Rising Stars: Meet Kiara Mooring of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiara Mooring

Hi Kiara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Kiara Dominique Mooring, I’m a dancer/ model from Ewing, NJ and have been dancing since the age of two. Starting in traditional African style dance with my mother, brother and the dance company associated with our school. I’ve always had a dream of Making it to the big time as a performer and entertainer! The amount of showcases my living room/bedroom saw growing up is actually insane. I didn’t grow up in the traditional dance world though. My studio and practices were hall parties, dance battles , and Jersey club line dances in The middle of the Dancefloor, Learning them first on YouTube and then perfecting them at the party with my friends. I graduated from Kean University with a Bachelors degree in Business Marketing, which has been used strategically in the marketing of myself as a dancer and model on social media for the past four years. My schools dance troupes and showcases are where I fell in love with learning choreography to then creating and teaching my own. After freshman year, performing in two showcases . I knew in my heart what profession I was meant to pursue. After graduation, I continued to dance, teach and perform locally at any place I could to gain practice and exposure. Just grinding and showing up as much as I could to make a name for myself! Fast Forward a few years, I get a call to an opportunity of a lifetime to appear on Lizzo‘s Watch out for the Big Grrrls, A reality dance competition series that premiered on Prime Video. I never in a million years thought I’d be on a reality TV show . I grew up watching the craziness of how it gets and swore on everything It would Never be me. Yet, there I was being flown out to LA ( First class by the way !) to do reality Television , and I loved every minute of it, I would 100% do it again! The show later went on to Win an Emmy! I’m still wrapping my head around that one . After making it through the entire series, I was a finalist that was picked to go on her special tour. To this day, I still remember the feeling I got when I was handed my Tour pass! My life changed drastically after 2021, and has been one hell of a ride! I’m beyond grateful to have seen so many parts of the world on tour with a new family, and being a part of The movement of Inclusion within the industry, it’s so Important! The Tv show and tour meant so much to a lot of people , it was an honor to be able to share the energy, love and support in those stadiums around the world. Since returning from the special tour, I made the terrifying yet exciting decision to finally move to LA. I came to finish what I started! I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my Amazing Mother (Mama Kim), who has believed and supported me since day one ! It’s been an amazing journey so far, adjusting to a new life but has been nothing short of rewarding. I can’t wait to see my evolution out here! I’m excited to make new connections have some more dope experiences and opportunities. Get ready to start seeing a familiar face!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Truthfully, life is never a smooth road. It will definitely have those bumps and cracks along the way that ultimately shape us into the Warriors we become. I chose a particularly challenging career path, that requires constant investment in oneself. That alone can put a lot of wear and tear on the mind and body but it brings me so much fulfillment to be able to tell so many stories with my movements. I love sharing my creativity and talents with the world!

It was difficult at times growing up as a chocolate, thick girl in spaces where there weren’t many of me. Even as an adult, I tend to walk into a lot of dance classes/ auditions with a slight feeling of imposter syndrome in the back of my mind. It’s a hard feeling to shake when it’s been embedded in you since a young age. You start to get a feeling like you’re in over your head, or you’re just too off in THIS space.
I started dance from a very young age, but did not continue to train as I grew up. Not being a trained dancer, coming into the industry has definitely had its challenges, it can be very intimidating and limiting if you allow it to be but I decided to look at it more as an adventure, a journey to uncover my true abilities. Crafting my dance styles and capabilities as I grow as a person, surpassing even my own expectations! Changing my mindset has helped me progress tremendously while being in these dance spaces with dancers who have been training their entire lives.

At a certain point, I just realized, the only person standing in the way was my own self. Confidence doesn’t work if you don’t believe it for yourself first! Don’t get me wrong, I am human so of course I still have my moments, but the snapback is powerful! It has to be, that’s the only way you’re gonna make it out here and in this world. I heard a quote one day, “ You can be the juiciest peach in the batch, but there will always be someone who just doesn’t like peaches”. That statement alone has helped me migrate through an industry that can be a bit judgmental at times and make you question whether you’re good enough. I keep myself grounded by burning sage and connecting to the Earth whenever I have an opportunity to. I also make a point to wake up and express my gratitude for all the places I’ve been and manifest everywhere I see myself going in the future.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional dancer/model, that is still pretty new to the game. I’ve been dancing professionally now for three years. It all began with the filming of Lizzo’s Watch out for the Big Grrrls on Prime Video, where I was 1 of 13 contestants, competing for a spot on her next world tour! I made it all the way through the show, all the challenges ups and downs. I was awarded a spot on her Special world tour. it was quite a journey, I got to travel the world eat from many different places and experience so many cultures . I never thought I would see so much of the world yet at my age. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity and the ride of a lifetime! Since tour, I have been working on different projects, I moved out to LA to further pursue my dance and modeling career and now we are out here, trying to live the dream!

I would consider myself a bit of a micro influencer, with a pretty good following on Instagram and TikTok. I enjoy content creating, it forces me to put on my thinking cap, explore my creativity. At the end of the day, I try not to put too much pressure on it because social media should be fun ! I try to keep my content as relatable as possible, and I almost always incorporate dance because it brings people joy.

Now that I’m here in the land of Dreams, I’m making it my mission to explore different realms of art and truly push my creativity. I have some surprises in the works that I cannot wait to share with the world what I am truly capable of, but for now I will just say stay tuned !

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Yes, COVID-19 really open my eyes to how short and precious life is . We spend every day waking up, going through the same motions and routines that we forget to LIVE. The world was shut down for a bit, we were forced to look in the mirror and see back the reflections of our lives. It was a scary time, it almost feels like we jumped dimensions in a sense. Personally, I feel as though I had a major revelation that truly sparked something inside of me where I was no longer able to go back to my old life.
It was during these times where it was not only hard, but it was also that I realized I wanted more for my life and I was going to do whatever I needed to do to get it! As long as it didn’t make me question my morality or integrity, I was going after it. Life is short, and we only get one that we know of so it’s best to probably live it up to the best of your abilities and go after everything that seems crazy to you. You can’t be successful without being a little delusional too.
I also learned that America is far behind in terms of cleanliness of the nation and working remote should’ve always been an option Once technology allowed us to do so, just saying !

Pricing:

• https://www.fit4agoddess.com
• https://www.cameo.com/kiaradominique

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/kiaradominique
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiaradominique?igsh=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kiaramooring5505?si=rdXhDGvt10fTgPtb

Image Credits
Additional photos
1. JMA Photography (NY)
2. JMA PHOTOGRAPHY (NY)
3. Alexandra Waespi Photographyy
4. Alexandra Waespi Photography
5. Alexandra Waespi Photography
6. Creative Ways photography (NJ)