Today we’d like to introduce you to Shuntel Renay.
Shuntel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m Shuntel Renay Hall but I go by Shuntel Renay as my stage name. I am originally from Albany, GA, a country girl to the core; I moved to Atlanta at the age of 13 in the middle of 8th grade which affected me in an emotional way because I left all my childhood friends. It was for the better, due to where I came from because I stayed in trouble back home. God knew what he was doing. When we first got to Atlanta, we were living with a family in Decatur, GA in the basement until my mother was able to find a home. Being a single mother of four girls with me being the oldest daughter, she wanted the best for us, but it wasn’t easy. When we finally got into a house, it was a two-bedroom and we made the dining room into a room (I always had my own room). We had to make it work. One day, someone tried breaking into our home at night because they thought no one was there and shot at the wall and ran when they realized someone was there; this was off Candler road. That’s when we moved to a better area, Tucker, GA. With us struggling to keep the lights on, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fast foods, and cereal almost every day, we lived in a better neighborhood and attended a better school. You know it was payday if she cooked and/or went grocery shopping. I went on with keeping all A’s throughout high school along with playing sports such as softball, basketball, and flag football while in AFJROTC. I then joined the National Honor Society and graduated in the top 10% of my senior class with a 3.7 GPA.
Coming from a tough past, it helped make me who I am today and I am very grateful for that path at the end of the day. It was really hard at a young age, from being suicidal to not feeling loved. I am often misunderstood for my stern, strong personality but I was built this way because being strong was all I knew. I just had to figure it out on my own. That’s me not telling everything, yet. I went on to attend Clark Atlanta University, wanting to follow my big cousin’s footsteps from back in the day. My dancing started there. I studied Mass Media Arts with a concentration in TV & Film. I wanted to work with news. As a waitress and gogo dancer in college, and not having any help, I’ve always been a hustler. I did start my first job at age 12 with my grandmother with newspapers early in the mornings prior to school hours, I was in middle school. After graduation from CAU, I went on to focus on my acting career instead along with working in sales and marketing full time to help pay the bills. I’m thankful for the woman I’ve become. I’ve lost people but I’ve gained better ones. I am very passionate about anything I commit to because of how I was built.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not having a father, being mentally and physically abused, being suicidal, not feeling loved, being in a struggling household. To name a few.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
As an actress, what sets me apart from others is my talent and hunger. My personality and my eagerness to wanting to better myself.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t do anything different but to trust God and trust the process. Understanding my worth.
Image Credit:
Jejuan Smith
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