Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Aguirre.
Karen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It all began in 6th grade when I experienced my first musical. I remember sitting in that auditorium watching, The Music Man, and being in such aw of what was happening on that stage. I remember thinking to myself, “I want to do that, I want to be on that stage next year.” Sure enough, the following year I auditioned for my middle school’s production of The King & I, where I got cast as one of the Royal Wives and boom I was HOOKED! I continued to do Musical Theatre through high school and went to study Theatre at Georgia Southern University.
After graduating, I taught for the Education Department at the Alliance Theatre for three years. Now, I am back to acting and pursuing that passion in the film industry. I am repped by Atlanta Models & Talent and I’m so grateful for their unconditional support. Fitness is also one of my passions so I am currently working on getting my Personal Training Certification through NASM. A lot of my friends often come to me for help when it comes to their fitness needs and helping them is so fulfilling. I love making a difference in people’s lives.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Ay-ay-ay no it hasn’t! Dealing with rejection is probably one of the biggest struggles. Yes, there is less competition than LA and NY but it’s still very competitive. It can get discouraging at times but that’s when you push yourself out of your comfort zone and start working on your own content or explore other areas of film. Keep those creative juices flowing! I’ve helped people produce their own films because I wanted to explore that area and I really enjoy it. I’m currently working on my own short film, which I am filming next month with Classic Distractions ATL. Another thing that has helped has been to surround myself with an amazing group of individuals who are always supportive. We are all actors but we also have our own projects that we are working on, so with our different fortes, we come together to help each other out. I think it’s so important to surround yourself with genuine people who lift you up and want to see you succeed.
What were you like growing up?
I was actually pretty shy as a child! I was born in LA and then my parents moved to Mexico, where I lived until I was ten years old. We moved to Buford, GA because of my dad’s family. I remember being excited to be here but it was also very intimidating because I didn’t know English very well. I felt like an outsider, so there was always a sense that I didn’t belong. Theatre changed that for me, going to my Musical Theatre class was my safe haven. That was my place where I truly felt like I belonged and it felt like home. That’s why I love the arts! The arts gave me a voice when I couldn’t find it anywhere else.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @itcanonlybekaren
Image Credit:
Casey Gardner Photos, Parker M Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
