Throughout all the incredible things going on in her life, Mya Xeller has remained true to herself and her audience!
Xeller is a model, actress, dancer, and singer who was crowned Miss Teen World Connecticut back in 2019. Since then, she’s appeared on a billboard in the legendary Times Square in New York City, modeled down the runway for New York Fashion Week, and has worked as a national cover model for multiple magazines.
Aside from modeling and competing in pageants, Xeller also is an actress! She revealed to Celeb Secrets that being an actress has always been a dream of hers since she was little.
Xeller stars on Amazon Prime’s reality show, Next Big Thing NYC, where a group of teens follows their quest for fame. This is Xeller’s first experience in television, but it’s definitely not her last!
Even with her newfound love of filming, Xeller still has a huge love for performing in front of live audiences. When asked about the difference between the two, she said, “The biggest difference is that life experiences provide you with an audience where you’re being supported in the moment and hyped up, while filming environments you have to be your own hype person in order to stay alive and excited!”
At such a young age, Xeller has already accomplished so many things and yet, she still remains true to herself. As she’s grown in the industry, she’s learned to love herself for she is and to surround herself with people who love her just the same.
We asked Xeller if she had any advice for any young individuals who wanted to pursue a career similar to hers, and she gave the best answer: “The best advice I have for anyone who wants to pursue a similar career path to mine is to never give up, and never change yourself for others. The industry is very competitive, and you will definitely be told no, turned down for jobs, and hated on, but if you give up you’re giving the haters exactly what they want! Be 100% your genuine self, keep working hard no matter what anyone says, and your time will come!”
Along with our Q&A down below, Xeller also did an Instagram live with Celeb Secrets recently to discuss more of Next Big Thing NYC, her acting career, and even took questions from our virtual audience!
Read more of our Q&A with Xeller down below and don’t forget to check out our Instagram live with her at the bottom of this post. You can follow Mya on Instagram at @myaxeller to keep up with her and her future projects.
Celeb Secrets: You’re a model, actress, and singer! Have there been any other fields of the entertainment industry that you’ve wanted to explore that you haven’t had the chance to yet?
Mya Xeller: “Yes! It has always been a dream since I was a little girl to be on TV in shows and movies. I always wanted to be an actress! Next Big Thing NYC was my first TV experience, but definitely not my last! This is only the start to my TV career!”
CS: How has being a part of “Next Big Thing NYC” been like? Do you have a favorite moment of the series?
MX: “Being a part of “ Next Big Thing NYC” has been absolutely amazing. Not only did it provide me experience and a foot step into the TV world, but it provided me with friendships that I may have not formed if I didn’t film for the show. One of my favorite moments of the series is in Episode 4/5. I got very hurt, so although the circumstances weren’t great, it was a really heart warming time where my friends showed me how much they care about me!”
CS: Was there anything you didn’t know about the filming process for the series that you can share with us?
MX: “Since Next Big Thing NYC was my first time ever filming for a TV show, I really had no idea what I was going into and what it would be like. After the first day of filming I quickly learned that EVERYTHING gets caught on camera, and also that it takes a very long time to film. It’s not a one time shot kind of thing, scenes have to be filmed multiple times most of the time which can be tricky with reality tv since it is real life.”
CS: Besides filming the series, you’ve also performed live in front of audiences and competed in pageants! What are the differences between filming versus live experience? What do you enjoy about each of them?
MX: “The biggest difference between filming and live experiences is that life experiences provide you with a crowd/ audience where you’re being supported in the moment and hyped up, while filming environments are different because you have to be your own hype person in order to stay alive and excited! I personally love both because of course I love having a live audience, but I also really love being in front of a camera!”
CS: Through all these experiences you’ve had, you’ve still managed to stay true to yourself. What helps keep you grounded throughout it all?
MX: “Throughout elementary school and middle school, I often questioned myself and overthought how others perceived me. It took a lot of learning, growth, and specific situations to teach me that I am who I am, and people will love me or hate me no matter what. I stay true to myself because I’ve learned to love myself and realize that if people don’t like me for who I truly am then I don’t need them in my life!”
CS: Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to pursue a similar career path as yours?
MX: “The best advice I have for anyone who wants to pursue a similar career path to mine is to never give up, and never change yourself for others. The industry is very competitive, and you will definitely be told no, turned down for jobs, and hated on, but if you give up you’re giving the haters exactly what they want! Be 100% your genuine self, keep working hard no matter what anyone says, and your time will come!”
CS: What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
MX: “The most memorable moment in my career so far is the first time I was ever up on a billboard in Times Square NYC! I will never forget the feeling I had when I saw myself up there next to famous models and actresses.”
CS: What is the first thing you want to do once the pandemic has settled down?
MX: “The first thing I want to do once the pandemic has settled down is go on an awesome vacation where I can be stress and worry free for at least a few days!”
CS: What are your goals for 2021?
MX: “My goals for 2021 are to continue to be a genuine person, continue to be a role model for younger children looking up to me, grow my social media, and remember to make memories that I will be able to look back on and be proud!”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, do you have any secrets that you can share with us that we may not know about you yet?
MX: “A secret that you may not know about me yet are that I competitively dance, and have been tap dancing since I was 2 years old!”
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