Local StoriesDecember 22, 2025

Check Out Shaelyn DeVonne’s Story

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaelyn DeVonne.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have had a strong passion for the arts since I was three years old. I would observe the television, watching these different characters and personas on screen, and knowing that I loved imitating what they were doing without even fully grasping the fact that I was able to transform myself into these personas myself with ease.

I started competitive cheerleading at the age of four, where I was given the opportunity to embrace the qualities of working with other people, the confidence of performing in front of a audience, and the concept of falling and getting back up on my feet again whenever I felt the looming presence of “failure”. Competitive cheerleading was a part of my life for ten years.

By the time I reached the age of fourteen, I was able to carry these very valuable lessons into the world of the industry. Within both the cheer and the acting world, discipline isn’t optional, it’s the foundation. The constant pursuit of improvement taught me how to commit fully to a craft, the same determination required to grow and expand within my artistry.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been the complete opposite of a smooth road, and the journey of artistry in general is rarely a smooth one due to the fact that the craft itself demands constant vulnerability, evolution, and resilience.

I believe many other careers are guaranteed a more linear progress, while acting moves in cycles. There are periods of time where I would have so much momentum, and that could quickly be followed by stretches of slow work and uncertainty.

This path forced me to learn very early on how to navigate rejection more often than acceptance, and having to know how to separate my sense of worth from the downs through it all.

Along with that, another internal struggle I have had to face is that, not everyone is going to like my creativity that I put forth. I would subconsciously be holding myself back by being fearful of judgement, and people negatively reacting to my work. Over time though, I’ve learned that diverse reactions are part of the creative ecosystem and every viewpoint should be embraced. Art isn’t meant to please everyone; it’s meant to provoke, inspire, challenge, or connect. When someone doesn’t respond to my work the way I hoped, it doesn’t mean the work lacks value, it means it landed differently for them.

Lastly, if I had to pinpoint one specific struggle I have withstood recently, it is that it almost feels weird pursuing art in the current climate right now, and that I should be doing something different for the overall benefit of society as a whole, but I have had to sit down, deeply reflect and remind myself, times like this are when people need art the MOST. Art offers people a way to momentarily step outside the weight of their circumstances. It of course doesn’t erase reality, but it gives people a refuge from it, even if only for a few minutes.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I classify myself as a multi-hyphenate, and well-rounded creative. Though acting will always be my first love and passion, there are so many other outlets of art that I am passionate about expressing myself in, including dancing, singing, writing, working with crafts, and much more. From stage work, to film, the many projects I have been a part of throughout the years have helped shape me into not just the artist I am continuing to become, but the PERSON I am becoming, and huge part of that is being inspiring to those who are going to follow after me.

Aside from my artistry, one thing I am very proud of at the moment is my commitment to volunteering. There is a certain kind of fulfillment that I get from volunteering because of the fact that it allows my work to extend beyond myself and have a meaningful impact on others. In those spaces that center service, I’m reminded that my presence can contribute to something larger than my own goals. That sense of purpose grounds me and gives deeper meaning to what I do, and in a sense, I do tie this back to my artistry. I feel that volunteering keeps my artistry connected to the real world.

What makes you happy?
So many things, especially my family and friends. Whenever I spend time with my people I feel re-energized, and I am always happy being in an environment where I am fully accepted and loved.

I also find so much joy in learning new things. I am always willing to just sit down and learn about random topics that I deem super interesting, even if I am not intending to do anything with the information (it is just for my own personal knowledge lol). This along with doing new things as well, whether that be adventure, trying new food, doing out of the box activities, and allowing myself to experience new things to enjoy my life to its fullest extent.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Ansley Joseph
Mohammed Sawane
Ray Bengston

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