Posts tagged "Naseyah Williams"

Meet Naseyah Williams!

Bringing  her authentic self to the stage allowed Naseyah Williams to walk away with the title of Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2019! Her passion  for expressing herself through the arts and serving others through her talents, is a true representation of a queen.

As a North-Carolina native, Naseyah is a dedicated and active member of Hillside Drama Department. Her major roles have included various high profile Broadway plays + musicals such as The Color Purple, Willy Wonka, The BodyGuard and Matilda. In addition, the young powerhouse serves as a youth leader for various community outreach organizations + has her own platform called “Soaring Through The Arts”  to inspire + to spark a creative movement with youth.

In December of 2018, Naseyah  competed for and won the title of Miss Black North Carolina Talented Teen 2019 under the Miss Black USA Organization. She then went on to compete at Nationals for the Title of Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2019 in August of 2019 + brought home the crown!

She desires for the world to realize that talents are not just attributes, but they are truly our life’s gift.

Let’s get to know Naseyah a little better…

You hold the crown for Miss Black USA Talented Teen! Why was it important for you to participate in the pageant and what impact do you want to make during this time? 

The most important thing as I claimed the title of Miss Black USA Talented Teen, was not that I would get the chance to be represented, but the chance to represent the countless other girls who had never gotten the chance or did not think they have the ability to do such things. I have found that there is a lack in our community. A lack of self esteem and self identity. Because of this, I make it my mission to be the best friend to every girl who feels alone. To be the role model to every girl that feels lost in a world of people who look down on her.

Theatre is your love + the stage is your home! You’ve been featured in The Bodyguard, Willy Wonka, and countless other musicals + plays, how does theatre bring your personality + purpose alive? 

Theatre is my HOME! I remember my first audition, I was invited by a friend and I thought all I would have to do was sing.

I remember I sang and I thought that was all! However, that was followed by as well as this intense improv which I never thought I could do until that moment. With that being said, theatre has caused me to branch out and no longer just hide behind my voice.

I love singing but the ability to add another dynamic to it when combined with the dancing and acting, just made my voice that much more powerful. I have learned so much about myself, my capabilities, through my performances. It has brought me out of my shell and enables me to just be me. I have a very “exciting” personality as most would say, and I have theatre to thank for that!

Art is such a beautiful space of creativity + non-judgment. Your platform “Soaring Through the Arts” brings the attention + importance to the power of arts! How have the arts impacted your life + made it easier to find your voice? 

Thanks to my legendary director, Mr. Wendell Tabb, I have had the opportunity to be on stage and embody these roles. I remember when we were reading the script for The Color Purple, my director told us all that we have to find ourselves somewhere in these characters, in the story, in  order to bring it to life. Ever since then, I have found myself somewhere in every story we have performed.

Many people think a good actor is just someone who can cry on the spot. That is not all there is. You have to be able to connect the story to yourself, which brings a vulnerability. I love the fact that the stage is one of the only places where I feel I can bring this side of me out, free of any judgement.

“Soaring Through The Arts” is my initiative to help all of those who have a desire for the arts, but don’t feel like they have what it takes. It is the opportunity to discover the you that you never thought you knew!

Oftentimes black girls are labeled with numerous stereotypes, what’s a way we can continue to break barriers and create an authentic representation of ourselves? 

Being a black woman in America, is one of the hardest roles to fill. Though faced with discrimination, stereotypes and obstacles, we continue to push forward and break barriers. We can continue to do this by letting our intelligence do the talking. Let our art do the talking. Let our voices be heard because we are the embodiment of what it means to be strong, beautiful, intelligent and talented. We have to push past the stereotypes and continue to pave the way for the generations to come! How do we do this? By letting our #BlackGirlMagic do the talking!

Being young, juggling responsibilities while reaching your dreams can sometimes get to be a bit overwhelming, how do you regroup and motivate yourself when you’re feeling a little defeated? 

 When feeling defeated, I regroup and motivate myself by finding strength in God. For he has made me in his image so I can never be defeated. I have to admit, it is difficult to navigate through teen life especially when you are different; set apart. It is the moments when you embrace that you are not always going to be strong when you gain the most strength. So continue to go after every dream that you’ve ever dreamed because no one can stop you but you.

What’s one mantra or positive quote you live by? 

I live by the motivating words of former Astronaut, Mae Jemison, “Never be limited by the limited imagination of others.”

Time for faves! Artist? Food? Movie? Celeb crush? 

Favorite Artist– My favorite artist whom I will always love is Whitney Houston. I have drawn so much inspiration from her as well as Tori Kelly, who is not as known, but has had a huge influence on my songwriting.

Favorite Food– Fun Fact; I used to be a vegetarian for quite a long time but I stopped very recently and went back to my meat eating ways. All food is my favorite but if I had to choose, I would go with HOT WINGS! I love hot wings and they are part of the reason I converted back to the meat world haha!

Celebrity Crush– Lil Nas X!

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