Meet Aquilla “Q” Smith | Actor & Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aquilla “Q” Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aquilla “Q”, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I’m not a quitter, I’m a go getter. It’s no giving up, that’s not even an option…Everyone’s rooting for your down fall so you most definitely have to keep going, you’re your biggest fan no matter what you do. It’s no point of turning back, you’ve come to far. You can do & be whatever you put your mind to. No matter what your past may look like that doesn’t define your future, you define your future. Of course people will always bring up the old you, but as long as you & God knows who you are that’s all that matters..you’re still here for a reason, so you have to keep it pushing through the storm and shine.

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.
Growing up I was always being silly, performing with my older brother and cousin as if we were r&b and rap groups lol , dramatic, just always being a clown. I would always act like I was playing the drums in the backseat of my mother’s car so my brother Kevin would be cracking up and every time my mom would turn around I’d stop😂. She’d always ask my brother what’s so funny but I’d always have a straight face when she’d turn around or ask what’s so funny. I’m just a natural born actor & I say actor because I can play any role. I went to a performing arts school back at home in Newark Nj where I majored in Drama & minored in tv productions, Shout out to Arts High, where legends are made. Speaking of made I’m self made to the point I built my own self confidence. Setting me apart from everyone, I never cared what the next thought or think of me, I’ve always been my authentic self and only in competition with myself, I am my worst enemy. I’m really most proud of myself for becoming the best version of myself coming from a place of stagnation and dependency on pills and alcohol to suppress depression, anxiety, the feeling of being unloved, unwanted, not good enough, judged, and being a black sheep. I use to be wylin, to the point so many times I could’ve & shouldve been dead. I got tired of taking the same test over & over again, the test kept getting worse and worse so I knew it was time to change & wake up. I was sleep walking for along time & I am extremely proud of myself because with God I pushed and motivated myself through the mist of all of my storms and babyyyy it’s been one hell of a ride😂. I started doing background work to get my foot in the door because you have to start somewhere and put your work in. I was on set every day all day I’m talking about straight from work from the post office straight to set. To the point people on set didn’t know how I was doing it..I’d just tell them “trees & God” 😂foreal though. Being on set is my happy place, it’s always very welcoming & non judgmental unlike “Cooperate America”. That’s a whole different story. But, while doing background work I’d be networking at the same time because it’s not what you know it’s who you know and your network is your net worth. I started putting myself out there applying to different casting calls with the help of my dad (stepdad/other dad I don’t put a “step” in front of him)finding my first two speaking roles and networking like crazy. It most definitely hasn’t been an easy journey, but nothing in life is easy. I know prayer can and will get you through everything as well as having faith and believing. The most valuable lessons I’ve learned is, if the most high removes you from something or someone don’t go back to it because the test will only get worse and you’re going to have to keep starting over. Also, learn who you truly are and once you do that you’ve unlocked so many different levels and I’m actually even cooler than I know I am lol. I just want the world to know that no matter what anyone says or think of you, be exactly who you’re designed to be and always put your best foot forward no matter what. The only person you have anything to prove to is the old version of yourself. People are always going to hate because they hate themselves and they’re going to always talk so give them something great to talk about. If I can do it so can you, you just can’t give up. Leveling up isn’t for the weak.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I wish my best friend was still alive, God rest his soul. If my best friend was still alive I’d most definitely have to take him to my favorite soul food spot “Old Lady Gang” for some good old soul. Definitely would take him to “Little five Points”, The “Belt Line”, and of course “East Ponce Market”. To give him an Atl lounge experience we’d slide to “Boogaloo lounge”, as well as “Apace lounge”. He’d most def have to experience the “Bonfire” and he couldn’t come to “The A” and not hit a strip club up so I’d definitely take him to “Magic City” and “Strokers” lol. I don’t party or really go out anymore since I started at a young age, so I’d probably end his trip with the “Trap museum” and “ Black Wall Street”. If I do go out it’s for a networking event lol. I always tell people it’s so much going on out here literally everyday just look on ig or Eventbrite if you want to know what’s going on for the night. Oh and I would send him home with some “hungry af” or some jamican food from “Jamaica Sunset Eatings”, hits every time lol.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank “Stud Model Project” for helping me start my modeling career. Anyone who has ever given me the opportunity to work with them and all the people that’s rooting for me. I’d also like to thank my Uncle Ricky for being the only person on this entire planet to always be there for me anytime or day, my lowest and my highest, even when it felt like the entire world was against me he never turned his back on me and always believed in me. Much gratitude and appreciation for him, I don’t know what I would’ve done without him. And of course, I am forever grateful for the most high for always giving me the strength to keep on going through the mist of it all and for choosing me to be Aquilla Corinthia Smith.

Website: https://linktr.ee/dat_ninja_q

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dat_ninja_q?igsh=b2ZiY2wwMXpqeXV5&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Qu1llz?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@AquillaTheActress?si=o7ns6VXats_Qghvh