Woman of the Month: Kiara Hines

Hey all! As we all know its been a crazy time in the world we I've in. I myself have had to take the time to process whats been going on. I've felt helpless, hurt, and stifled. I kept thinking "What can I do to make change?" I can only recall just a few times in my life that I as a woman have felt empowered, uplifted. And then I went even further and realized that there are fewer times that I have seen women truly uplift each other. I've decided to create a small project with this blog called "Woman of the Month". Where the first week of the new month, Im choosing to have a spotlight on one young female artist and interview them for the blog. This first woman that I'd like to honor is one of my good friends, Kiara Hines or as I among many of us call her "Kiki". Kiara is one of the most talented girls on the planet and one of the funniest people I know. She's hardworking and a PROUD woman of color. Being that Kiara is a growing artist like many of us, I decided to ask her three questions that centers around being an actress of color and female empowerment.

Q: Why do you think it's important for women to support each other? What are some ways you yourself can support women in our business?

A: Although, we as woman are made beautifully different, there is a shared understanding of womanhood that runs through our blood. It’s natural. No one will understand me the way another woman can. For that reason, I really think it’s vital to have women in your life who help carry you and shares the beauty and burden of being a woman and allow you to do the same. It’s truly the foundation of who we are since conception to have that kind of support in our lives. And the stronger the support, the stronger and deeper we connect ourselves to each other, we become like our mothers, life giving in every way.

In this business, it sometimes feels like pulling teeth when thinking about how women support each other. We have the potential to be catty, rude, gossipy, fake, just all around nasty to each other sometimes. It’s especially worse with women of color, specifically black women. We have scarcity mentality. In other words, it’s the idea that if another black woman wins, there’s nothing left for me. It’s a product of the fact that we are working in industry that never intended for us to make through the front door let alone participate in the game. There’s simply not enough for all of us. It’s challenging to break out of scarcity mentality. I still struggle with it. I have to change the conversation in my mind from “There’s nothing left for me” to “if she wins, we all win.” If a woman of color gets that role or gets that award over me, it’s still a woman of color and that is a massive win. I cheer and cheer loudly for my girls when they win, when they get the job, when they succeed, even if it means that I didn’t get something.That is what support looks like.

Q: Who are two of your female role models and why?

A:My role models my mother and Maya Angelou (cliche right). I’m convinced Maya was an angel on Earth. She was not human, but yet so human as if she were my auntie. Wisdom oozed out of her. She taught me about the shared human experience. She taught me how to live in the in between of power and strength and gentleness and softness. I’m also convinced that my mother is an angel on Earth. I learn so much from her it’s crazy. She is the personification of love, grace, and kindness. People who have experienced her magic are literally never the same. If I could at lease be a tiny fragment of the woman she is, I would be so honored. The two of them together (along with many, many other women) have fueled what it means for me to be a human being. They have shown me how to use my heart for art. They have shown me what it looks like use the language of love to heal.

Q: What does it mean to you to be an actress of color?

A:It means EVERYTHING to me being an actress of color. It’s a shame this industry hasn’t realized what a goldmine actresses of color are. The amount of stories we can tell are practically endless. The stories of all of our ancestors and our lineages can provide the baseline for so many projects. Then, throwing on top of that the stories of womanhood and you’ve got the most beautiful stories ever told. This world is glaringly white. Everything we do is for the white gaze. Having works like this that belong to us is like a kid at a candy store. The only thing better than that feeling, is being a part of the creation of the work that makes people feel like something belongs to them. It is the most beautiful thing on this Earth to be an actress of color.

Kiara Hines is currently involved in a production of "A Raisin in the Sun" Musical Adaption. To follow Kiara and her growth as an artist. Follow her on Instagram: @heinzketchuppp (very funny) or on Facebook as well as Twitter. Stay tuned for more posts. And most importantly, stay informed and go vote!