Today, we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Crow.
Hi Caitlin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
It’s a pleasure to be here, thanks so much for having me! Growing up in the charming, small town of Pensacola, FL, was a dream, but I always knew that I was different than many of the people around me. I had a deep calling down to my core that I was meant for more – my purpose was out there, and I had an appetite for life that my safe haven of a town could not satisfy.
I attended a local college, UWF, and got a degree in public relations. Soon enough, I found myself at my first job out of school at one of the top radio stations in the area. I was so grateful for that time – so many lessons were learned and so many discoveries about myself. At the age of twenty-five was when I had my so called “coming to Jesus moment” – I feel like around that age the light bulb starts to come on for many 20-somethings and you kinda start asking yourself those really deep questions you’ve been avoiding.
“What am I doing with my life?” “Am I even truly happy?” “Is this it for me?”- My answer was no. I realized I needed to stop living for other people’s expectations of me (which was something I completely made up in my head – my parents have always been the most supportive in whatever I wanted to pursue, they are truly my STAN’s) and start authentically living for myself no matter what that looked like to others. So, just shy of twenty-six years old, I ventured off to Nashville, all by myself, to discover and chase my crazy dreams.
Moving to Nashville allowed me to become ALL of who I am today – the friendships and relationships I have cultivated ultimately lead me to my path and my true calling, acting. I have always been a creative dreamer at heart. I grew up with musically talented parents, modeled most of my life, and even dabbled in a few acting classes in college, but I never felt that I had the resources or space to freely pursue that career until I found my studio (The 4th Wall) and community here – and I haven’t looked back since.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ha. Oh boy, when they say God has a sense of humor…they ain’t lyin’. When I first arrived in Nashville, I was in for a rude awakening. In my perfect world, I was going to stroll on into another job in radio, get on-air, and become a big radio personality (before I discovered I was good at this whole acting thing). Little did I realize how competitive this town is, especially in the music world. Keep in mind, I was twenty-six and had never left home – so I was a wee bit naive.
Finding a position in the field I wanted was hard, even with my contacts and leg-ups from the relationships I built. I was still going up against people who were coming right out of Belmont or Vandy with more focused experience than I had. For the time being, I fell back on the hospitality industry so I could make a living – nothing new to me. I worked in restaurants since I was fifteen – but working on Broadway? Ha. Yeah… that was new.
I easily got swept away with the fast-paced, fast-money lifestyle of the industry for longer than I care to admit, but what it brought along with it were meaningful friendships and relationships that molded me and inevitably led me to my studio’s front door. Man, if I could find the first scene I did in class, we could all sit and laugh together – it was HORRIBLE. It’s funny to me, looking back now, that the same girl who would be stuttering and profusely sweating through her public speaking assignment in college would be the same person voluntarily getting in front of her peers to perform and show the most raw and vulnerable parts of herself – yet here we are.
The dedication and work I have put into my craft has been my biggest obstacle, and it is ever evolving – but the reward is worth it. That reward is called freedom. The feeling one gets when they are locked in with their partner in a scene, and time just seems to stand still, everyone disappears, and it’s just you and the present moment. It’s nothing short of magical. I was about a year and a half in to my time at the studio and I was thriving, I even did my first play that February at Exit/In – and then March of 2020 happened.
I learned a lot in that time, as we all did, but I also lost myself during that time as well and have struggled to cling to and discover that tenacious, unstoppable woman again. I had to dig really deep. My mental health took a huge toll – I was at my lowest point. I went through a lot of change, maturing, and grueling healing during that moment and the years following. I honestly just recently feel that I have returned to who I truly am – but she’s different now. She is older, better, wiser, and sharper from it all.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am lucky to have more than one creative avenue that I am able to passionately pursue in this lifetime. I am an actor, model, and digital creator – all depending on the day. In acting, I focus more on the TV/film side – although I would love to explore more behind-the-scenes roles as well. I was a producer on one project, and it was stressful, but it was so satisfying when we got to the other side. I was extremely proud of the hard work my team and I put in.
I would also love to direct and write at some point in the near future. Modeling is another creative outlet that has led me to some insane opportunities I never thought possible. I truly love letting my imagination run wild with fun, innovative concepts and looks. Getting to collaborate with some of the most talented photographers around to create our own art is something that has always lit me up inside. My profession as a digital creator is the greenest out of the three avenues but it has been in the making since college. I always loved messing around with Photoshop and Illustrator when we had assignments, and social media content creation is something that has always come naturally to me.
It brings me joy to be able to help my clients find their voice and discover their brand while also allowing my creativity to drive the message. One thing you can count on is that I will always be my authentic self. People are going to have their opinions and preconceived notions, and that’s ok – but I think my ability to be unapologetically myself and preserve my originality has allowed the people around me to have the courage to do the same without fear of judgment but rather acceptance, professionally and personally.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If there was, one takeaway from my story/testimony is that your dreams are always worth fighting for. We get only one chance in this lifetime – this is not a dress rehearsal. We should be bolting towards whatever we are passionate about and what lights us up inside every single day. Challenges and obstacles will inevitably come – but I believe those low points are the Universe’s way of testing us to see how badly we really want this.
I think if we shift our mindset to overcome, we pass the test and with that comes the inner knowing and strength that we can manifest anything to fruition. Believe you were sent here to do great things. Be your own best friend and advocate. Work twice as hard for yourself than you do for anyone else. Trust in the Universe. Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you. And most importantly… stay true to your most authentic wild self. It is the most powerful magic you possess.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://caitlincrow.weebly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ladycrow/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-crow/
- Other: https://mccrayagency.com
Image Credits
John Brown Photography, Ana Monique Photography, Kevin Wurm Photography, James Isaac Jones Photography, One Twenty-Nine Photography, David Morel Photography, and Hannah Irvin Photography
