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

Hi Mariah, why did you pursue a creative career?
I knew I wanted to be an actress from a very young age! Movies have always been an escape from reality for me. I was an emotional kid, it felt like very movie that had a happy ending would make me cry. I used to think “I would love to make people feel the way I felt watching this movie.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Being an actress is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. Ironically, I was extremely shy as a child. I did theater in high school but quit after my freshman year because I could not physically stand people looking at me in any capacity. I think as I got older and grew out of my awkward phases, I learned to be more confident within myself.

I realized I was creating negative scenarios in my own head. I have literally nothing to be scared of. It was always in my own head. Once I allowed myself to come to that realization, I felt like I unlocked a super power! The shyness I attached to my personality almost completely went away.

After I graduated high school, I started my own Youtube channel. The thought of putting myself on camera for the world to see never even crossed my mind growing up. After almost 9 years, I grew my channel to over 365,000 subscribers.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Red Hot Yoga is my favorite place to do early morning, and weekend yoga classes! As an avid movie goer, I love going to my favorite AMC on Tuesday’s for a cheap ticket matinee!

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 shoutout my brother, Jabari! My forever movie partner, and the first director that put me in my first film! He is and always has been my best friend. He believed in my acting career before I thought I could even consider it myself. His hard work and dedication to the film industry is nothing short of inspirational. He makes me want to be better every single day.

Instagram: @mariahaveryy

Youtube: Mia ASMR

Image Credits
Photographer: Lucie Keen

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