Today we’d like to introduce you to Jada Jay.
Jada, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a child, I was fascinated with music of all genres and I would always sing covers of songs I heard on the radio both in private and in public. At a young age, I was constantly being told by people of all ages that I was talented and would one day be successful if I worked hard and never gave up on my dreams of becoming an entertainer. At age seven, I wrote my first song and continued to write and perform my music for friends, family and sometimes even complete strangers. At age eight, my siblings and I started performing covers of our favorite songs as well as the choreography we made up to go along with the songs (we called our show “the singing program”). From grade school through high school, I was heavily involved in choir, dance and theatre. My love for performing grew the more I practiced my craft and the more I received recognition for my hard work, specifically after my live performances or choir and theatre competitions. After years of working with several vocal coaches, dance instructors and receiving a ton of acting training both on stage and on-camera, I grew as an entertainer and even made a few accomplishments. I got to open in concert for Kirk Franklin in 2016, and I recently won a competition and got to open in concert for Alison Wonderland. I now have representation for acting and I am always performing at different events in the DFW area. Without God, my family and my friends, I wouldn’t be where I am today!
Has it been a smooth road?
Everyone experiences obstacles or challenges during their journey to accomplishing their goals/dreams. As an African American female, I have experienced the struggle of having to work twice as harder than males, and non-minority women to get the same level of recognition or treatment in many circumstances. I have also had to face the struggle of some casting directors refusing to color blind cast. For example, one time my theatre director randomly put out a cast list for a show that I spent all summer preparing for, and instead of holding auditions she cast the show based on looks because of the time period (1950s). However, that experience only motivated me to work harder on my craft and helped me realize that life isn’t always going to be fair or go as planned but instead what truly matters is how you choose to bounce back and overcome your obstacles. Advice I would give to young women starting out her journey would be to put God first in anything that you do because when you seek his will in all that you do, he will guide you and show you which path to take. Never give up on your dreams, and embrace what makes you unique.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am an entertainer, I write my own music, sing covers, dance and act both on stage and on camera. Most people know me for singing, acting or giving advice. I am most proud of the growth I have experienced at such a young age (19) and the wisdom I have that I often choose to share with others in hopes of seeing them flourish. I truly feel like what sets me apart from others is my genuine heart, positive vibes, ambitious mindset, and my desire to help others succeed.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
My advice for anyone who is looking for a mentor is to surround yourself with people who you can have a mutually beneficial relationship with. You never know who knows who or what so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Talking to random people, attending conferences and building relationships has worked well for me.
Contact Info:
- Email: jadaadams452443@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisianababyj/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/theextraordinaryjada
Image Credit:
Brent Weber
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