Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Castro.
Hi Juliana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story began in Brazil.
Which, to me, is the most beautiful city in the world.
I often say that Brazil is unlike anything else: our energy, our joy, our culture, our natural beauty, which looks just like a painting.
Anyone who experiences the energy of the Brazilian people will never forget it.
Today, I live in Miami, Florida. A place I fell in love with the very first time I visited.
I come from a family of engineers and dentists.
But before reaching that point, my father, my mother and my stepfather, who came from a humble family, worked very hard in Brazil to give us a dignified life.
A Biology graduate of Gama Filho University, I have always led a parallel life in the arts.
My family always made it clear to me and my sister, that studying is fundamental, but they have also always been my biggest supporters in my artistic career. At the age of six, my mother enrolled me in dance classes.
At Escola de Danca Spinelli, led by Beth Spinelli and Eliana Spinelli, I did dance and theater for years and graduated as a professional dancer.
The dance school played an enormous role in my life and was fundamental to my formation as a human being.
There, I learned about values, hierarchy, discipline, and respect.
And so begins my story in art.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I admire my journey, but like any other, it has not been easy.
In Brazil, dance is not highly valued, nor does it pay well; consequently, I felt compelled to shift my professional focus.
The greatest challenge I faced was breaking into a job market that is highly exclusive and difficult to access.
I studied and acquired the necessary qualifications to do so. I frequently traveled from Rio de Janeiro (where I lived) to another state (São Paulo) in search of new opportunities at the top casting agencies for actors and models.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
With an extensive career as an actress and model, I started at the age of six as a dancer. Through dance, I had the opportunity to travel across different states in Brazil and internationally, including Colombia and Russia, where I lived for a year.
An important milestone in my career was my time as a dancer in a very famous band called É o Tchan—a tropical dance-pop phenomenon of the 90s in Brazil. We performed many shows all across the country.
After years as a dancer, I discovered two new paths in the arts: print modeling and acting: a turning point in my life.
I began attending castings for major commercial campaigns while also studying acting for TV and film, gradually transitioning into these fields.
With over 15 years of experience, I have been part of numerous significant projects.
As an actress, I have appeared in films, miniseries, soap operas, and TV shows on major Brazilian networks such as TV Globo, Multishow and TV Record.
I have also worked on advertising campaigns for brands like Lóreal and Volkswagen, and I played a lead role in campaigns for Santher (Personal Care), Nestlé, among others.
For the past seven years, I have been the face of Beautycolor’s Soul Power line, a brand focused on curly hair care.
My image is featured on products sold in beauty stores across Brazil and also available online in the United States through Amazon.
My artistic career continues here in the United States—as a lead model in advertising campaigns, an influencer/UGC creator, and in music videos.
What matters most to you?
My family is my foundation. It is everything I am.
I am absolutely nothing without them. Without their support and love, along with my husband.
Anyone who values and prioritizes family knows the true meaning of love.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byjucastro
- Other: https://jucastro.my.canva.site/portifolio-ju-castro
Image Credits
Maverick Photography
Joseph Massey
Sydney Flowers
