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Spotlight on: Hanna Lashay

bkingangelica
Oct 19, 2016
4 min read

Meet Hanna Lashay,an exceptional vocalist,model, and actress based in Atlanta. She is very influential and incredibly well-known throughout social media.In this interview Hanna gives insight on her personal goals as a vocalist, being a model, and maintaining self-care. Check out the full Q&A to read her incredibly enlightening take on #blackgirlmagic, black joy, natural hair, and so much more!

All photos courtesy of Hanna Lashay

ANGELICA: You are a model, vocalist, actress, what are a few of your hidden talents?

HANNA LASHAY: Besides binge watching The Get Down in a matter of two days, I do enjoy cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Whether that be, cooking like it's Sunday dinner on a Wednesday or baking Triple chocolate chip cookie dough fudge brownies, I just absolutely love cooking, it's actually quite therapeutic to me.

ANGELICA: What are a few things that you love most about being a model?

HANNA: Growth. Modeling's taught me how to be patient with myself, how to be comfortable with myself and also be proud of myself. As a model you learn so much, about the industry, about other people and more importantly yourself. I've grown to accept and embrace myself physically just from being around other models of all different types of skin tones, races, body shapes, cultural backgrounds and etc. It's really liberating to be surrounded by such a broad variety of beauty.

ANGELICA: You have some songs on your sound cloud which are really great, you have a very nice and unique voice, what are your goals as a singer/vocalist?

HANNA: My overall goals is to heal people through my music. I want people to feel enlightened, and ease when they listen to my songs. My top goal right now is to definitely release my first single before the new year enters. I definitely want to start doing live performances again, that's where I always feel at home and I also intend to release a complete project in due time.

ANGELICA: I’ve seen throughout your social media account(s) that you have performed a few times live. When you are singing in front of people you don’t know what does that feel like for you?

HANNA: Strangely enough, it's actually easier for me to perform in front of strangers than it is to do so in front of friends or family. I value the opinions of those closest to me dearly so it's just more nerve wracking.

ANGELICA: When you are not modeling, acting, or singing what do you typically enjoy doing?

HANNA: I do enjoy spending time with my friends or family out somewhere, going to art museums, trying new restaurants or just being on tumblr for a little while

ANGELICA: Your natural hair is very amazing, what does your hair symbolize for you in terms of your identity?

HANNA: My natural hair is a physical representation of my past, present and future. It's my soul intertwined into beautiful kinks and koils. I've done a lot of healing in my past to get to the state I'm at, and I'm still growing so it's just a constant reminder of my progress and expansion.

ANGELICA: I love that there have been numerous amounts of #blackgirlmagic post throughout social media that celebrate black women of all different shades and backgrounds, what does Black Girl Magic mean to you?

HANNA: Black girl magic is a universal energy distributed in black queens everywhere. Having black girl magic means embracing you and all that you are, it means that you're not afraid to be comfortable in your own skin, in your own hair, in your own body and in your own soul. it means having an understanding of the true power that black women do possess and how fucking awesome it is to be a black woman.

ANGELICA: During times such as these it is important that Black mental health is well taken care of and Black joy is retained. Constantly seeing such shootings occur really takes a toll on our mental health and can even be traumatizing (some people often become desensitized to it all). What are a few things that you do on a daily basis to practice self-care and maintain black joy?

HANNA: I make sure to take time out for myself. I think sometimes people confuse self care with being selfish and that's just simply not the case. Self care is making sure that you're maintaining stability mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Being sure to do activities that are going to raise your frequency so you can heal. Whether that be meditating, eating fruit, drinking water, reading or writing, going to sit in nature, or etc. I try my best to remember that no matter what's going on in my life, that my happiness is important, that it matters.

ANGELICA: In your personal opinion why do you think black joy is necessary and how can joy be a form of resistance for the oppressed?

HANNA: Black people as a community have dealt with so much inequality in every area all due to the color of our skin. So I feel that whenever we have the moments to be grateful and joyful, that we should celebrate to the best of our ability. I believe to peacefully unify, that is the biggest threat overall.

ANGELICA: What have you accomplished in the past year that you are most proud of?

HANNA: My biggest accomplishment is actually in the works as of now so I have to remain exclusive about it until it's released so you'll just have to stick around ;)

ANGELICA: Did you always know that you would be such an inspiration and so well known throughout social media as you are today?

HANNA: I've always known I wanted to affect people in a positive light, but as far as social media is concerned I never anticipated the positivity and love to be so strong and mutual but it means the universe to me.

ANGELICA: Do you have any additional comments?

HANNA: Stay radiant!

Love,

The Sunflower Goddess