Meet Ann Michelle of Whittier

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Michelle.

Hi Ann, 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?
When I was 18, I moved to the United States. I arrived at my aunt’s house in Whittier, California, and started working at a supermarket as a cashier. Because of some differences we had, I decided to move to West LA. I didn’t know anyone in the area and had no money. I got a job at an ice cream shop on Melrose Ave, and that’s when I started to see the entertainment world unfold in front of my eyes.
I was amazed when clients walked in the door with pink hair, crazy outfits, and fur coats for no reason. I overheard their conversations about production, feature films, and music videos — and it was all new and fascinating to me. Suddenly, I was in the mix of the entertainment industry, a world that, all my life, had felt so far away.
If I can be completely honest, I never knew what I wanted to be growing up. A big part of my path in this life has been about finding my purpose. Like many of us, I have a lot of passions — I’m a creative hybrid. In college, I switched interests from politics to software engineering to fine arts, but nothing quite convinced me.
One day, I went back to my hometown and saw several groups of teenagers playing music at parties. They had so much dedication and were working all weekend. It moved me. I realized I wanted to help people from my country find their path through art. I believe art can decrease violence, addiction, and depression — and help keep people away from drug dealing and cartels.
One constant in my life is that I care about society. I’ve always wanted to help people on a large scale.
One day, while sending college applications to several schools for a major in Sociology, I came across a letter from The Los Angeles Film School. I took a look at their majors and saw “Entertainment Business.” That was it — it had the perfect mix of business and creativity I was looking for. I had no hesitation in applying, and that’s how I ended up doing my Bachelor’s Degree in Entertainment Business, graduating in January 2024 with honors.
Throughout my program, I discovered the wide range of fields I could go into. I started working as a social media manager for several brands, helping with production in their marketing campaigns and photoshoots, writing copy, shooting drone footage, and filming behind-the-scenes videos. This opened a door for me to direct a documentary about the story of “Hair Queen LA,” a celebrity hair salon whose owner is an immigrant. I wrote the script, conducted interviews, managed production, and oversaw post-production.
From there, I’ve worked in major event productions like The Emmys, The Dodgers’ celebrations, Leon Thomas’ album release party, The Beverly Hills Film Festival, L.A. Fashion Week after-parties, and many more. The events I’ve produced have been featured in Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, CBS News, and more, with attendees including Ty Dolla $ign, Keke Palmer, Jeremih, Druski, and others.
This job built me professionally — I was able to manage huge productions, from securing sponsors and media to organizing logistics and same-day operations, creating experiences for thousands of people.
I’ve discovered that Hollywood is a global industry that holds a lot of power and influence, and my mission is to use art and creativity to educate and guide people in the right direction. I chose this industry not because of the fame and luxury, but because it’s the industry that shapes culture. It’s our responsibility to use our platforms to upgrade and uplift one another.
I started a podcast called Close Friends, where I share artists’ stories, highlight those who are doing good, and speak up on major issues in the industry. At the end of the day, our voice is our power — and in times like now, we must be louder than ever.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was Mother’s Day when we received the call: my grandma had been involved in a deadly crash caused by a drunk driver, and she had passed away. Interestingly enough, her husband — my grandpa — had also passed on the exact same day (May 10th), three years earlier. A couple of years later, my aunt died from cancer, and shortly after, my dad left us and disappeared for three years.
This all started when I was 7 years old and continued until I was 14. I suffered the loss of the most important people in my life. Being abandoned by a parent is very traumatic — how are you supposed to feel worthy when the person who is supposed to take care of you leaves?
At the time, I was on a very competitive cheerleading team, and I had to start working when I was 14 to pay for my personal expenses. At that age, I had to make a choice: I could let my circumstances bring me down, or I could learn that I am complete and enough — by myself. I remember getting my first paycheck and realizing that I could take myself anywhere if I worked hard.
It has been a journey of self-reflection and forgiveness, but it made me so resilient. To this day, it proves that no one can take anything away from me — because I will build it back up. And that loss it’s just a part of the process.
Another challenge has been finding my purpose. In a world where options are limitless, it’s hard to choose just one identity. But I remind myself: humans are not meant to be defined — they are meant to transform, change, and grow. I hope that by sharing the very confusing journey we experience as humans, readers can remember that we’re all here just trying to figure it out.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Even though I’ve worked in a variety of fields, from social media to events, my true passion is helping people and brands tell their stories through different mediums. I love discovering myself through colors, sounds, textures, and places — and helping others find their visual identity has been a key part of my work.
My strength lies in storytelling — whether it’s through documentaries, social media posts, writing, or photography — and developing concepts that truly resonate with viewers.
One thing I’m especially proud of is my drone shots, which have been featured in fashion campaigns and reality shows. I love doing drone work because it reminds me that there are always different perspectives in life — and everything looks different depending on where you’re standing. It also reinforces the idea that we are just a small part of a bigger purpose.
In my podcast Close Friends, my mission is to share the struggles and different phases creatives go through when starting their personal projects. My goal is to create an authentic community fueled by collective support and honest advice.

What were you like growing up?
I was born and raised in a small town called Irapuato, Guanajuato, in Mexico. I grew up in a bicultural family — my mom’s side immigrated from Russia to the United States as a Jewish family fleeing the Holocaust, while my dad’s side was a traditional Mexican family.
It’s no secret that Mexico is dangerous — 11 women are murdered every day by men — and my state, in particular, has been one of the most dangerous for the last couple of decades due to ongoing conflicts between multiple cartels fighting for territory.
Art, music, acting, and the entertainment industry as a whole felt so far away and unreachable for everyone in my city, it wasn’t even considered a career option.
In school, I was always involved in sports, social clubs, and extracurricular activities. My grandparents founded the largest Christian church in my hometown and taught me the importance of giving back and helping the community.
In high school, I became the president of a nonprofit organization whose mission was to host massive events for underprivileged communities. We brought 1,500 kids to my school and created a full day of games, activities, comedy shows, and lots of food.
I always knew I wanted to move to Los Angeles, and when I turned 18, I began a journey that would change my life…

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ann.michellee/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ann.michellee