Meet Erica (Kika) Charleston (Heart)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica (Kika) Charleston (Heart).

Hi Erica (Kika), so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My artist name is Kika Heart. I am an actress, music recording artist, and model. I currently own my own label Legendary Music Back Entertainment and I am 27 years old. I was born in Chicago Heights, IL and raised in Gary, IN. I went to a performing art school Emerson VPA from 6th to 12th grade. I started singing at age six and was acting by age 12. I faced a lot of obstacles while growing up. My mom and dad are married and there is five of us. My mom && dad would sometimes have financial difficulties. I remember times when it was barely food and somehow, my mom would make ways out of no way. There were times when I would see my mom not eat just so we could. My parents were very supportive of my dreams. They would sometimes put their last in the gas tank just to get me to auditions, practices, and competitions. At a very early age, I knew what I wanted to do and that was sing and act. In elementary my teacher noticed I could sing and she gave me information on how to apply to the performing arts school. I applied and my parents took me to the audition and I was accepted into the school. I begin working on my craft in six grade where my major was vocal and my exploratory was drama.

During this time, I would perform at solo competitions such as ISMA, travel performances, && do stage plays at school. I would write songs in the closet at home as if it was a studio. Also, I would put on skits with my brothers and sister for my parents at home. Our parents would watch these skits and encourage our talents and gifts. While working on my goals, I lost very close friends due to gun violence, in just 7th grade my bestfriend was shot by her stepdad && it really put me in a dark space. My city really made me grow up faster than my age. However, this lost really put motivation behind me, she was also inspiring to be an actress at the time. I made a promise that I would make it out of Gary and live for her && my dreams. After graduating high school, I began writing music more. In college, I recorded my 1st hit that actually went viral “I’m sorry”. The song was recorded in a dorm room on campus and really blew up. Once it got so much publicity, I decided to really put my foot forward and get serious about my entertainment career. After graduating college with a biology degree, I went for my dreams. I packed up all my clothes and gave all my furniture away. I had only 200.00 dollars to my name and moved to Atlanta. I knew if I was serious I had to leave my environment first. The first couple months in Atlanta was ruff, I had to live off noodles and water. I didn’t even have furniture I slept right on the floor. However, each morning I would wake up at 6am and look for jobs, casting calls, network, && do auditions. I joined every acting group on Facebook and I would pray every day. I learned to depend on God fully while being in Atlanta. In the beginning, I was hoping job to job. I would quit a job every time I had an acting opportunity. Then one day, I decided to do a music competition in Atlanta. I would Uber just to get the money to enter in the competition. Long story short I lost the competition but I meet a lot of people in the industry and begin to network. After networking, I had my very first booking working in a music video for Duke deuce. After doing the video, I started getting casting calls. It was slow in the beginning but I stayed working. I started getting professional headshots done, demo reels & started taking acting classes at Good Acting Studios.

After networking at classes, I started getting a lot of auditions. I finally started to see my hard work paying off. I began meeting people in the music industry and acting such as lil yachty, method man, Mike Epps, Brandy, Remy MA, && the list goes on. They really gave me so much wisdom && good advice on achieving my goals. I listened, I always kept God first && prayed about every decision I made. I started getting bookings more and more for acting && decided to also move forward creating my own music label. My fan base begin to start growing while people began watching me succeed in the entertainment industry. I never knew I could own my own business. I just wanted to act and sing, but God had bigger plans. I am thankful for every situation I went through because it molded me into the Actress, recording artist, and model I am today. It’s amazing what one year of hard work will do. In May, it will make two years being in Atlanta. I am now in Madeas homecoming, Pvalley, HBCU, stand in for Heels on Starz, && more. I am also standing in for Taraji Henson on the color purple as Shug Avery. Kika heart is also dropping this summer with an official single, music video, && official brand. I am truly blessed to be where I am today. My journey took a lot and it’s more to go but I never thought I would be here. I’m so booked for shows now my phone never stops with emails, && I remember just like yesterday when I would cry just to get one.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No, unfortunately it has not been a smooth road. There were always obstacles. As an actor, I would get many auditions but not necessarily booked for the role. This was sometimes discouraging and frustrating. However, I learned that maybe my look did not fit the character always. I also did some background work to get experience of working on sets. This was very helpful but also discouraging because of how some sets treated background. However all this triggered motivation of being better and working on my craft. I also had to learn how to budget to get back and forth to sets and auditions. Another challenge was being away from my friends and family. I had to miss vacations, birthdays, and holidays. I really love my family and friends and it would hurt missing out on things but I knew the cost of being successful in this industry. This season of my life was grind mode && with the support of my family and friends, they also understood what I was working towards. However, it would still make me sad because I genuinely missed them on this journey. Also, my city was not very supportive in the beginning. There was a lot of hate because I wanted to chase my dream. Gary is a city where a lot of people don’t make it far or people die at a very young age. One of my biggest challenges was making it out of my city and breaking generational curses. I learned to keep going, when I booked my first stand in job, I was in a car accident two days prior. I was struck in the back from a hit and run driver. That was really a turning point in my life, I made it to my first stand in position despite of the accident. I always kept God first, he carried me through these obstacles and challenges. He also was a provider to my every need.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently an actress, Model, and music recording artist. I am known for owning my own label Legendary Music Back Entertainment at the age of 27, known for going viral on social media in one day hitting 44.4k from just walking as a model and also known as an upcoming successful Actress. I am most proud of myself for not giving up because there were many times when I wanted too but I kept going. Through all the obstacles and challenges, I kept fighting my way to the dreams and goals I desired for myself. What sets me apart from others will always be my story. My story is funny, my story is sad, my story is angry, my story is happy, my story is accomplished, my story is not done. My story is still being written. I am blessed that I have come this far and I know there is more work to be done.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
God, family, and my bestfriends makes me happy. My bestfriend Ryan was so supportive and believed in me even when sometimes I didn’t believe in myself. He would encourage me during the toughest times of my life while I would cry. He was there and also provided, he encouraged me as if God was speaking right through him. My mom and dad was very supportive also. What made me happy is that they stood by me, they gave me strength when I was weak. Understanding that they cared made me happy. My sister and bestfriend Cha Cha would send me gas money just to make it to auditions. God also makes me happy because he was always there in ways I could never imagine. He never left me alone and cared about me so much. God sent the right people in my direction. He protected, provided, and guided. He will always be number one in my life and all credit goes to him. He really did everything. When God spoils you it just hit different.

Image Credits:
The feature photo was done by photographer treyshotme