Meet Savannah Landeros of Jamaican Goddess Entertainment in Long Beach California

Today we’d like to introduce you to Savannah Landeros.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Savannah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Savannah Landeros and I was introduced to the world on April 28th, 1992 in Long Beach, California, born the youngest of four siblings into a family of entrepreneurs. My family is bred of a strong heritage of Afro-Jamaican roots. Jamaica has a very rich history of cultural expression, and one of the greatest forms of Jamaican expression is Reggae music. Reggae music is actually how my mommy and daddy met. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, my mommy who goes by “High Class Sharon” was a Reggae Producer, Manager, and Production Manager. She’s worked with Reggae artists such as Bob Marley, Shabba Ranks, Ninja Man, Buju Banton, and Tinga Stewart, just to name a few. My daddy, Winston Finch, owned his own record label called Long Beach Records. He was also a Reggae Producer and Artist. They met each other in the Reggae music world during the late 80’s. Unfortunately, my dad passed away from liver damage in 1996 when I was four years old. Although my dad passed away when I was very young, he left behind a strong family. A family of entrepreneurs and leaders. A family that is hard working and always achieving their dreams. For example, my brother Yohance is an entrepreneur who graduated from historically Black college Morehouse College. Yohance graduated and earned his bachelor’s degree, he was a member of Alpha Phi Fraternity, and now he is the President and Executive Director of the Donald E. Long Foundation in San Bernardino, CA. The Donald E. Long Foundation is a non-profit organization that owns and manages Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP) for young males from the ages of 12-17 years old. My sister Sharifa is also an entrepreneur. Sharifa has been doing the hair of our family and friends and started perfecting her styling skills at the young age of 12. Since Sharifa has become a certified licensed Cosmetologist. Sharifa is now a Freelance Stylist who owns her own company called “Rifkuttinup”. She loves people and loves to make them feel comfortable in their own skin. She currently has plans in the works to open up both her own beauty salon and restaurant in Los Angeles, CA. My other sister Tanisha was the singer and dancer in the family. She was a member of her own girl group at Mayfair High school, she sang in church choirs, and dance in school plays and assemblies. My oldest brother Andre plays a major part in my life. After my daddy’s passing, Andre stepped up as a father figure and leader in the family. He has a big heart and loves looking out for my family as well as looking out for others. Andre is also an entrepreneur who owns his own clothing line, and record label, and uses his passion for helping others in the community of Long Beach, CA as a Basketball Coach and Youth Mentor. My family is the inspiration of my own entrepreneurship in becoming the “Jamaican Goddess” I am today. My acting career has recently been taking off! I’m an actress who can be seen in commercials, stage plays, and movies. I also have a clothing line currently in the works called J.G.E., in which my entertainment company shares the same name.

I became fascinated with acting and modeling at the age of 5. While most young girls at that age played with dolls, I dressed up and posed in front of the camera and put on my own model runway shows. I had dreams of one day becoming a worldwide actress and model. At the age of 8, I started acting in plays, singing in the church choir and performed spiritual praise dancing at church. I always knew I wanted to entertain, and my mother always knew that I was a superstar in the making. I grew up being around my parents while they worked, being backstage at Reggae concerts and shows and witnessed them in the studio recording with so many famous Reggae artists. I was raised exposed to the world of show business. My mommy would always drill into my head that I was a child of God and I can overachieve anything in my life. Witnessing my family and all of their successes, proved I had a lot to live up to.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
“Beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but it’s everything in between that makes it all worthwhile.” – Bob Marley

The journey to becoming the Jamaican Goddess was not an easy one. It has been a very bumpy road. Growing up in Long Beach, CA was hard for me. I was surrounded by gang violence, with people constantly getting shot, stabbed, jumped, etc. I’ve lost so many friends and relatives to gun violence, that it began to make me feel numb to the messed up surroundings at a very young age. When my dad passed away, my mom became a struggling single parent. She juggled multiple jobs, which kept her away from home often. She worked hard and did whatever it took to be able to provide for her family.

I spent a lot of my free time growing up with my older cousin Jajuan Jefferson. He was my best friend. We spent most of my childhood and teenage years hanging out with each other. He taught me how to ride a bike. When I brought home good grades, he would buy me ice cream to celebrate. He always said encouraging and inspiring things to uplift me. One of his lifelong dreams was to be a Criminal Investigator. We would be creative and act out fake crime scene scenarios while working together to try and solve cases. We’d always enjoyed each other’s company. Then on March 11, 2006, with a single phone call, my life was turned upside down and took a turn for the worst. Jujuan and I was planning on going to the movies together that day. But he had a change of plans and decided to go out with his friends instead. I was so mad at him. My cousin and I were supposed to be hanging out at the movies! But instead, he changed our plans. While Jujuan was out with his friends, he was violently gunned down. My heart broke into a million pieces when I received the news. I lost my best friend. After that painful moment, I became so angry with the world. I could not understand why someone so innocent, with no gang ties or affiliations, who was only 17 years old with his whole life ahead of him, could be taken away from this earth. From our family and especially his mother Bernadette long! I was 14 during that time. My life took a turn for the worse. I started acting out in all the worst ways. I was constantly getting into all types of trouble. I began running the streets, hanging out with the wrong crowd, always getting into fights at school, not paying attention in class and getting bad grades, getting kicked out and transferred in and out of different schools, and was disrespectful and acting out towards my mom. I had become numb. Numb to the whole world. And most of my surroundings in my neighborhood of Long Beach California was no better. I attended more funerals than graduations. More baby showers than weddings. I was blinded to life because of constant pain. The dark path that I was leading towards, I knew I was going to end up either in jail, or six feet under. My family constantly told me they missed the old, respectful, loving Savannah. They would always try to talk me out of, what was leading to be a very dark road in my life. But my family has the strongest influence in my life. My family were the ones who restored my vision. They reminded me of my importance, and that I’m on this earth for a reason. They reminded me of how strong, smart, and fun I used to be. They reminded me of how we represented and still represent our Jamaican culture of showing strength no matter what hardships life throws at us. I was reminded that I represent the culture. I was reminded to stay spiritual to God. I didn’t listen to what they’d say at first. I would still get into trouble here and there. After almost taking my own life, I started realizing the errors in my ways. I greatly had to find a way out of that dark mindset. I had an epiphany. I did not want to end up in the grave. I did not want to be responsible for inviting any pain to my family. I was ready for change, and I started changing right away. I began doing better in school, brought home good grades, was more respectful to people, and most importantly making my mommy so proud. Sometimes my mind would wander off and reminisce about the great times I spent growing up with my cousin Jajuan. I missed him so much. I missed us acting out crime scene scenarios and just enjoying each other’s company. Those blessed memories with Jujuan became my drive to keep pushing forward. They inspired my interests in wanting to give back and protect my community. I wanted those in our community to no longer suffer with news that a family member was murdered due to violence. Jujuan, my life experiences, and my daily negative neighborhood surroundings inspired my interest in pursuing a career in Criminal Justice. I studied and became very skillful at it. I had to prove myself. Prove myself to my family. Prove myself to the world. Four years later in 2010, I earned my H.S. Diploma and graduated from Somerset High School in Bellflower, CA.

After graduating high school, I had plans on continuing to pursue my interest in Criminal Justice. But God had other plans for my life. At 18 years old, I found out that I was pregnant with my baby girl Anniyah. I was scared that I was going to have a daughter! A little version of me. But with blessings, sometimes comes pain. Anniyah’s heart stopped beating and I had to go into premature labor. When I gave labor to Anniyah, all I could do was hold her closely in my arms and give her kisses. She weighed only 2 pounds and 1 ounce. When her heart stopped beating, mines stopped beating as well. It pains me until this day that I wasn’t able to go home with my baby girl Anniyah. I lost the opportunity to raise Anniyah, protect her from the world, give her so much love and kisses, show her all the same love that my family gave me. I wanted to show her a better life than I had. After Anniyah’s passing, my pain and suffering became my motivation. Whatever dreams I achieve in life is in honor of Anniyah, Jajuan, and my daddy Winston.

In late 2011, all I did was focus on pursuing my degree in Criminal Justice.The Love my life Amori motivated me to get my life together and I made a decision to enroll in Devry University and later transferred to UEI College. I remained determined and focused on success while in college. I was on the honor roll multiple times, earned several perfect attendance awards, and had a 4.0 GPA. I rode five trains and two buses back and forth from school and traveled daily through some of the shadiest neighborhoods in South LA. And while seeing the state of the environment around Long Beach and LA not improving, my focus remained consistent. The daily reminder of my negative surroundings added fuel to my desire to save the people of my community and get criminals off the streets. I had to give back and help others. I had to graduate and earn my degree in Criminal Justice. I had a responsibility to show my family that I can achieve great things, and be able to provide everything to them, just as they have provided for me. I had to get my family out of that negative environment. While in college, I took on a job as a Bounty Hunter, working the dangerous streets of LA. I was doing my part to help get crime off of the streets and help make my community feel safer. During the same time period, I also worked two security jobs in Hollywood and LA. I studied my way through school while working three jobs. I remained on my grind, determined to make a change. I wasn’t going to let anyone or anything deter me from my dreams and achievements.

I graduated on June 6, 2014 and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I earned my Private Investigation License, Guard Card, became certified in Homeland Security and Terrorism training and licensed to carry a concealed firearm. I was so excited! I met my goal of graduating college and getting into law enforcement. I’ve made my family proud. Earning my degree was only the beginning. I was ready to focus on my lifelong dream of becoming an entrepreneur and entertainer. I became focused on my dreams of becoming an actress, model, and fashion designer with my own clothing line. Soon after graduating, I began to audition for acting roles and modeling gigs, while still working three jobs. I went to constant auditions. But it was challenging because I kept hearing the same words: I was too short at 5 foot 3, and I did not have the typical “model figure”. I could not let that stop me. I needed to be that role model for young boys and girls in my community. I wanted to show them that anyone can make their dreams come true, regardless of their circumstances or people telling you “no”. Even though I worked three jobs, living in Southern California was very expensive. I kept praying to God and asking Him for guidance. God answered my prayers and gave me signs that I should move to Las Vegas, Nevada. I knew moving to Vegas to pursue my dreams was going to be a challenge, but I also knew If I kept my faith in God and He would never steer me wrong. I listened to God’s plan and decided to leave California. I hopped on a Greyhound bus and headed to the infamous big Sin City with nothing but a duffle bag of clothes, no car, no place to live, and only 40 dollars left to my name. I secured a job interview in Las Vegas before leaving California, but even that was not a guarantee that I would even get the job. But I was determined. My goal was to build my J.G.E. empire in Vegas and bring my empire back to my home in Long Beach. My family and friends did not understand my risky move, but I knew no one would understand my vision. But God understood, and He told me to keep my faith in Him. God told me my company will grow so big in Nevada, that I could bring my empire back home to California and put my family in better situations, and to help the people of my community by giving them job opportunities to get them off the street. I knew it would be a struggle to start, and I know real success wouldn’t happen overnight. I knew I had to start from the bottom to work my way to the top.

Please tell us about Jamaican Goddess Entertainment.
My company J.G.E. is both a production company and upcoming clothing line business that specializes in acting, film and television production. J.G.E. is a home that provides opportunities for people of my community to grow and expand. I came up with the name J.G.E., which means “Jamaican Goddess Entertainment”. My uncle named Mr.Vegas, who is the Jamaican Dancehall King, gave me the nickname “Jamaican Goddess”. My clothing line is currently in the process of launching. For my clothing line, I started collaborating with people to create my own sayings, logos and designs, checking out different types of fabrics and materials, to further develop my J.G.E. brand. I’ve also decided to film my life in the form of a mini-docuseries, which currently in production and premiering this summer on my Jamaican Goddess Ent YouTube channel. My team and I are currently touring and promoting the docuseries to secure meetings with available networks to reach a major platform.

For the past few years, I’ve lived in Las Vegas, I’ve worked as a Private Investigator and Production Crew for arenas and venues in Vegas. I would also work a third job as a Security Guard. And because my acting career was beginning to take off while working these jobs at the same time, eventually I had to leave my jobs and start my entrepreneur and acting journey and it was the scariest thing I’ve ever chosen to do. I didn’t know how or where to start. But one day, I woke up and said I couldn’t be a true entrepreneur working under someone else. Especially if they don’t see my worth and they don’t treat me like a human being.

Since I’ve had the opportunity to be graced by the presence and meet with so many celebrities! I’ve been blessed with opportunities to meet with celebrities such as Comedian Mo’Nique and Eddie Griffin, who has since become a great friend and mentor for my acting career. I’ve also had the pleasure to both meet and work alongside MMA Fighter Tyron Woodley,Chuck Liddell and Jon Bones, MTV director Nick Cannon and Wild N Out Cast,reps from Independent record label T.D.E. (Top Dawg Entertainment), Rapper J. Cole & O.T. Genasis, Hottest Producer Dj Khaled, Multitalented Quadruple-Threat Jennifer Lopez, Ludacris and many more. I’ve gotten to truly bond, develop friendships, and share life stories with some of these celebrities. I have not been lucky. I have been blessed by God!

As long as I keep my faith in God, and trust that He’s on my side, I will not have bad luck. My business will grow as I continue to help to inspire people. God has blessed me with a purpose. Over these chapters, I realize the only person who could stop me is me, and that will be my version of bad luck. My life has been a marathon that I need to complete. I refuse to give up and get discouraged. I know I will have the right people around me to bring good blessings to Jamaican Goddess Entertainment. I refuse to leave this earth without leaving a legacy behind for my loved ones. I have been through so much to be where I am today. To know I’m still standing strong and I never gave up despite all that I’ve been through is a blessing from God. My life’s story shows me that I have to keep fighting and pushing. To be an example for those who ever had thoughts of giving up. I want people to know that life can, and will, get better. That positive changes can and will happen. Just be patient and keep your faith. Giving back and helping the people of my community is my true happiness. God would never put me in a great place in my life knowing I would forget to give back, he knows my heart. I just want to change the world and give people hope and help the younger generation. No one is perfect. But our flaws and mistakes are what sets us apart from others. It represents the beauty of struggle. We all have a story of both triumphs and failures. But our life’s journey can turn out to be the most beautiful testimony. So wake up beauty it`s time to beast

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
There is no such thing as going back to square one, There`s beauty in the struggle and I wouldn’t be who I am today if I started all over again. If everything was perfect, I would never learn and I will never grow. Be proud of your story and never start over, love the life you have while you create the life of your dreams.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savannah____landeros/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/savannahlandeross/?ref=bookmarks

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