Rising Stars: Meet Anisa Benitez of Los Feliz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anisa Benitez

Hi Anisa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hey! I’m Anisa Benitez. I’m known as an actor, writer, and mindful content creator who recently moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn, NY. I care deeply about creative wellness, engaging with life more mindfully, and being a living embodiment of my values. “Create to liberate,” is a daily affirmation for me as creative expression has been the greatest healing force in my life. It returns me to a state of love and inner-freedom, again and again. I want others to be able to experience this feeling as well.

I decided to become a full-time artist after overcoming the fear of being a ‘starving artist.’ As a child I was always finding ways to perform (dance, act, sing), make things (sew clothing, cooking projects), and make art (paint, draw). Creating daily made me feel most alive. Then, through societal fear-based conditioning, self-doubt, and comparison, I shut out the possibility that I could make a livelihood as an artist. Achieving financial stability was always important to me because I came from a low-income family and adopted a scarcity mentality.

Despite writing-off the possibility of a creative career, I took advantage of every opportunity to perform in middle school, high school, and even in college. While in college, I worked 30+ hours a week to pay my way. Despite my passion for the arts, I majored in Economics, and further began to distance myself from a creative career. That was the case until I was offered a full-time job as a Business Analyst at a well-known corporation upon graduating, and I declined it.

Although I had student debt and wanted job security, I thought, “How can I have a career that embraces my creativity and supports artists?” Luckily, shortly after graduating, I landed a marketing job in the music industry; Thus began my career.

I became a top industry marketer for brands and artists at RCA Records under Sony Music, TIME, Entertainment Weekly, Fortune Magazine, Google, and finally YouTube Music. Then at the start of 2020, I left my marketing career to invest in myself as an artist. Ultimately, I’m deeply grateful to follow my soul’s calling and hope to inspire others honor theirs soul as well.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Before 2020, I didn’t understand that in order to be a true artist I would need to routinely listen to my soul. What made me successful in the business world was strong work-ethic, strategic thinking, and networking skills… qualities that are rewarded externally, but don’t have value to my inner world. I began learning that my soul values surrender, listening, cultivating intuition, emotional regulation, and being of service to others. These values enrich my inner world and therefore my present reality. I’ve found it best to prioritize both my inner and outer world so that I can truly thrive.

In addition, meditation has played a pivotal role in my life now for the past 14 years. There was a time when I questioned whether being an artist was too self-centered. Today I know that to be an artist is an act of self-love. I’ve found that the more I am true to myself the more love, desire to empower others, and care for the planet I feel. There will always be a need for more artists who are expressing what the world needs to feel. Artists are truth-tellers.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m mainly known for villainous roles in acting and as a mindful muse online. We’re all multi-dimensional and I find joy in honoring duality; showing the light and dark. It brings compassion to all of the human experience.

My latest acting role is in Ryan Murphy’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. The show is premiering September 17th on Hulu. I’ve also had acting roles in Wu-Tang: An American Saga, in American Horror Story, and in numerous independent film productions, including my own short film. I’ve found deep creative and emotional fulfillment in being myself, as well as in embodying characters.
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Beyond acting, my mission is to inspire creative wellness an advocate for the mental health of artists. My guided meditations, mental health advocacy, and wellness content can be found on my YouTube channel, on BuzzFeed, across my social media, and on my former podcast No Starving Artist. I’ve created mindful content and campaigns for top brands, such as Athleta, Keys SoulCare, Wix, BetterHelp, Adobe, Lincoln, DoSomething.org, among others.

I’ve been featured on TODAY, the Drew Barrymore Show, In The Know, Yahoo, Goodful, TikTok, Kno., Women of Silicon Valley, All the Pretty Birds, Create! Magazine’s Women’s Issue, Kulture Hub, Woke & Wired Podcast, among other places.

What matters most to you?
The present, loved ones, wisdom, creativity, the health of the planet and its people… matters of the heart. I want to give more of myself to these areas of life before I die and am re-reminded of this every time I meditate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anisabenitez.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anisabenitez
• TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@anisabenitez
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@anisabenitez

 

 

 

Image Credits
Image 1: HAGUE N.Y.C PHOTOGRAPHY https://www.hague.nyc/ @hague.nyc,
Image 5: Michael Leviton Photography https://www.michaellevitonphotography.com/ @michaelleviton