Meet Shakila Stewart of Walk This Way Movement in Hollywood

Thanks for sharing your story with us Shakila. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
How did I get to where I am today? It started as a walk of faith. At five years old I was in the foster care system and one night I was tired of not being with my family, so I got on my knees before bed and prayed, “God, please send me back home to my family” and God answered my prayer. And from that moment on God has been my best friend and prayer has been my key to overcoming every obstacle in my life. God answered my prayer by my great-Aunt Doris J. Stewart adopting me.

Although I was adopted, experiencing the foster care system and not being raised by my biological parents caused me to feel that I wasn’t worthy of the best that life has to offer, I dealt with self-worth issues. However, God always sends us a wink. When I was nine years old I discovered that I shared the same birthday as Oprah Winfrey and from that moment on…I told myself that I was going to be successful. I began to dream; my dream was to become a model, actress and director. So, during my elementary and middle school years I would perform in musicals, write plays, create choreography for my church, my cousins and friends. I loved performing! Then in high school at the age of I7, I landed a national commercial billboard print model job with the African American Hairline, Luster’s Inc. This opportunity led me to receiving a scholarship to John Robert Powers Modeling and Acting School. From there I developed my professional skills as an actress and model and I came to Los Angeles, California from Chicago for the first time to get discovered and to be on television.

My first time coming to Hollywood things didn’t go as planned; I needed a little more confidence, character, personal and professional development to learn how to handle rejection and develop more self–awareness. I decided to go back to Chicago, IL and attend college. I graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Studies with emphasis in playwriting, directing and storytelling. After graduating college, I began directing musicals for youth, while still pursuing a career in Acting and Modeling.

Then the unthinkable happened. My mother passed away, and at 25 I had to start raising my younger siblings. I didn’t know how we were going to survive because I wasn’t financially stable and I was so focused on my career that I didn’t really know how to be a parent, but I did it! I did it through the strength of God and support from my family and friends. Losing my mom and raising my siblings sparked something inside of me. I found a strength that I didn’t know I had. It was an “aha” moment to myself. I said, “There are many obstacles in life that women are forced to overcome, why are we afraid to conquer our dreams and make them a reality?”

This inspired me to start, Walk This Way Movement Inc., an educational platform designed to empower women and teen girls to conquer their fears, persevere through obstacles and build confidence to live their full potential.

I do this work through motivational speaking, transformation workshops and etiquette training.

Our signature workshop, Chin Up, You got this! combines affirmations and posture technique while learning how to walk and dance wearing heels. It has been seen on Chicago’s Windy City Live talk show, the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and After School Matters.

In 2017, I moved from Chicago, IL and expanded The Walk This Way Movement Inc. to Los Angeles, CA.

Since moving here to LA, I wrote my first book, Chin Up, You Got This! Walk This Way into self-worth, your dreams and your purpose. It shares my journey of overcoming obstacles and never giving up on my dream. It releases online on August 10, 2019 at www.walkthiswaymovement.com.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Relocating to Los Angeles from Chicago and expanding Walk This Way Movement here, I had to learn how to build new relationships, learn the creative culture and how to live here without my family being around. I also had to build the integrity to say “no” to business opportunities and contracts that looked great, but the owners’ character were not matched with my personal values. The hardest part was saying no to contracts when I didn’t have money and didn’t know when or where the next contract was coming from.

Please tell us about Walk This Way Movement Inc.
Walk This Way Movement Inc. is an organization designed to empower women and teen girls to build confidence to live up to their full potential.

I specialize in helping women and youth build confidence, self-esteem and pushing them to go after their dreams. I am a motivational speaker, transformation coach and I help others express themselves creatively.

I am most proud that my company serves women and youth from all walks of life and that something I created from the ground up is helping so many women.

What sets us apart from other companies is that our workshops have curriculum for corporate, middle and high school girls, as well as religious organizations. We inspire women from all walks of life and faith.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would knock on more doors and take more risks because I know that I have the power to overcome any obstacle.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.walkthiswaymovement.com
• Phone: 424.279.8323
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Walk_this_way_movement
• Facebook: walkthisway1.7
• Twitter: walkthiswayinfo
• Other: @shakilastewart