by Hakeemah Jihad

HJ: When I met you, you introduced yourself as Ms. Tasia! Tell me how are Ms. Tasia and Tasia Sherel different or one in the same?

TS: They are to a degree. Ms. Tasia is the name students and contestants call me. Tasia Sherel is the brand, the actress, the woman.

HJ: I came across so many wonderful photos of you. You grabbed the camera on each photo. Do you have any modeling experience?

TS: Oh yeah! I fell into modeling when I was 18 and I am also a three time pageant winner. One of the judges, who became my agent, told me I had too much charisma for modeling and that I should be acting. I said ok, hook me up then! My agent sent me out to my first audition and I got my first job. I sucked, I had no formal training. However, they liked me!

HJ: You landed the role as Pam on the TV series “Everybody Hates Chris” as a stylist. How ironic? How does the same person who aspired to be a stylist get a role playing a stylist on TV?

TS: I wasn’t the typical go to college type of chic! I am not saying that you should not go to college. I went to college for cosmetology. I went to John Amico School to do hair. I started modeling and doing hair around the same time and makeup came later. I did makeup and hair while training as an actress.

When the role of Pam presented itself, my agent already knew I did hair! They were looking for an actress. You know hairstylist have a certain look about themselves. The audition did not consist of me doing hair, I just went in and did Pam.

My hair was honey blond in the audition. I later went to Platinum later. One of the producers, Ali LeRoi, told me my hair was one if the reasons I got the part!  

HJ: You really bring the character “Pam” to life! Do you people call you Pam in the streets?

I am more noticed in California than in my home town of Chicago. In Chicago, people don’t expect to see actors at arm’s length. I went into a store and someone told me I look like the girl Pam on Everybody Hates Chris.  I said I am her!  She said she had to go get her friend and a camera. I told her I’ll continue shopping and doing my thing until she returns for that photo!

HJ: How are your experiences acting on a comedy show different than your experiences acting on drama shows like CSI Miami, Strong Medicine, Days of Our Lives, and Dexter?

TS: A different energy. Comedy is bigger. You know, drama can be a little more subtle. The timing is different. Comedy is more colorful all the way around. It’s happy. If you look at Pam’s place on Everybody Hates Chris it’s bright.  On Dexter, Francis’ set is more drab or more muted. It helps to set the tone for the acting. It’s like putting on a costume. It’s like putting on a hat. I enjoy both!

HJ: You are definitely a sister who has not forgotten her roots? Tell our readers about the Miss EMBODI Pageant (www.missembodipageant.com)?

TS: Ms. EMBODI Pageant derived from EMBODI Entertainment. I started it in L.A. in 2002. My husband and I had just moved to LA in 2001. He is a freelance writer. In TV and film you have to go to L.A.  I am a Leo and I create my own opportunities. I don’t have to be given an opportunity, I create my own. It is a theatre company for African-American women. We got more roles than Hispanic women but not more than Caucasians.

I give them the opportunity to write their own plays. It is the first exclusive theater company for African American women. The Staff consists of all Black women. One of our pieces was recognized by the NAACP Awards. In 2005, when I landed Everybody Hates Chris, I produced the EMBODI Black Female Festival. I brought in female poets and comedians. On the panel we had Terri J. Vaughn of the Steve Harvey show and Pam Warner, mother of Malcolm Jamaal Warner. It Provided a venue for them to showcase their talent. And in 2005, I got idea to do the pageant. My husband suggested doing in in Chicago and now we are having it in 2011.

HJ: The goal of the EMBODI Pageant is to “Empower and Motivate Beautiful Optimistic & Driven Individuals thru fun, fashion, ferocity, and forward thinking. What is the motivation behind the goal?

TS: EMBODI has many meanings but what sticks out is that it means to be a part of a united whole. For the pageant, EMBODI means to glorify strong young women and it comes from EMBODI for glorifying strong Black women.

We are not your typical beauty pageant. We are a movement! If you want to be a part of the movement and is interested in entering your daughter in the pageant, contact us at 877-270-2478 or at www.missembodipageant.com.

HJ: What future projects do you have going on right now?

TS: I am starring in a film named the Days of Wrath with Laurence Fishborne, Taye Diggs, David Banner, and Brandon T. Jackson. Brandon Jackson is really on the come up. He is in Lottery Ticket with Bow Wow.  I play his mother in the movie and my character’s name is Lady Dee.  A major release is coming soon!

I am also teaching acting as well. I teach professional acting for individuals 12 and up! You can contact me at Tasia Sherel Studio (TSS) at 877-270-2478. Acting classes are for beginners and intermediate actors. Open to coaching for auditions.

HJ: If our readers want to follow your career more closely, how can they follow you?

You can view my website at www.tasiasherel.com

They can go to internet movie database at www.imdb.com, can post comments on movie, search for Days of Wrath. You can contact me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Tasia-Sherel/790333509.