Erika Woods, From Journalist to Fashion Model and Actress

I am a Libra

I am a foodie

I am secretly very shy and I got into acting after “finding my tribe” in the acting and modeling community.  I find that models are some of the nicest people you will ever meet in your entire life!  Most models were the ugly ducklings that bloomed into the swan.

I majored in journalism at Howard University.  I secretly always wanted to be an Actor and dabbled in acting since a young age, but I never really had the confidence to pursue it. After being scouted, I think that experience helped validate my self-love.

I came to New York after being offered a job at the NFL in their Corporate Sponsorship Division.

After being laid-off I was literally sitting on the steps of the NFL headquarters contemplating my future when I was approached by a woman that told me I was pretty and that I ever considered “modeling”.  I thought she was hitting on me until she told me she was a modeling Agent and she thought I would be good for their print/lifestyle division.  I booked the first job. She sent me out for -it was a Plus White toothpaste ad  – that turned into a commercial and the rest is history!  I started doing print ads that led to commercials that led to me taking acting classes and then moving into an Off Off Broadway play and then television and film work. It was a natural and beautiful progression of things.

I have done some TV/Film work most recently I had a co-star role on the ‘Blacklist’ (I played Officer Talbet.) I was featured in a film that just won at this years Tribeca Film Festival called ‘Burning Cane.’

Regarding my work, my first National Commercial was for Duncan-Hines. I have since gone onto to do commercials for Red-Lobster, Nationwide Auto Insurance, Shop-Rite, Lactaid Milk, Food Network and Dominos to name a few.

7) Self-care is pretty important how do you de-stress/chill out, especially working in the modeling/entertainment industry?

Yes, self-care is pretty important indeed!  One thing I am learning the older I get is the importance of massage therapy.  I go every 2 weeks and it makes all the difference physically and spiritually.  Also, I drink an abnormal amount of water at least a gallon a day, usually way more.  I love it, it’s the true fountain of youth.

My advice to looking great is to drink lots of water, practice stretching, get lots of sleep, use a steam room weekly, use eye cream and get monthly massages.

The advice that I would give African American women interested in modeling/acting is to study, be kind, and take care of yourself and develop discipline and a thick skin. Also, take a business class and have a plan B. My plan B was that I got my New York Real Estate License a few years back.  I remember a very successful supermodel who told me that she made more money in real estate than she did her entire career in modeling and she didn’t have to starve herself thin to do it.  That always stayed with me.

In 10 years from now, I see myself being a super successful actress, producer, and real estate investor.  I also see myself married with a garden.