Today we’d like to introduce you to Paulina Vela.
Hi Paulina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I knew I wanted to be an actress since I was a little girl. I started taking acting lessons in the McAllen area when I was around 13 years old. Around that same time is where I started to develop a passion for art and design as well. I continued to act in local commercials and even took a shot at modeling after high school. I studied at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design and a minor in theatre. I was a part of a few student films and plays as well as University Production Theatre plays. I told myself I was going to pursue my acting and design career here in the Austin area, so I moved a few months after graduation. It was a rough few months for a while, but I persevered. I was finally offered a position as a Design Consultant at a high-end furniture showroom and finally got signed to an acting agency.
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?
It was pretty difficult at first. My mental health started to deteriorate. I have always struggled with anxiety and depression but it started to become more and more difficult to manage. I got the help I needed and everything slowly started to fall in place after.
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 am a designer/artist and actress. I am currently taking a chance at Interior Design. I have always loved acting and that will forever be my passion aside from design and art. I’ve been proud of the fact that I was able to graduate with a degree and score an amazing job with an amazing company and co-workers. I always wanted to be a voice for people struggling with mental health disorders so finally getting diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder felt like a relief. I was always proud of being so open about it because I wanted others to feel like they were being heard. Getting signed to a Talent Agency while also working towards bettering my mental health was truly a win for me.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I recommend the book Stella Adler’s ‘The Art of Acting’ for any actor. I also would say skill share has helped me a lot with my design and other beneficial skills. The Fabulous app has also helped me stay on track with routines and it helps me cope with my anxiety as it helps you create and accomplish small goals for yourself. And of course, you can always find an answer on anything on YouTube.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photos by ABM Photography artwork/Logo by Paulina Vela
