We recently had the chance to connect with Clemesha Pruitt and have shared our conversation below.
Clemesha, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I personally feel many people are struggling with their relationship with God. You have those who speak his name but scared to trust his actions.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, my name is Clemesha Pruitt. I am an actress, film industry BTS and lifestyle content creator and creative director. I have been acting pretty much all of my life but more professionally in the last 5 years. Acting is the reason for my relocation from my hometown of East Saint Louis, IL to my current home in Atlanta, GA. When I am not filming as an actress or working my part time job, I am doing BTS filming. I dive into creating cinematic content for film industry socials and gatherings. This is to show the real and rawness of the behind the scenes for that company. When I am not shooting BTS I am simply creating lifestyle content which consists of any and everything in my everyday life.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
What I believed as a child that I no longer believe now that I am an adult is that my dreams could never come true. The reason I believed this is because I went to my first ever acting audition when I was just 7 years old. This audition shaped my brain on how the world viewed little black girls and women. During this audition that over 200 plus children of all shapes and colors attended I landed on top 5.
I initially had the best audition out of the top 5 but because of my skin tone I was overlooked and replaced with a young lighter toned and curly long haired girl. At such a young age my heart was broken not because it’s hard to be told no as a child but because I have a bestfriend who is mixed and looked just like the young girl who was chosen over me. I guess you can say that’s when I finally saw myself in a mirror and realized that’s all I ever saw on tv.
However, I’m glad I have the mother that I have because she taught me to love myself unconditionally and to never be ashamed or discouraged. I kept at it ! Just acting and singing until it became my reality as an adult now. It was never me simply the way the industry followed Hollywood’s standards no matter where you come from. Needless to say they missed out !
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
A moment I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as my power was when I lost all of my hair to Alopecia Areata. Alopecia Areata for those that don’t know is an autoimmune disease that attacks the hair follicles. There are so many types that can be treated and cured, however that was not the case for me. But then again I don’t look as it as a loss, but as a beautiful transformation.
I grew up being the little girl whom my family dreaded having to do my hair. I had so much thick and pretty hair it was almost scary until it became scary losing it. I was diagnosed in 2017 and completely lost it all just a year ago summer 2024. I use to be so ashamed of my bald spots and being seen.
I felt in this industry you have to be almost perfect in some sort and with me I never had a problem with insecurity. I never had a problem until I was no longer able to cover spots without using weaves, black spray and wigs. I faced many challenges such as rejection from injections at the dermatologist. Spent so much money at a trichologist on supplements that still didn’t help. So God slapped me on the back of my head one day after doing a big chop and rocking a Pixi that made me decide to shave it bald.
A new woman was born June 30, 2024. When I had my bling away hair party being surrounded my family and friends. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
An important truth that very few people would agree with me on is believing in being “healed.” I understand that many people believe they are healed from whatever situation may have hurt them. However, are you truly healed if the would is reopened somehow. I believe in continuous healing!
What I mean by this statement is that we all have had something that has really taken a toll on our emotional health and mental health. When I lost my brother I was devastated and now that it’s been 4 years, I could never tell someone I have healed from his passing. There will always be memories that sneak up on me, a song he use to sing that I once hated and somehow I can’t turn the song off, a food dish he loved and now I cry when I smell it. I am healing because now when I do find myself emotional I also have the solution to making me feel better.
It’s no different than a divorce, someone cheating or even friendship breakups. There will always be something there that will remind you of that person, but the beauty in continuous healing is that you’ve found ways to cope and keep going. Now you’re not crashing out, emotionally sobbing and sending yourself in a spiral because you’ve sent yourself on a path of abundance and discernment to those situations.
I get it, it’s easier said than done right. But we aren’t healed from things that hurt us, we just have God to keep us moving forward.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Could I give myself my best even if no one ever praised me for it and the answer is absolutely yes! I am not doing the things I am doing simply for the sake and approval of others. I am chasing every dream I have set for myself as a little girl, in which the dream is just as strong now that I am an adult. I don’t live and breathe for others, I don’t react and move around in life for the approval of others.
I do this because I owe it to myself ! I have faced many challenges in my life including where many believed I would fail at my career. I’ve been told “acting isn’t a real job, oh you want to be an actress and you’re from the hood, oh girl that’s a hard thing to achieve you think you can do it.” Like, I’ve heard this my entire life and mostly from “family” but that never phased me because I am who exactly I think I am. Anything in life I wanted to do or try, I did just that with my mommy next to my side.
So giving my best is exactly what I will do. I always put myself first because even if no one is there, I know that I can always depend on myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clemeshapruitt.my.canva.site/?fbclid=PARlRTSAMlzfNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp9eqD5sfGMboAB_qmBYW8pJQmFBpbsmV6vfTDKzVo10vvHUEeILXOrN09sxf_aem__3N1lCHfRdl-7bXvLN5E4A
- Instagram: Theeclemeshapruitt
- Linkedin: Clemesha Pruitt
- Facebook: Clemesha Pruitt
- Youtube: TheClemeshaPruitt
Image Credits
Instagram: The Headshot Mama
Marie Thomas
Instagram: Hollywood Headshots
