Meet Skye Edith Bannister

Today we’d like to introduce you to Skye Edith Bannister.

Hi Skye, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Los Angeles once when I was nine and then again permanently when I was 12, and that move began my journey with my creativity. I went to public performing arts schools like Bancroft and Ramon C. Cortines VAPA and mainly focused on dance as my art form. I formed a deep connection to music through choreographing and learning choreography by joining VAPA’s Dance Company, which led to my fascination with music videos and visuals and how impactful they can be. I, at the same time, found that I was really fond of History. I loved learning about anything and everything having to do with world history and why the world is the way it is which led to me deciding to pursue my degree in International Relations and moving to London for three years to attend Regents University London.

During those 3 years, I immersed myself in cultures that opened up my world to so many cool experiences but also opened my eyes to my love of fashion, photography, and content creation. During the summers while I was home in LA, I started a summer job at the Greek Theatre as an usher which soothed the music lover in me, and soon after started working a second job at Glossier LA. Working there was like a creative revolution for me, I was working with so many creatives (models, content creators, photographers, actors, etc.) and befriended my now good friend Vanessa Feder who after taking staff photos of all of us worked with me on more shoots and encouraged me to pursue modeling in the future. I was inspired but fearful of pursuing something entirely creative and planned to go to law school after graduation and maybe have modeling as a side hustle. After graduating in the summer of 2019, I decided to take a year break before law school, started working at Glossier full-time, and then the pandemic hit.

With the whole world being shut down, I was given a work assignment at Glossier to make videos involving our staff doing makeup tutorials and had to struggle through learning how to work iMovie. That was followed by a full pause in operations that ultimately lead to me being laid off in the fall of that year. During the pause, I started getting into photography and started focusing on putting more joyful content out there in the world to bring a smile to my friend’s and families’ faces during the tough time. We were all so scared for ourselves and for each other that I started making video content around things and products that were bringing me joy with the hope that it brought them a little bit of that too. I decided to rekindle my desire to pursue a creative career (modeling, acting, writing, and content creation) and started emailing and reaching out to brands and creatives that I wanted to work with. Funny enough, I got responses to most of those emails; I think because the world was at a standstill where if the world wasn’t going through a crisis I probably wouldn’t have. It was the standard “ Thanks for reaching out! The pandemic has currently put a pause on shoots/projects but we’ll definitely keep you in mind.”. I then started to send check-in emails every 8 weeks with examples of my content and new digitals. By the end of summer, I had started doing consistent social partnerships and was cast in a couple of campaigns with brands I love like MILK, NYX Cosmetics, and BackBeat Co. . In a fantastic turn of events, by New Years I was signed to STETTS for Modeling after being scouted by my agent from one of my campaigns and at the start of 2021 I also signed to Lemon Lime Agency for commercials.

After experiencing the success of getting signed and being able to be a full-time creative, I decided to start my series “ Cultivating Joy With Skye” where I document not only the things that are currently bringing me joy like decorating my new room or adopting my puppy Buttercup but also my journey as an African-American woman navigating spaces and the industry as a curve model, dancer, actor, writer, and content creator. I decided that I wanted my career to be full of moments and content that provided not only joy but also info so that if anybody else wanted to pursue what I’m doing they could have something to reference. 2021 culminated in my first billboard for the Facebook Oculus Holiday Campaign, being storefront for two Outdoor Voices campaigns going to my first out-of-state- jobs in NYC, and being in Times Square for an ILIA campaign to name a few. This year has involved much of the same with some new developments of me starting my youtube channel, partnering with SUPERGOOP for Coachella, an expansion of my acting career, and inspiration to take classes in video creating, website building, and creative writing to hopefully expand my content into the youtube and blog space. I’m aspiring to do it all and I’m manifesting every day.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There were definitely struggles along the way. I grew up in a single-parent household and when we moved to LA, it was hard on my Mom and I. It was hard adjusting to a new environment that was so different than South Florida. My main hobby was dance which is one of the most expensive art forms to participate in so making sure I had what I needed to train was always hard but we managed to scour Danny’s Warehouse for when I needed things. When the time to apply for college came, I soon realized I couldn’t afford to go to some of the places I was accepted to in the U.S.. Still, thankfully I applied to schools in the U.K. where tuition is more affordable and I was able to use scholarships and sponsorships to pursue my degree. I have struggled throughout my whole journey with perfectionism and then the consequential burnout to where I’ve had to create really clear work and rest boundaries for myself and adjust my priorities for self-care over productivity.

I also struggled with the barriers that I’ve encountered in making space for myself in the industry. I didn’t see a lot of people who reflected what I look like in campaigns, commercials, and movies while I was growing up and when I decided to dip my toe in pursuing my creative career pre-pandemic it was super hard to get opportunities. The castings weren’t looking for my aesthetic or for someone my size and it was discouraging, to say the least. As a full-time creative now, I’ve struggled with on-set obstacles like HMUA’s that don’t know how to do my hair or makeup, taking care of my skin and hair through project after project, and just keeping consistency with my volume of work. I’ve overcome all of that by just counting my blessings, educating when I can, solidifying my self-care routine, and manifesting more and more opportunities.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a model, actor, dancer, writer, and content creator. My work mostly entails auditioning, capturing content for brands, and capturing content for my series and socials. I write freelance for publications and I also write poetry that I’ve used in my own projects. I specialize in Modeling and Dancing in campaigns for brands, Acting, and making content that represents all of the things that I’m crazy about Black Joy, Fashion, Music, Film, Interior Decorating, Travel, and Support of Black Women, Black Art, and Black Justice. I’m mostly known for my “Cultivating Joy With Skye” series where I make episodes about everything that brings me joy at the moment and what’s happening in my career and journey and my “ Things I’ve Learned As A Model” series where I talk about tips and tricks that I’ve learned so far. I’m most proud of my “Cultivating Joy With Skye” series. It really provided me a space to celebrate my accomplishments like my first billboard in the Facebook Oculus Campaign, my first time in a campaign that was in Times Square, my first time in an Outdoor Voices Store Front, and other things like my friend’s accomplishments and new updates and changes in my life. My work is really unique in the sense that it’s my own little corner of the internet. I like to think of it like that. My work is so attuned to my personal and professional journey that it’s really niche but also has themes that my community and followers have been able to relate to and enjoy. My work encapsulates pure joy in spite of all the things.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Don’t give up on your dreams and don’t let the fear of doing something unfamiliar hold you back from trying it out. I would have never thought of myself where I am, making what I am now. Life surprises you so just follow what your heart desires and always search for joy and let that lead you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluebannister?lang=en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluebanniestr/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjv_j77_jwF0S34H1F5Tg8A/featured
• Other: https://www.stetts.com/divisions/lifestyle-la/portfolios/skye-bannister

Image Credits
Michael Anaya- Flower Outfit Photo Kennedy Daniel- Red Dress and Green Top Photos Vanessa Feder- 2017 Glossier LA Staff Photo