Meet Trailblazer Sarafina King

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarafina King.

Sarafina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
From the moment I could speak, I knew that I wanted out of Michigan. I had my eyes set on Los Angeles. And for 13 years, I lived the life I dreamed of, in Hermosa Beach, California. Little did I know, I would end up raising my family in Atlanta. What do they say? You make plans, and God laughs at them…

Bound and determined to leave Michigan, I set out to Los Angeles California the day after I turned 18. I graduated high school at 16, and went to Michigan State, for a brief semester. While working three jobs, and taking all the required curriculum, I kept asking myself “what are you doing? this is not where you want to be.” And a WONDERFUL professor, whose ISS class I just so happened to be failing, asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I said “I want to be an actor. I’ve always wanted to be an actor.” And he said, “Then, what the hell are you doing in Michigan?” And after a wonderfully encouraging, 30 min conversation. I left his classroom, went straight to my dorm and packed up my stuff, and left my college life behind me. I’ve always been impulsive, and a gut follower. And that gut decision set me up for the wonderful life I’m living today!

I left with $400 dollars in my pocket and was determined to survive out in Hollywood, and that is exactly what I did. I used my older sisters resume to apply for a position as an assistant for a fashion designer. I had ZERO experience, and ZERO skills, but remember, I am an actor, and I happen to be incredibly organized and street smart, I got the job and for three years, I worked for an amazing woman, and basically ran her international business and her personal affairs.

It’s hard to survive in LA without a day job, but my day job was becoming my focus, and I needed to get back to what I came out to LA for in the first place. So, I put in my two weeks and allowed myself six months to really focus on acting. I always had an agent, never the best agents but never the worst either. I would get probably 3-4 auditions a year… so nothing that you could actually base a career on, and my savings was dwindling so I decided to get my Pilates certification, specializing in Physical Therapy based rehabilitation Pilates.

I ended up teaching for the duration of my time in California, I had my own, very successful, Pilates studio, on the beach, in Playa Del Rey at the ripe old age of 26. I kept finding myself in “golden handcuffs” is what I call it. These great, wonderful jobs, making great money, especially for living on the beach in California, but if it’s not what your heart desires, then what’s the point? Alas, I was living the high life and enjoying it!

I met my incredible husband while playing co-ed soccer, and after two months and 16 days he asked me to marry him and we’ve been together ever since… remember that follow your gut thing?? This is basically how I live my life. And so far, it’s been very very good to me!

One night while teaching at my studio in PDR, I was on a Bosu ball, with a kettlebell, and my foot slipped off and I jarred my back. It hurt but I had no idea how it would change my life.

The next morning, I got up to go to the bathroom and when I got up from the toilet, I fell to the ground. I had no feeling in my legs. I had slipped 4 discs in my back, and my spine collapsed like an accordion. After a few months of physical therapy, I was strong enough to have spinal surgery. Before my injury, I was about 5’10, before surgery I was 5’7″, and now, I am about 5’9″. My spine is fused with a 10inch Cobalt Steel Rod from T4-L1 and I have 22 titanium screws. I am a bionic woman.

Any time there is a life-altering moment people do a lot of reflecting, but if you don’t act on what you been reflecting on, then what’s the point. I decided to sell my business. It absolutely was not what I wanted to do. Yes, I was good at it, yes it was making me a lot of money, but it wasn’t making my heart happy. And when you actually realize that our time here and our health could change at a drop of a dime, it sure does put life into perspective. The sale of my business went through the day before my surgery.

I healed incredibly fast from my surgery. I remember at my 2-week post op visit the Dr. asked me if I had been walking and my answer was yes, about 3-5 miles, he was baffled, he just wanted to make sure I was able to walk to and from the bathroom! I was on a mission, I had a new found sense of LIFE and I wanted to fulfill my dreams of ACTING, the whole reason I moved out to California in the first place. So, I got in the best shape of my life. I was doing Tough Mudders (crazy obstacle courses) and fueling my body with the best food and nutrients around. Food and fitness will always be a part of my life. I am a huge believer of taking care of your body, you’re only given one… be good to it.

I got in contact with my old manager and she basically said, hey if people don’t know who you are by now, you’ve missed your window. Only famous people are still in LA, but maybe you should try Atlanta. And I came home from that meeting and told my husband that next week, I was moving to Atlanta!!! And that I did! (he obviously knows once I set my mind on something, there is no turning back). Three months later, my husband landed an incredible job here in Atlanta, and it’s been the BEST thing for him too.

So, here I am in Atlanta and it’s been almost five years. I’ve had some success in the acting world, You can see me on Tyler Perry’s, If Loving You Is Wrong, Devious Maids, the whole first season of Saints and Sinners, Here We Go Again, and this year on OWN’s new TV drama Ambitions.

But as cheesy as this may sound, the best title I’ve been given is MOM. I have two incredible sons, three 1/2 and eight months and they are literally the most fun part of my day. Don’t get me wrong they are the most stressful part of my day as well, but they have a great way of keeping things in perspective.

Since moving to Atlanta and finally OWNing a home. I’ve discovered a passion for interior decorating and woodworking. I have expensive taste but would never pay the astronomical prices of the furniture that I love, so I started making it myself. That turned into, designing our own home, and customizing each and every room. There is not a single room that doesn’t have a custom piece or a custom wall treatment on it, it’s truly become my go-to and it’s a way to keep me sane in the midst of motherhood, the acting highs, and lows, and navigating my 30’s. I’m more apt to be caught with sawdust in my hair than hairspray and paint on my hands than a manicure. Don’t get me wrong, I do love dressing up like once a year, but as long as that party has me back and in my comfy clothes by 9 pm. 🙂

So, I’ll continue on this “acting” journey as long as it makes my heart happy. Even though what I thought my life would be as an actor hasn’t presented itself yet, all these other successes came because of the pursuit of my dream. Go with your gut, and don’t look back!

Any advise for young women? 
My advice to young women, in particular, is to find your tribe and keep it small. There is a reason some people are in your life only for a season, don’t question it, and don’t force it. And when people show themselves to you, believe them.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am incredibly proud of being a self-taught woodworker, interior designer. I’m at a point where I don’t do designs to please the masses, you are living in your home, the only person that has to LOVE your home is you… until you sell it. 🙂

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Coming from a single mother household I do think it gives me the extra drive and determination to show the world what I am made of. I come from a wonderful family of loving women, even though there was no father figure in the home, my Grandma, and my Aunt were always around in addition to my super mom, and amazing older sister. My mom NEVER missed a single game/dance/show/always volunteered/always had the best lunches/the best mom hands down. And still is to this day! I know a lot of people say that about their moms… but when a whole group from school, says that about your mom, you know you hit the jackpot!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sarafinaking.com
• Email: sarafina14@gmail.com
• Instagram: sarafinaking
• Facebook: sarafinaking
• Twitter: sarafinaking

 

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