Rising Stars: Meet Nadia Simms

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Simms.

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 am a 14-year-old actress/model/entrepreneur. I started modeling when I was just six months old and shortly thereafter I started doing television commercials. My modeling and TV commercial credits include such clients as American Girl Doll, Sears, Kohls, and Chicago Parent Magazine to name a few. In 2015 I landed a series regular role on a comedic television pilot shot in Chicago alongside legendary actress Marla Gibbs which was directed by famed Actor/Director Bill Duke. In 2016 I landed the dramatic role of “Stacey” in the feature film The Land, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival to great reviews. The Land was directed by Steven Caple Jr. Featuring Erykah Badu and executive produced by rapper/actor Nas. You can currently see me making appearances in Comedy Central’s SouthSide, Showtime’s The Chi, Fox’s Proven Innocent, Netflix’s Black and Privileged. In the near future you can see me on the big screen with a role on the upcoming Jordan Peele’s reboot of Candyman also known as “Say My Name” and as “Pessimindle” in the Emmy wining series Fargo on FX. During quarantine, I started my own line of cosmetics. I created YummiPop Cosmetics to be the quintessential hub for all things positive and beauty. YummiPop is for the young adolescent and the young at heart. My products are meant to enhance your natural beauty and evoke confidence all while still keeping you looking like your beautiful self. The packaging is fresh and colorful and the scents are divine. Plus, I will be introducing new products regularly and handmade by me!

Actress
You can keep up with her latest on her IG page official_nadia_simone.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would be lying if I said it was smooth. Being 14 comes with so many challenges by itself but I had to rise above all that and keep a strong mind and do what I want to do. I had to put myself out there and learn and grow. It’s still all a learning experience and a journey for me but I try to stay focused on my goals and encouraged to keep going.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well. I am very transparent. What you see is what you get. I am young but I love to learn because I know knowledge is power and your knowledge is something no one can take away from you. I am an actress/model./entrepreneur. If I can inspire just one person. Inspire anyone young or old because of who I am or what I’ve done, then that is what I am most proud of.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I feel that taking risks is necessary to grow. I feel like in order to get to a comfortable spot, you have to go through uncomfortable things. In the 14 years that I have been alive, I think the biggest risk I have ever taken was to have started my own business. (With the help of my parents of course) I put myself out there at times wondering what other people might think or say about me or even about the products I’m putting out but I would have never known if I didn’t take that first step. That risk.

Pricing:

• prices are very reasonable on shopyummipop.com

Contact Info:

• Website: shopyummipop.com
• Instagram: @official_nadia_simone and @yummipopcosmetics

Image Credits
JDSpros