Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Nogueras.
Stephanie Nogueras was born in Camden, New Jersey on November 18, 1989. In her early years, Stephanie discovered her love of dance (ballet) and has been dancing for a couple of years. She got accepted into the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the nation top pre-professional training programs. They hold approximately 1,500 dancers audition each year that was why Stephanie was surprisingly thrilled. Unfortunately, she was told by a parent that she had to pick one school of those two schools in between The Rock School or Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, Maryland. There were no deaf dancers at the school she knew. Stephanie faced a tough decision in life and weighed on her passion for dance and her future education. She transferred to Maryland School for the deaf from a mainstream school in South Jersey. That was when she, unfortunately, stopped dancing but found a new identity Deaf and many. During her college years, Stephanie randomly modeling began and it increasingly attentive to many professional photographers in a little time. Her former manager of Deafinit from Los Angeles, Sheree was the one who discovered her on Facebook. In May 2011, Stephanie fearlessly moved to Los Angeles, California right after the final exam from a small town in South Jersey. In only six months later, it was entirely a new world for her as became known as a Deaf Latinx actress ‘Natalie Pierce’ for a popular television show Switched at Birth on Freeform. Shortly, she landed guest star “Elly” on another television show Grimm on NBC in 2013. For the past nine years, Stephanie has also appeared in on-camera spots for national commercials, television shows, and feature films. In Hollywood, she is constantly facing discrimination due to her deafness, not the only reason because of harshly barriers. Stephanie is proud of who she is, her deaf culture and community as well. For you who may not know about what’s going on in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, a typical of old small-minded Hollywood usually cast a hearing actor for a deaf character or preferably cast a deaf actor who can speak. There is a whole spectrum of “hearing loss” but at some point, there are two worlds that are culturally different and communication methods to use. Deaf actors and actors with disabilities deserve to be on screen.
When Stephanie is not acting, she is passionately teaching and mentoring for the students, deaf children and families all over in the Los Angeles County. Her favorite part is when she sees the children’s confidence levels are increasing and accepting themselves. It is an absolutely beautiful transformation.
Also, she is a consultant and ASL coach for television shows, films, and plays.
Her clients include:
– A few episodes of the Society on Netflix
– An episode of Criminal Minds on CBS
– For actors of Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare’s play for the Ophelia’s Jump
– For actors of Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare’s play for the Hollywood Fringe
– For two producers at the Buzzfeed
– A few feature films.
If you are interested in taking ASL lessons or in need of a piece of advice. Email her at Ms.StephanieNogueras@gmail.
IG:@StephanieNogueras
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it is a rocky road in Hollywood, well you have to climb over some time, really. As a Deaf actor can be mentally exhausting easily. You have to have a strong and positive mindset to overcome struggles along the way.
Here are some tips:
– Write a journal and keep it. You can revisit old pages and remind yourself why you are amazing and the successes you have had.
– Go out to do something new.
– Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
– See a setback as a temporary
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
Here is a list about the best of Los Angeles:
– Love having enough options to access many hiking trails anywhere nearby.
– Los Angeles literally represents the “melting pot” of restaurants where you can find on one street. It is the wide diversity that makes it a nice special and fun.
– The creativity of Los Angeles
– Healthy lifestyle
Here is a list about the least of Los Angeles:
– Traffic…everywhere
– It is an expensive place to live in LA
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stephanienogueras.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @stephanienogueras
- Twitter: @StellaNogueras
Image Credit:
Photo credits: Ales Litomisky (black and white photos), Tate Tullier, Krystof Litomisky for a photo of me (Sitting on the Rock)
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
