Aug/Sept Cover Girl, Kaira Akita Uplifts Women Through Creative Expression
Kaira Akita is a GAME CHANGER! Using her skills in design, storytelling and creative expression, she is teaching women how to transform and present themselves through creative expression. Known for her roles in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married, The Family That Preys and the Sundance film turned BET’S first scripted television series, Somebodies, Kaira has been gracing our screens for over a decade.
With her signature poise, grace and undeniable style, Kaira is changing the minds of her industry on how we are portrayed as well as encouraging change in ourselves. It is our great pleasure to present our Cover Girl, Kaira Akita, FABULOUSLY FIERCE AND FORMIDABLE!
FWM: Kaira, I’m so excited about this opportunity to interview you! Please introduce yourself.
KA: I’m Kaira (sounds like Tyra) and I’m a creative spirit on assignment to use my work in design, storytelling, and self-discovery to transform how women and creators show up for themselves, each other, and the world.
I’m a woman who is many things, often all at once — tough, delicate, compassionate, warm, creative, logical, charming, focused, powerful, free. I consider design my love language, I love all things style, and I have a life-long obsession with greatness, identity, purpose, and the musical Queen of all musical Queens, Ms. Patti LaBelle (don’t agree? fight me!).
Professionally, I started my creative career thirteen years ago as an actress and was blessed to have success right out the gate, including two number one box office hits with Tyler Perry, a Sundance film, BET’s first scripted series, a Roger Ebert Thumbs Up Award, a NAACP Theater award, and roles on HBO, Lifetime, TBS, and more. But it wasn’t until things got quiet in my acting career that I discovered my most important role yet — becoming myself.
Being a creative will make you a part of the industry, but knowing who you are and why you serve will put you in position to change the industry and make real impact.
Kaira Akita
Like for real, for real. Who was I beyond my talents? Beyond other people’s idea of me? Beyond being my mother’s daughter? Beyond the hidden wounds and brokenness, I accepted as part of my personality? These were the tough questions I had to answer if I was going to continue to pursue my best creative identity, life, and work.
Today, after a few years of self-discovery and spiritual interruptions, I don’t have all the answers, but God has revealed enough for me to take the next steps forward with a clear voice and vision that brings my true self in alignment with my creative work. It’s an exhilarating time and I look forward to being more visible and sharing my process, platforms, and gifts with the world from this new place of self-awareness. My life and career as a designer, storyteller, and creative thought leader are blossoming in unexpected, exciting ways, and I’m grateful for this next chapter of harvest. Life is good, God is great, and I’m showing up with my best.
FWM: You are a creative, making your mark both on and behind the screen. Have you always had that passion, and what would you tell women who dream to be a part of the industry?
KA: Yes, I’ve always been very creative, ambitious and passionate. It’s just a part of my DNA. But I was always searching for more…like I wanted to make sure who I was as a person was just as big and powerful as my talents. Even as a kid. That seeking was painful at times but now it all makes sense.
So, if you want to be a part of the creative industry — whether that’s entertainment, fashion, design, music, etc. — you can only rely on being a creative for so long. Being a creative will make you a part of the industry, but knowing who you are and why you serve will put you in position to change the industry and make real impact. As creatives, that should be our ultimate goal. So, allow space for self-discovery as you pursue your creative dreams. The two go hand in hand. And once you know who you are, surround yourself with a community that cheers you on, holds you accountable, and pushes your edge. I’ve been blessed to connect with several creative women who “see” me at my highest identity and encourage me through.
FWM: What advice would you give women in regard to claiming their power in today’s society?
KA: Stop playing and show up. Each one of us has a unique combination of gifts, DNA, and spiritual assignments that will never be released if we don’t step into our power and take ownership of our assigned territories. Connection, compassion, creativity, vision, vulnerability, soft power, strong leadership — our culture is hungry for more women in every industry to bring these to the table in a way only we can. I believe the current state of our society and systems represent a physical, emotional, and spiritual reckoning that demands self-aware, self-defined women show up and claim their power like never before. That includes you. Reclaim yourself, then claim your territory!
Don’t look at the famous woman to do it. Look at yourself, at the woman right next to you in the trenches. Time to get it done for you, for her, for all of us. No permission needed. No explanation required. Your power is waiting on you — not the other way around. Reclaim yourself, then claim your territory! And know you don’t have to do it alone. There are several amazing creative women with perspective and communities who have helped me tap into my voice and power, including Christina Dunbar (@christinadunbar), Dayka Robinson (@daykarobinson), GG Renee (@ggreneewrites), Jennifer Arnise (@jenniferarnise), Bessie Akuba (@bessieakuba), Andrea Pippins (@andreapippins), and Sarah Jakes Roberts (@sarahjakesroberts). It’s our time. Let’s show up.
FWM: On your website’s Self-Discovery Page you have my favorite Audre Lorde quote, “If I didn’t define myself for myself, I’d be crushed into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.” Please tell me how this quote resonates in your life?
KA: How much time do you have? WHEW. So much of my identity journey is wrapped up in this quote. This has been my favorite quote since a few years back when I literally felt like I was being swallowed whole. So much to unpack about how we define ourselves around what others want from us. I started to feel like my entire life and sense of self was built as a reaction to what other people wanted/needed from me and I didn’t even know it. My friend/writer GG Renee (@ggreneewrites) helped give me language round this. It’s like they saw this superpower that I had but I wasn’t in control of it, didn’t know how to use it or what to do with it, so they took pieces of it for their own purposes. And each time, they took a piece of me. Until I started doing my own work.
And then this quote took on a double meaning. I kept chipping away at myself long enough to realize I was also the other people — the other me, the FALSE ME, was trying like hell to crunch the REAL ME into its own tiny little fantasy version of me that I had grown accustomed to. So, God started giving me some tough love clarity around this and I finally stopped crushing myself to “fit” into my own false fantasy and anyone or anything trying to do the same melted away because we were no longer in contract with each other. It’s really that easy. And that hard.
FWM: What tools and/or strategic partnerships have you put in place to help women? And the community?
KA: I’m continuing to sharpen my tools in design, storytelling, and self-discovery to help women and the creative community better connect with themselves and their work. It’s a growing process but an organic extension of who I have been in real life for years. Currently, I’m developing two projects that amplify and empower women and creators — a dark comedy series about identity & daughterhood and a design makeover show – under my CREATIVE SPIRITS ONLY production banner.
Previously, I also used my storytelling skills behind the scenes to develop, produce, direct, and co-write a one woman show called A ROSE CALLED CANDACE which premiered in Los Angeles in 2018 and set the stage to work with women-driven companies/community groups such as InkSpot Entertainment and Black Women’s Wellness. I’m also setting the stage for my first self-discovery speaking series, the CLAIM YOUR TERRITORY TOUR, based around my personal journey at the intersection of self-discovery and spirited creative work. That won’t come to life until 2020 but starting September 2019 I will open up a private list via my website where I can begin sharing insight to women and the creative community on a regular basis.
FWM: What advice would you give your younger self growing up as a woman in this world?
KA: Be gentle with yourself and just keep showing up. It will all make sense in the greater vision for your life. Oh, and stop eating sugar cubes and whole tubs of cream cheese icing — that’s the worst.
FWM: Please tell me about your passion brands, AKITA HAUS and CREATIVE SPIRITS ONLY.
KA: Design is my original creative love language — and I’m finally building an official home for it at AKITA HAUS, a multi-disciplinary design studio that specializes in interior, wardrobe, and brand design as well original products and premium lifestyle content. It’s a reflection of all the design work I’ve been doing behind the scenes for years as a hobby. Now, I’m ready to build a business.
CREATIVE SPIRITS ONLY is my production banner where I’m developing coming-of-identity stories for myself and other spirited women and creators. The brand spans television, film, theater, and event production, and the ultimate goal is to turn the writing-directing-producing process on its head and create an environment that nurtures industry newcomers who are in touch with their inner creative spirit and want a safe, supportive incubator to birth all the disrupting, daring, and delightful stories that want to come through them.
I’ve had many brands throughout the years, but I consider AKITA HAUS and CREATIVE SPIRITS ONLY my first passion brands because they are the only endeavors where I’m not forcing the flow, limiting myself, or doing something only because other people want me to do it. They both feel like a spiritual experience that’s moving through me, for something bigger than myself. It’s just the verrrrryyyyyy beginning, but I’m committed for the long haul.
FWM: How can our readers connect with you outside of this interview?
KA: You can connect with me and my design, storytelling, and self-discovery work via my website at www.kairaakita.com. I’m also on Instagram and Twitter @kairaakita.
All photos courtesy of Trokon George
