Meet Daniela Ichiyanagui | Actress & Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniela Ichiyanagui and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniela, how do you think about risk?
Risk has been at the heart of every important decision I’ve made in my life and career. Choosing to pursue acting full-time was a risk. Moving to a new country alone to chase a dream was a risk. Every audition, every self-tape, every moment of putting myself out there — it all involves risk.

But I’ve learned that growth doesn’t happen without it. Risk forces you to bet on yourself, even when the outcome is uncertain. It teaches you resilience, humility, and hope all at once.

For me, risk is not about being reckless — it’s about listening to that quiet voice inside that says, “This matters enough to try.” It’s about being willing to walk into the unknown, even when fear is there too.

Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my career have come from moments when I chose courage over comfort. And even when things don’t turn out the way I hoped, I’ve never regretted trying — because every step forward, even the uncertain ones, has shaped who I am as an artist and as a person.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work is all about connection. Whether it’s through acting, visual storytelling, or creative collaboration, my goal is always to create something honest — something that moves people, even in small, quiet ways.

I specialize in character-driven storytelling — I’m drawn to projects that explore emotion, identity, and the spaces in between where people often feel the most real. What sets me apart is my sensitivity and my curiosity; I care deeply about the details, the humanity beneath the surface, and the emotional truth of every project I step into.

Getting here hasn’t been easy. Moving to a new country to pursue this dream, building everything from the ground up, navigating self-doubt, uncertainty, and rejection — it’s been a long road. But I’m proud of the resilience I’ve built along the way, and the way I’ve learned to trust myself even when the path wasn’t clear.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that growth isn’t linear — it’s messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal. And that success isn’t just about achievement — it’s about staying true to who you are and what you believe in, even when no one’s clapping yet.

If there’s one thing I’d want the world to know about me and my work, it’s that it’s built with intention, with heart, and with the hope of making someone feel seen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit, I’d want to give her the most dreamy, cinematic week in LA — the kind of trip that feels like a movie.
We’d start the day slow with a hike up to the Griffith Observatory, catching the sunrise over the city and that quiet golden haze that only exists in early LA mornings. Afterward, brunch at The Ivy — because some places are iconic for a reason, and the flowers, white tablecloths, and people-watching make it feel like a scene.

We’d spend one afternoon wandering around Larchmont Village, stopping for matcha and vintage books, and another day exploring boutiques in Melrose Place — stopping by Alfred Coffee, of course, because it’s a ritual at this point. I’d take her to The Broad Museum for some art, and maybe an unexpected hidden gallery in a warehouse downtown.

For dinner, we’d try to get a table at Élephante in Santa Monica — because watching the sunset over the ocean with a cocktail in hand feels like pure magic. Another night, we’d head to Giorgio Baldi — candlelight, pasta, and the feeling that you might be sitting next to someone famous.

I’d want her to see both sides of LA — the glam and the quiet. A morning at the beach in Malibu, a late-night drive down Mulholland, a spontaneous stop at a little taco truck on the east side, and an evening dancing somewhere downtown, where no one knows your name but the music makes you feel alive.

By the end of the week, I’d want her to feel what I love most about this city — that you can be anyone, become anything, and that in the most unexpected moments, LA gives you a glimpse of something truly beautiful.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to myself — to the version of me that kept showing up, even on the hard days.
To the part of me that didn’t settle, that kept trying to get better, even when it felt easier to give up.

It hasn’t always been easy. There have been moments of doubt, fear, and uncertainty. But through it all, I kept choosing to move forward, to believe that something better was possible — and to do the work to grow into it.

I’m proud of the resilience, the courage, and the quiet determination it took to stay on this path. And I’m grateful for the reminder that showing up for yourself, even imperfectly, is an act of hope — and of love.

Website: https://danielaichiyanagui.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielaichiyanagui

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-ichiyanagui

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielaichiyanagui

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielaichiyanagui

Image Credits
Headshot by Thomas Brunot