Life & Work with Jade Alexandria

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jade Alexandria.

Hi Jade, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Hi everyone!

I’m an actress, a classic burlesque performer, and a native unicorn from Hendersonville, Tennessee. I was a D1 collegiate tennis player in college and graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in Mass Communications and Sociology.

It was in college after tennis that I decided I wanted to pursue my dream of acting and modeling. I’m a huge lover of old Hollywood and anything vintage. I’m obsessed with Marilyn Monroe, Dorothy Dandridge, Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, and Gina Lollabridaga, to name a few, and I modeled my portfolio after them. I found an agent in 2017 and was represented by the amazing Misty Griggs at Advantage Talent Agency until 2020.

During this time, Nashville wasn’t the”it” city it is today, and it was hard for me to find roles I wanted to represent on screen, so I started writing my own projects to build my reel and resume. I want to be a representation of Black elegance and beauty like Halle Berry, Jayne Kennedy, and Diahann Carroll. After that, my network grew, and I started booking more around the city today. I have been in the industry for ten years and am currently representing myself.

Now, turning my attention to my other passion, burlesque! I have always loved burlesque and Dita Von Teese but never thought I would be a performer! In 2020, I wanted to be softer with myself and my family, so I started my self-love journey. During this time, I realized I suppressed my sensuality to make everyone else comfortable around me because I love them and never want to disappoint them.

However, I realized that it was slowly killing me, and I had to embrace myself and set myself free. I ended up taking a local performers class, Kim Bustible’s “Showcase Your Unique Self” 9-week confidence course. This course had women from all walks of life, and together, we worked through traumas and insecurities.

To graduate, we had to perform an act we came up with. I hid behind the curtain and cussed out of fear most weeks, but I finally made it to the end. I performed and felt a level of freedom and self-acceptance I didn’t know I was possible. That was in 2022. I have been performing since then and love it so much.

I’m a classic burlesque performer with Latin influences. My goal is to give myself the freedom to express who I am without judging myself and inspire other women to do the same.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, the road has not been smooth. It has as many potholes as downtown! Lol, I’m very open about my mental health. I struggle with anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome. My confidence is a strange thing, sometimes I feel like I can take over the world with my dreams, and other times I feel like a 32-year-old joke with no future.

I have had many setbacks in life that I feel now were tests to see if I really wanted to be a part of this work or just the fantasy. People think being in entertainment is glamorous. The only thing glamourous about this job is that we make it look that way. It is a ton of rejection, working for yourself around the clock, and a constant balance of “real world” responsibilities and not letting your dreams die.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In acting, I can bring anything to life, but I love dramatic roles because it is naturally extra lol, and it is easy for me to dive deep. I’m becoming known for playing the evil villains or the crazy woman roles, which are all very fitting.

What sets me apart is the energy and passion I bring to each role. As a Black actress, it is a must for me to make sure that in each role I play, I bring a level of feminity and vulnerability to my roles because we don’t receive enough of that representation on screen.

As a burlesque performer, I’m known for giving passionate, sensual, and elegant performances. I believe I stand out because of my size, I’m very tiny I’m 5’1 and around 115 lbs so in a world where curvy is heavily celebrated as it should be, I’m able to be a representative for petite women and show them there is a space for us as well.

What matters most to you?
My authenticity and beautiful representation of Black women. I have fought so hard to discover who I authentically am and in a world where conforming is easier I hold on tight and fight every day to tell myself I’m enough. I want to continue to add to the positive representation of Black women, especially darker-skinned Black women.

In movies, we never got to be the lead in rom-coms, the princess in fantasy movies, or the popular girl in chick flicks. We often are depicted as poor, or if not, we are the support to the usual White protagonist. However, in recent years, this has started to change so much and has made me feel like there is a space for me. I want to be the change I want to see.

Pricing:

• Burlesque – $300
• Acting – $300 a day starting
• Modeling – $200 an hour with 2 hour min.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justjadeyyy/