How did you get into TikTok?

During the early stages of COVID-19 lockdown, all my creative outlets came screeching to a halt. I’ve always been so passionate about acting. Social media became a huge deciding factor in production companies choosing their actors. I knew if I was going to keep up, I would have to build a platform from the ground up. I wasn’t familiar with TikTok until countless friends tried to get me to post a video. I soon realized TikTok was a great outlet for creatives like me to share their passions, no matter what type of content. Its global reach and the ability to connect with people made me fall in love.

What are your primary topics?

Content-wise, I post quite a bit of variety on TikTok (special effects makeup, my characters, acting scenes, cosplay, dancing, comedy, POVs, lifestyle, etc.). I’ve become known for my scary looks, especially around Halloween which is my favorite holiday. Whatever I cook up, I try to be as creative and authentic to myself as possible.

What are your favorite and least favorite things about social media?

Favorite: I just mentioned the variety, I love that I don’t have to look or act like one type. I can be any character or present myself in almost any way I want in order to be successful and have fun at the same time. I also love that social media gives me the ability to connect with so many different and like-minded people.

Least Favorite: Social media can reward people for the wrong behaviors. In other words, there’s a reward system for people who are hateful, obsessed with drama and gossip, create scandals and other negative narratives. It can be frustrating because creativity, art, and positive messages should be getting more attention.

Tell us about your personal style.

My style is flexible. I go from wearing an all-black, edgy outfit to wearing a glamorous sparkly gown. It’s so fun to explore my self-expression through my style, which I make sure is never limited to one aesthetic. I feel like I grow and change all the time. On a day-to-day basis, my style is heavily influenced by my mood or what I’m personally and mentally needing that day.

Tell us about your shoe collection.

My collection ranges from Air Jordan Retro High-Tops to crazy all-over “diamond” 6-inch heels. I think any good shoe collection has a mix between neutral toned basics (black, white, nude, and brown) and shoes with bold colors, fabrics, and designs. The shoes I wear most often are my black patent leather platform Doc Marten boots. Almost every single outfit in my wardrobe goes with these boots, and they give me the power boost I need. They also are incredibly comfortable.

Do you have pets?

I sure do! My Golden Retriever’s name is Ruby. Nothing beats how happy she is to see me when I come home after being away. I always look forward to plenty of quality time snuggling with her, she has the sweetest personality!

Tell us about your funniest thing you have posted about?

One of the funniest things I posted about was when I ran out of time to remove a full face of my Blue Tiger makeup  look before I had to hustle off to a doctor’s appointment to get my flu shot. Needless to say, the office staff and other people got a lot more than they expected that day.

Who is your favorite designer?

I love Christian Dior formal wear. Other favorites are Givenchy and Guo Pei Couture (because of the jaw-dropping gown they designed for Rihanna at the Met Gala). But, to be honest, I love so many designers just as much.

What is your favorite thing in your closet?

My favorite is an oversized black blazer that has stitched detailing, the design of a sword embroidered on each sleeve, and a stunning set of oversized safety pins on the cuffs. This blazer is special to me because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen in stores. When I put on this blazer, it gives me a more masculine power touch to my otherwise feminine style.

Where do you go to relax?

I feel happiest when I’m relaxing at the beach, especially on Long Beach Island on the Jersey Shore. I also love to treat myself to a bath while watching the show I’m binging at that moment.

Tell us about what is next for you in terms of projects and roles.

As far as future projects, I recently relocated from Denver to Los Angeles, and am 100% focused on pursuing my career as an actor. I also have some merch in the works as well!

There are several wonderful organizations that I support however I can. I hope to continue leveraging my platform to educate people about charity: water’s mission of providing clean water to communities that don’t have access to this basic human necessity. I’ve recently started a relationship with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). I also support a Denver-based organization called Brought to Reality (BTR), which is focused on ending the stigma of mental illness. Please check out their websites.

charity: water: https://www.charitywater.org/ 

AFSP: https://www.afsp.org/ 

Brought to Reality: https://broughttoreality.com/ 

Plug your social media.

TikTok: @emmanortss

Instagram: @emmanorts

Snapchat: @enorts_18

Tell us about your role in Two Distant Strangers. My role was Perri who was the female lead in the film. She is a no nonsense, speak her mind, type of woman. She knows what she wants and goes after it and is successful in her life because of it. Perri does a great job at being both strong and vulnerable. The writing was all there in that aspect where she was allowed to not be afraid of owning a gun and crying and screaming while witnessing something so horrific. She wasn’t boxed in by her ability to be strong and was amplified by her vulnerability. I think that can only be a testament to the collaborative nature of being directed so incredibly and a direct result of thoughtful writing.

Tell us about your personal Style. I would say my style is mostly 90s chic. I don’t know if that is what the Gen Z are calling it, I think it’s “cheugy, but it is mostly whatever makes me feel good. A simple Levi jean that has my curves and a white crop T is my everyday.

What are your favorite brands? I love Aritzia when I am looking for something more affordable and I love my Louis Vuitton purse that I carry around always. I’m more of a out-the-box artistic cool finds type of woman. If it looks like art— I’m wearing it.

Which designers do you use for couture red carpet events? I had the honor of wearing a custom dress by Dolce and Gabbana for the Oscars so they would be at the top of my list. I love looking at everyone’s style on the red carpet from Chanel to Versace. I am a big fan of looking at vintage red carpet and runway looks.

Tell about your shoes?  I have been wearing heels since I could walk. I wore my mom’s shoes since even as a toddler so I have always loved a good heel. They keep your calves in check! When I’m trying to give them a rest, I love a cute sandal.

What is your favorite thing in your wardrobe?  I have a great vintage bomber jacket I was gifted, its got the Prince logo on it and it is oversized and goes with everything and everyone loves seeing it. Because— I mean— Prince! It is black jacket and the Prince logo has every color you could think of.

Do you have pets? I wish. I grew up with a dog and had one ever since I was a little girl, but right now life is a little too busy to care for a puppy. Hopefully that will change soon. I had a Chocolate Lab and my brother got a Rottweiler when I was younger.

Where do you go to relax? I got this amazing facial by Ivan Pol at The Beauty Sandwich before the Oscars, it was so relaxing. I also went to the Tomoko Spa after the Oscars so that was a really beautiful experience.

What is the funniest thing to happen to you on set? Probably when I worked on “Dad Stop Embarrassing Me” with Jamie Foxx. It just so happens that my uncle Bentley Kyle Evans had gotten hired as well. We were in the middle of takes and at this point we had gotten a nice scene in the can already that was strict to script. We were trying the scene with alternative lines. So my uncle gave me a really funny alt line that was a bit risqué and Jamie didn’t know I had a new line, so when I said it, Jamie froze and looked at the camera and said in this really high voice “that wasn’t in the script!” He was so shocked it was hilarious. The entire cast and crew erupted laughing!

What is your favorite food? I love Mexican it is my favorite type of food and I could eat it every day of the week. I also really love sweet potatoes.

What kind of music do you like? My music tastes depend on my mood. Sometimes I feel like listening to Earth Wind and Fire, sometimes its Sam Cook, The Fugees, The Roots, Lauryn Hill, or Erykah Badu. If I am in for a fast-paced mood I love Dababy, Jay-Z, or Kendrick Lamar, so it just depends on the day. I work with some amazing artists to, I am also a songwriter. Benn Good, amazing producer, has really taken me under his wing and introduced me to artists like Alice Aera, Olivia Reid, and Esther Lewis—Who just performed in the “Care” fundraiser. She performed a song I helped write called: Hold on.

Tell us about your hometown. It depends on what you consider on hometown. I consider this town I lived in during middle school and high school in Indiana. It was about 30 minutes about from Chicago and I made friends there that I still have to this day. I think in such small towns you create really beautiful and lasting friendships.

Do you like to dance? I like to dance when no one is watching! I think it is a beautiful art form and I admire everyone who does it. I think that using your body to tell a story is honorable when it is done right, but I am not professionally trained…yet!

What is up next for you? I can’t wait for you to see me on the screen again soon.. but in terms of where that will be… you’ll have to wait and see!

Plug your social media You can find me on Instagram at @ZariaZariaZaria