Today we’d like to introduce you to Lenora Grace.
Hi Lenora, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! Hello! My name is Lenora Grace. I was raised in Houston Texas.
I have always been involved in the arts in some form or fashion. Dance was my first love. I saw a ballerina on the tv screen when I was 4 years old, and I told my mother “I’m going to be a star like her.” My mother was a single mom of 5 kids, who did all she could to make sure that we had the best. We didn’t have much money at the time, but she worked extra shifts and built relationships with coaches so that she could put me through dance, and cheerleading. She enrolled me in many other sports such as karate, mixed martial arts, volleyball, golf, swimming, basketball. Even became friends with a few parents on a private track club who treated her unfairly so I could run in this prestigious track club. I started training in dance when I was 5 years old and went all the way to professionally dance for three years at the age of 23.
I have wanted to be a fashion model since I was a teenager but had very low self-esteem. I saw myself as everything, but beautiful. I put it off for a very long time. Especially when I gained weight. I thought I wasn’t equipped to be a fashion model if I wasn’t a size 6.
Fast forwarding, When I injured my knee. I was unable to dance. I was devastated, but knew my knee needed to heal. I left dance so my body could recuperate.
Within the same year I lost my beautiful mother to cancer. My entire world flipped from the inside out, and then the pandemic hit haha.
During the pandemic I lost two jobs and couldn’t get another one. I was completely lost, and I was grieving in more ways than one. Yet I had hope that things would get better.
My spouse and I were watching “On My Block” one night, and I was so intrigued about the storyline, and he saw how passionate I was, and stood up in front of me, and began to fuss at me, but in a very motivational way haha. His words, “You think I don’t hear you singing in the shower or writing your own music… You think I can’t see how you zone out and start acting out scenes and coming up with your crazy ideas. You belong up there on the stage, on the big screen. I don’t know much about the entertainment business, but I know for a fact you are built for it. I am frustrated with you sitting on your talent and not using it. Talking about it, and not showing it. If I had your talent nobody could tell me anything. You either do it, or you don’t, but move and stop talking about it”.
When I tell you I sat there and wanted to look at him like “who the hell are you talking to”! I didn’t, because he was right. Shortly after that conversation I enrolled in acting classes.
Those acting classes turned into the beautiful journey I’m on now. I moved from Houston to Atlanta, and I have been in a number of projects. A few due to release this year.
I have gone through hell and back, and I am proof that when you start believing in yourself and implement hard work within it shines through in everything you do. It really is possible. Get around people who are winning. Who are bright rays of light that love you and who you can learn from… Watch how you grow.
Finding self-love, and figuring out what I don’t want, and do like etc. Healing, growing closer to GOD, and with a loving spouse I have been able to grow into the woman I am now.
I definitely wouldn’t say it’s skittles and rainbows over here, because some days are better than others, but I’m getting there.
I never thought it would happen the way it’s happening. I couldn’t see myself past the four walls of my bedroom for a very long time. I was in a bad dark place for so long that’s all I could see with my life. I settled on everything, but still had this yearing for more. After my mom died that was the light switch, I needed. Sad to say, but my mom passing opened my eyes to tomorrow really isn’t promised. Life is so beautiful, and precious. Do what you want to do. Live how you want to live. I mean I really travel for photoshoots now! Like what?? Haha
My mother wrote a monologue for me to perform when I was a child, and the one quote that stuck to me till this day is “You get on life, one chance, you make the choice”.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My mindset, and getting out of my own way. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you do not get out of your own way you will be stagnate for a long time. Learning that this business takes time, but it is so rewarding. Being my whole team is hard. I am the lighting, the publicist, the website designer etc. I am learning along the way, and it feels really good, but it is hard.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I where many hats and do a little bit of everything. I do not fit in anywhere, and I really like that about me. I am an Actress, Fashion model who is a Singer-songwriter Voice over artist who loves being in front of the camera, and behind. I am very proud of being a part of 2 feature films and being featured in “out the mud” with two very talented rap artists Majorway and SaucyG Produced by hero gang productions. I am extremely happy to be a mental health advocate. To be a voice to those who cannot understand their own thoughts. It is a close passion of mine to help as many people as I can do so. I have a long way to go, but I am right where I am supposed to be. I love this industry, and I love people. If I can make someone’s day, inspire people whether that be from my own testimony, or telling the stories of those who never got to tell their own I always will.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Honestly, slow down and enjoy the journey. The art of being creative is beautiful so fall in love with it. Learn and read as much as possible. Sometimes life will hit you in the face, and you cannot always pay for classes, workshops, modeling camps, etc. YouTube university is and always will be your best friend. Continue to be grateful in everything you do. Be grateful for everything that you have in life. I have found that having gratitude in everything I do and have whether it was a bad situation, moment, or of good being grateful for it all produces more positivity. You feel better almost instantly if not immediately right after. God comes first in everything that I do. I thank GOD for all that I am and have. I have learned that being still until I have been given answers from GOD is the best direction. Along the journey work on yourself and learn who you are. what you like, what you do not like. How to set boundaries. Work on yourself love and confidence. There is absolutely nothing that you cannot do. If you take anything out of reading this than please know you can do anything and everything you fully believe and put your mind too. You may not be as talented, or as skilled as others, but if you have confidence and believe in yourself so many doors in rooms will start opening. Work your butt off every day for at least 5 minutes on something that is bettering you as a human being and your craft. Stay in your lane, and do not compare yourselves to others. Every artist should read “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron. It has helped me unblock creatively. Train with the best. Focus on becoming the best artist you can be in whatever field or fields on art you are in getting an agency, label, is not the pinnacle of your career. It will most definitely help. At the end of the day your materials, Talent, building relationships, learning the business, and honing your craft is key. Lastly, please do not put yourself in a box. Push yourself! Have a great team behind you, trust the process. Know that this business is trial and error, and it doesn’t matter what level you’re at you can do anything and everything.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Phases_of_nora
- Youtube: Phases_of_nora
