Meet Ayanna Williams | Entrepreneur, Actor, Screenwriter

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

Hi Ayanna, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started SoBoujiee Boutique during the pandemic due to not being able to work and watching a lot of YouTube videos. I started when I was 17 years old selling hair and lashes. I’ve been interested in beauty since I was a little girl so I felt like it was only right for me to sell products that made women feel beautiful but I quickly realized that the hair business wasn’t necessarily for me. I switched gears a little bit and started selling sunglasses, waist beads, belly rings, purses, really anything that you could use as an accessory I was selling.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Ever since I was a little girl I always knew I wanted to be on TV & apart of the entertainment world. I would always recite the lines from my favorite movies and tv shows and I would always practice what I would say if I had a tv interview in the mirror. I joined drama club in 7th grade, but it wasn’t until I enrolled in a theatre class in 9th grade when I realized that acting was my thing. I joined the theatre arts after school ensemble and started traveling with them to perform in plays. During my senior year of high school I was stuck between going to college for journalism or theatre, but I ended up choosing theatre. I attended East Carolina University where I obtained a bachelors degree in theatre arts, a minor in creative writing, and a film studies concentration. I graduated in May of 2024, and for my graduation project I wrote, produced, assistant directed, and acted in my own short film “ My Daddy’s Daughter “ which has accumulated over 8.5K views on YouTube. Once I got all of the positive feedback on my film I knew I was pursuing the right career. The week after my college graduation I got casted to be on a BET show “ Ms Pat Settles It “ I flew out to Atlanta 8 days after my graduation and filmed that episode. After realizing how much work in the film industry there was for me in Atlanta I started planning my move here after my lease in my student living apartment was up. My boyfriend and I moved to Atlanta July 26th and by August 25th I had been booked to be a background actor on P-Valley, For My Man, G.R.I.T.S, and a few other productions. I think I’m most proud about my P Valley bookings! This journey has not been easy, and I wanted to give up and change my career path every other day in college but I’m glad I stuck it out because now I’m starting to get a glimpse of what the rest of my life in this career will look like. In this business you get way more no’s than yes’s but I believe that the roles for me will be perfect for me and if I’m denied them then God has something bigger in store for me. I overcame a lot of challenges by focusing on the bigger picture, keeping myself grounded, and remembering all of the conversations and manifestations I made with my loved ones who are no longer here. Being on set 8-16 hours a day is exhausting but I know seeing myself on the tv screen is worth it and it gives me a feeling I’ve never felt before. I’ve learned that everything takes time and patience and I can’t rush greatness. These past few years have taught me that life is short and if I have a dream I better chase it while I still can.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my best friend Kiani visited a few months ago after I first moved here we went to Good Game at the battery, The Home Depot Backyard for one of the Atlanta Falcons Kickoff Festivals, and Atlantic Station to ride scooters. Now that I’ve been in the city a little longer, I’ve found a few other spots that I enjoy going to, especially for happy hour! Yard House, Bonefish Grill, Serene ATL, and Snap Thai Fish House have the best happy hours in my opinion! I also had a great time at the Green Room in Alpharetta on Caribbean night. So far, Revolt World has been the best event I’ve been to in Atlanta.

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?
To my mom; Terri Osborne and my Paw Paw who we lost in July 2024, Franklin Howard.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11723860/

Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/theayannasimonee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayanna-williams-745809226

Youtube: https://youtu.be/YvVPmebdfQk?si=QS2ttC1zgTxrs00Q

Other: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1780766551/crossfaded-digital-party-game-for?load_webview=1&bid=5AuTSZkPAr-YU2GJEFnlbRBkYkot&load_webview=1&bid=hP64QfQT4j2_iEy5m1KFI-n0UvDl

Digital drinking game I created

Image Credits
Chjr.Productions
Spiffyproductions
Agwincreations