Cierra Danielle Jackson
Well hello there frennn!
First off, the fact that you’re on my site, makes me feel all sorts of giddy inside—the fact that YOU are researching ME—a young wannabe gal from Katy, Texas born with Sickle Cell Disease, just trying to become a BIG, HEALED someone… someday…
Eeeek… I feel like I’ve partially made it because I’ve finally got my own lil space in the digital world, and YOU’RE taking time out of your day to get to know me! Seriously. Wild.
Previously mentioned, I was born with Sickle Cell Type SS, I spent the majority of my adolescent, teenage, and young adult years in and out of the hospital. To be honest, I was always petrified that SC would take my life before I was able to achieve ALL of my dreams. As a youngster, I was often enamored with entertainment, especially when I’d be laying in a hospital bed looking for a way to escape my reality. Because of Sickle Cell, I also dealt with severe jaundice in my eyes—they were SOOOO green and it was a constant reminder that something was wrong with me. I never really felt attractive.
To this day, it still bums me out a bit that I didn’t make it to the grand Miss USA stage—but God has his reasons right? So cliche. But that’s what I tell myself. Yeah, I know—you tell yourself that too :) hey, we do what we gotta do!
As a competitor and local titleholder, I learned a lot working in various communities and excelled at public speaking.
Although I never made it the grand Miss USA stage I was still determined to have my name in lights. My amazing mother took notice of my passions and brought me to Los Angeles to pursue my career in film, television, and commercials. While I hustled, I followed “the rules” of life and applied to college, and attended UCLA. During my years in college, I nanny’ed and worked in the Office of Residential Life as an office assistant. Upon graduating, I continued auditions and began looking for a corporate job…*a big girl* job. I landed a position and worked there for two years as Logistics Coordinator.
Now for the plot twist… whilst working at “my big girl job” I found out that there was a perfect Bone Marrow Match for ME in the national registry.
You see, in between the hustle and bustle of living my life, performing on stage, auditioning, nannying, volunteering, school, etc… I was constantly in and out of the hospital.
Searching for a way to feel beautiful, and being born in Texas…I OBVIOUSLY threw myself into pageants. I competed in beauty pageants for ten years (The Miss Universe Organization), winning a few local titles, and then placing top 10 at Miss California USA, and 4th runner up to Miss Nevada USA.
Now for the plot twist… whilst working at “my big girl job” I found out that there was a perfect Bone Marrow Match for ME in the national registry.
You see, in between the hustle and bustle of living my life, performing on stage, auditioning, nannying, volunteering, school, etc… I was constantly in and out of the hospital.
Soooo, in 2015, I checked into City of Hope Hospital where I went through rigorous chemotherapy and underwent a Bone Marrow Transplant —which CURED me of Sickle Cell!!! Hallelujah! I remained in the hospital for almost a year and when I began to get better I decided that I was ready to risk it all for entertainment…to do what I loved, and to give it three thousand percent. I can tell ya, there’s nothing like laying in a hospital bed…makes what you want in life VERY clear. (so here is YOUR permission to go after what YOU love—GOOOO! Do it afraid!—this is your sign!)
Sooo, I busted out of that hospital and began to tackle my dreams full force. I auditioned, I booked jobs I auditioned, I was rejected. Rinse and repeat over three thousand times—LITERALLY. I'm grateful for all of the opportunities I've had to work as a VoiceOver artist and actress in Los Angeles.
One thing I have always held onto is... there will be more opportunities for that NEXT BIG PROJECT… and no matter what you think, YOU hold the key.
xoxo Cierra
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Coming Soon