduled shoots/jobs in every city I passed though expanding my network, portfolio and experience. I ended up in Colorado around 2021 after a drunk driver pulled a hit & run on my van! Leaving me/my home stranded. However I see it as fate, I had my van towed to a lot next to some train tracks (the only place I could sleep in a vehicle in town legally) there just so happened to be another vanlifer in this spot!!! She was from Florida, had a big painted bus, and was currently broken down in the same spot as me! We became instant friends, and she began teaching me how to dance (pole dancing had been on my bucket list since I was 16!) I used my newfound hobby to earn the money needed to fix my van! However, at this point, I had fallen in love with Colorado (and was exhausted from working and sleeping in a car). So, I decided to get my first actual place!! (3 years later, and I’m just about to move from Colorado!). Sadly, Colorado has a very limited media scene, so since I moved out here, I have been going on work trips back to Los Angeles to shoot! I do this as often as I can and for as long as I can. These trips help me stay on track with my career, gaining experience, connections, and adding to my portfolio with each shoot. I have dreams of working in film and production in the future! Think commercials, brand campaigns, movies, and TV shows! (I am actually already on a reality game show for Amazon Prime!) Overall, I love creating art, I love the opportunity to look at photos of myself that help me love myself more, I love creating entertainment for other people! I love creating beauty to share with the world. ~And most of all I love adventure, I’m so lucky that this life has given me the opportunity to travel for my work. If you’re struggling in life right now, just know you have limitless potential, and I am rooting for you 🫶🏻 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve experienced countless struggles along my journey. When it comes to my media career, some of the biggest challenges have been-

• Representing myself as talent, booking all of my own jobs and work trips. No management, no team, just passion. 

• Self-esteem/body issues (this one is a daily struggle but one I am winning)

• Financial~ moving out on my own @ 17 and not having any family support has been rough.

• Creepy/flaky photographers. Not giving me my photos/canceling last minute/trying to invade my personal space without permission

• Moving to a state that doesn’t value their models

• Body changes as I grow and mature

• Branding myself

• Content creation and keeping up with social media

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?
I am an artist and entertainer. I am a model, actress, and dancer. I am most known for my style/aesthetic and the good energy I bring with me everywhere I go. I am the most proud of the fact that I haven’t quit, through hard days, injuries, disappointments, I have kept pushing through no matter what, never losing sight of my goals (for long at least). What sets me apart? Well, lots of things; for starters, the fact that I do not associate with any of my family members~ this actually helps me a lot in my career. People tend to use their family as an excuse more often than they realize. I live my life for me, my choices are never watered down, or directed by the opinion or feelings of a family member~ I do what’s right for me or what I want to do!!! Period!!! I can travel to Europe for months at a time at the drop of a dime, and I don’t want to worry about what anyone will think of it or say. Aside from this, I feel many, many people use their traumas as an excuse, “I am this way because…” never growing or maturing past where they are because of what other people have done. I have experienced horrific traumas from a young age, and while I absolutely have my own issues, I never let that stop me, through lots of therapy, and even free resources online I’ve helped myself heal. When I hear people or even friends just making excuses for why they aren’t where they wanna be in life, it hurts my heart for them. There’s a quote I hold near and dear to my heart: “What happened to you is not your fault, but it is your responsibility to heal.” What truly sets me apart from others is when I want something or I plan something, I go at it full force, with nothing in my way. I have uprooted my entire life more than once in the pursuit of a more beautiful existence, and I will continue to do so 

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I find joy in the smallest things: plants, cool bugs, cute animals, a nice day, a sunset, or even just one of my favorite songs. I feel things DEEPLY, both positive and negative emotions. Bigger things that make me happy are things like my hobbies; Creating art in all forms, Cooking, Hiking, Scuba Diving, and more. Overall, I am engrossed in travel, adventure, and learning new things every day, yet I never fail to find joy even in the smallest things. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aleenaaxel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleena.axel?igsh=MWxoazJ0am0ybXM4Mw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: Aleena Axel
• Twitter: Aleena Axel
• Youtube: Aleena Axel

Image Credits
@aleena.axel