Hi, Nessa! It's me - Lanita! You probably don't recognize me. It's been a long time since I last saw you. 10 years, I think it is? 10 years... WOW!!!!!! And you didn't think you'd reach this point in your career. You didn't believe that you could keep going at your career for so long. I certainly didn't. When I first started, I was just summoning up my courage to actually go into auditions again, just to say that I can do it. And somehow, after doing The Lion Kin

Well, this past weekend had us all feeling the love... Galentine's Day was on Friday, Valentine's Day was on Saturday, and Singles Awareness Day was on Sunday. A weekend of loving and uplifting your girlfriends and sisters from another mister, storybook romances and candlelit dinners, and self-care and self-love. There seems to be quite a bit of love going around this past weekend, especially when there are so many things happening that's making our heads spin and our bloo

There's something about being in a rehearsal room for the very first time on your first day of rehearsals for a show that makes it... electrifying. Your first day of school, as it were. You get to meet new people, possibly reconnect with individuals you haven't seen in a while - and by a while, I mean the last show you both just worked on together - , and begin the process of bringing a story to life. The first reading of the script is the basis of how the show will come t

Well, we're now nearing the end of the third week of 2026, and you're probably doing one of two things right now. Most of you have probably given up on your new year resolutions and have gotten back to your old habits because they were simply too hard to keep at, or something happened that derailed all of your efforts and you had to stop the resolutions in order to make sure you're okay. But there are some of you out there who are keeping at it, and may have had to make adj

Well... We made it to 2026. And I'm hoping that your year is off to a good, and hopefully, gentle start for you. I honestly expected myself to cry when the clock struck 12 o'clock, but instead, I felt quite a bit of gentleness and relief after what happened in 2025. Maybe it's because after what I experienced, I felt a sense of... Certainty? Yeah, certainty. I was certain that this year is going to be quite different than what I've experienced before. And the thing ab

Well, fellow readers, it's that time of year again. If you're reading this, you may have just celebrated Christmas with your loved ones, and are about to go into the stores shopping the after Christmas sales to get that gift you couldn't get or exchange it for something even better. Or you may be getting ready to celebrate the first night of Kwanzaa within your community. Or you may not even be in the holiday mood this year and are just doing some intense self-care or just

December can be viewed as quite the month for a lot of people. Obviously, it's because of the holiday season - Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and many more holidays in between. But it's also the time of month when people start to plan for next year - New goals, as it were. It's the month where we look back at what worked and what didn't work. What we accomplished and what we still need to work on. What happened that went so well, and what happened that made

The last time I wrote to you I talked about a major phenomenon that's taking the world by storm: K-Pop Demon Hunters. This time, in case you haven't figured it out by the title, there's another phenomenon that's taking the world by storm, and it's one that's a bit near and dear to my heart. Take a wild guess what that might be: And also... Yeah. All of us are defying gravity, saying thank goodness, and being changed for good because of these two massive blockbust

So, as someone who is learning to go against the tides in terms of trends, particularly in fashion, there's one trend that I simply couldn't escape. In fact, it's hard for any of us to escape this trend. But here's the thing: It's not so much of a trend anymore. It's actually become a global phenomenon, and it's not going to stop anytime soon. Have you heard of a little movie called K-Pop Demon Hunters ? I have to admit that when I first saw clips floating around on

You know what day it is, right? It's 31 October... All Hallow's Eve. It's HALLOWEEN!!!!!!! Quite possibly one of the most fun nights of the year. If you're like me, you're probably looking forward to dressing up in a wonderful costume for a costume party at work, or go out trick or treating with the kids, or possibly head out to a Halloween party to dance the night away, or even just relax at home watching scary movies. If you're in NYC, you're probably heading out to the ann

For people who know me all too well (and for those who don't), I have a passion for words. Which is probably why I excelled in vocabulary and helped my high school win 2nd place at the state Spell Bowl championship. Of course, there are times when I use words the wrong way or use big words to the shock and horror of others. Who knew a black woman like myself would love words so much? I personally think my love of books has led to my word addiction. Sometimes seeing the bi

HEY!!!!!!!!!! Long time, no see! I know it's been a long minute since I last wrote. How have you been? Have you had a nice summer? Did you travel? Did you take some time to relax? Did you work on anything new? Did you accomplish something very important? What's been happening with you? Well, for yours truly, a lot has happened since I wrote to you last... And I do mean A LOT. Probably even too much to put into one blog, but... How much time do you have? For starters

There are times when I hate being black... And it's not because of the double standard of being a black woman (though that has come up in the past). And it's not because of the higher risk of diseases and being misdiagnosed (though that has come up in the past). And it's not because of my hair (though that has come up the past, but more recently than ever before). And it's not because of my ancestry (though that has come up in the past). And it's not because of my skin c

Jane Austen's beloved novel, Pride & Prejudice , begins with the following words: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Well, if you lived in early 19th century England, that is the expectation every man and woman must have. The idea of marriage, especially of a wealthy kind, means that the family name can continue, and the son and daughter are well-off in a way that allows them to sustain the

🎶 Safe behind these windows and these parapets of stone, gazing at the people down below me… 🎶 I’ve been thinking a lot about how much...

Hey, all. How you're doing? I hope you're doing okay so far this month. If not, please get better soon. Sorry for being MIA since I...

Hey, all. Well, it's been a minute, as you can clearly see. For starters, this whole year has been filled with a ton of changes, much...

"Age is just a number ..." And yet, it's age that seems to dictate every aspect of our lives. If you're not reading and learning the...

Hello. My name is Nessa. And I'm a people pleaser. (This is probably the part where everyone says, "Hello, Nessa.") I'm gonna be...

When you're first starting out as an actor, you're more often than not going to begin your career in amateur productions. Local school...