Life & Work with Erica Victoria of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Victoria.

Hi Erica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi Voyage ATL readers, I’m Erica Victoria. And here’s my story.

I’m a down-to-earth Georgia girl ; born in Richmond, Virginia and raised in Marietta, Georgia. Moved to the A during my years of elementary school . Shout out to Bells Ferry Elementary; right off Barrett Parkway. I’ve been singing and performing since I was about seven years old, so music has honestly been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember.

The first time my parents realized I had “it” was when I was a little girl sitting on my bedroom floor singing along to the intro song from one of my favorite sitcoms, One on One. My mom was downstairs cleaning and heard me all the way upstairs; and in that moment, she knew I had a gift.

I come from a very musical, faith-centered family. My mother sang in the church choir and attended a performing high school in her hometown of Baltimore, Md. My father was part of a faith-based all-male singing group, and creativity runs through both sides of my family. My sister is a trained dancer in multiple styles. My grandfather on my father’s side played piano and raised his sons singing in church, and my grandfather on my mother’s side was a minister. My grandmother traveled the world as a custom hat maker and First Lady of the church while also serving faithfully in the choir. So music has always been my environment; it’s just who I am and using my gift is my calling.

Church was my first stage. That’s where I learned how to use my voice not just to sing, but to connect, to feel, and to tell a story. By the time I made it to middle school; (J.J. Danielle Middle School), I joined choir and started getting solo opportunities in front of real audiences. That’s when it really clicked for me; this wasn’t just a hobby, it was purpose.

One day a representative from Pebblebrook High School’s Performing Arts Magnet Program came to scout talent at my middle school. I remember being so nervous the day the audition came , I practiced day in and day out . I sang “ Summertime from Porgy and Bess. But I ended up adding my own twang and doing the reimagined version sung by Fantasia Barrino. I was selected, and that moment shifted everything. I went on to attend Pebblebrook High School of the Performing Arts, graduating with the Class of 2009.

From a young age, I was already getting some life-changing experiences; performing at places like the Apollo Theatre , Carnegie Hall , joining a professional stage tour at 14, cutting my first record at the age of 16 and many more God sent opportunities. Those moments were surreal and honestly very grounding. They stretched me, humbled me, and showed me that my voice could reach far beyond what I could see at the time.

Those four years at Pebblebrook really shaped me. I worked hard, stayed committed to my craft, and earned awards like Best Overall Vocalist, most likely to succeed etc. More than anything, it confirmed that this wasn’t just something I did, it was who I am.

After high school, I attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, training between New York and Los Angeles. After graduating college in 2012; I stepped into the industry, auditioning consistently and learning as I went. I moved back home to Atlanta and continued to perform locally , while working part time jobs on the side. Then came “The Post College Slump”. Aka , I felt stuck because auditions were slow and I felt like I was losing my spark.

Life shifted for me in April 2015 and I stepped away from the industry for about six years, to do some soul searching. I moved to Maryland ( my mothers hometown) to gather myself and re-discover who Erica truly was. During that time, I went through some things personally; being in a challenging relationship, dealing with self doubt, imposter syndrome, and honestly questioning if I had missed my window. I tried the 9–5 route in corporate, health and wellness, and hospitality, but nothing really fulfilled me the way performing did.

In that season, I had to really slow down and reconnect with my faith. Over time, clarity started to come back. I felt a strong pull to return to Atlanta and step back into my purpose. It honestly felt like God reminding me that what was placed in me was still there.

When I came back, I didn’t rush anything. I got a work-from-home job to stay stable while I kept auditioning and rebuilding my momentum. It was a slow rebuild, but I stayed consistent.

That’s when I came across a Royal Caribbean audition; an opportunity I had been pursuing for several years.I had first auditioned right after college and kept submitting over the years, but this time felt different. I was ready in a way I hadn’t been before.

Now I’m on my second contract with Royal Caribbean. My first was a nine-month Caribbean run, and my current contract is 11 months, performing across Europe and the Caribbean. Looking back, I can see how every delay had purpose. God’s timing wasn’t denial ;it was alignment.

Along the way, I’ve also been blessed to perform all over NYC, LA, Atlanta etc; weddings, cabarets, theater shows, tv/ film, voice over, music recording , modeling opportunities and more. Every stage, big or small, has been part of the same journey.

At the end of the day, I’m just a girl who loves God, loves music, and is still evolving doing my best to add value to every space I enter into ; walking fully in my gift one yes, one stage, and one season at a time. Oh yeah, new faith based music otw. Follow me for more updates.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve dealt with depression, self-doubt, comparison, and honestly putting way too much pressure on myself trying to be “perfect.” Baby, perfection is a myth. I had to learn that the hard way. For a long time, I thought I needed to change who I was to fit certain spaces or be accepted, when really the magic was already there.

Once I stopped overthinking every little thing and fully leaned into being authentic, confident, and comfortable in my own skin, everything started aligning. I realized my gift wasn’t something I needed to chase ; it was already inside of me the whole time. That journey taught me grace, resilience, and how powerful it is to simply show up as yourself.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a professional vocalist, live entertainer, curvy print model, natural hair model, storyteller, and voiceover performer specializing in all things music, acting, and performance. Whether it’s singing on stage, bringing emotion to a character, or connecting with an audience through storytelling, I love creating experiences that make people feel something real. I’m known for my passion in everything I do. I strive to operate in a spirit of excellence.

What I’m most proud of is staying true to myself while growing through every season of life. I think what sets me apart is my authenticity, versatility, and ability to genuinely connect with people. I don’t just perform ; I tell stories, create moments, and bring heart into everything I do.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
My motto is: take the risk or lose the chance. Personal development & self work has taught me that the biggest rewards often come from stepping into uncertainty. I never want to live a life filled with regret or ‘what ifs.’ I’ve lived in multiple cities, developed many skills over the years, and continued pursuing my music and creative career through it all. That path has involved real risk, but I couldn’t imagine living any other way. I believe in taking risks; but I also believe risk should be guided by God & wisdom .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/lyricallyee?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ericavictoria__?igsh=ZXNza2E4dDZ4Ync4&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/erica.hampton.5454
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theericavictoriah
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@lyricallyee?_t=8oiNFGEavwx&_r=1