Former Disney star Trinitee Stokes opens up to The Unsealed community - Raw video

So welcome everyone to our first edition of Unsealed Voices. We have a super special guest

Trinity Stokes. She is everything and anything you can imagine. A fashion designer, an author

an actress, a singer, a songwriter, a great student, college graduate at 18 years old

She has a new song out which we're going to talk about and she also recently did a letter

on the unsealed, which I sent to all of you guys. So I know you guys read it. So I actually want

this show to be about your voices, your questions, your conversation. So I'm going to start off right

away throwing this out to you guys. I'm going to start off with Denise because Denise is a veteran

an unsealed veteran, and I'm going to let you start your start the conversation with Trinity

Okay. Hi. Hi, Trinity. Hi, how are you? Great. How are you? You look gorgeous

thank you so much so do you thank you um so I was doing my research um I've done it before but I was

doing some more research on you and I know Lauren just mentioned you graduated at 18 um thank you

for that because I am now putting you on our goal wall here for my kiddos because my son's about to

start high school so yeah thank you I wanted to ask um what growth do you think came from being

in the industry at such a young age, because I know that life itself is going to, you know

throw you all kinds of curveballs, curveballs and lessons. And you interpret them a certain way when

you're a certain age. I can't imagine what growth you had to do as a child, though

That's a great question. I don't think anyone's ever asked me that before. But when it comes to

what growth I sort of internalize at such a young age on set is probably just being able to grow

wherever I am. Each set is different. There's a different culture. There's different people

So figuring out how to still be true to who I am, still honor my personality, still be authentic

but also find a way to mix that with adapting to where I am would probably be the biggest lesson

But also just being able to just enjoy the journey. I mean, I started, quote unquote

working in an adult environment, super young. But to me, it was just such a fun time. It didn't

really feel like, you know, I was clocking in somewhere miserable. So being able to enjoy the

moment and find the joy in everything is definitely something that's carried me through

the early part of my career to now. Oh man, that's beautiful. I can definitely see that you just

enjoying it because it's life. It's what you're experiencing and not a paycheck that you're

waiting for. I love that. Do you think the industry has changed in the last decade

Oh, yeah. I think the industry has changed a bunch, I would say for the better. I think there's been

a lot of inclusivity that's been brought into the entertainment industry and also just more space

being created for people to voice their concerns. So for me, a lot of my co-stars were advocates for

me when it came down to things like how my hair was styled and the best way to protect my hair so

it wouldn't break off. And I'm like, where's my hair at the end of my show or, you know, making

sure that my clothes are the most flattering for me. So I was able to sort of be guided through

that at a young process. But so many folks when I first started off were not afforded that

opportunity. So now you see so many people are just filled with so much agency to be able to say

okay, yes, I know I'm playing a character, but this is making me uncomfortable. I don't feel safe

Whatever that looks like is definitely one of the biggest changes. But I would also say that

there's so much space now for new ideas. Everywhere you turn, people are able to take, you know

ideas from TikTok or Instagram or things that they've just created out of their head or life

experiences. And they're able to find ways to amplify it in entertainment that aren't as linear

as things used to be a couple years ago. Yeah, I think that is probably one of the biggest concerns

as anybody going into the industry. You want to have your own autonomy, you know

and like you said, to be able to have coworkers to advocate for you and teach you that along the way

because I can imagine if you hadn't, if you wouldn't have had that and you would have just gone through every single set

just having bad experiences and internalizing them as a child, maybe. And just, you know, that would have probably ended with a lot of

downward spirals in life. And I feel like you have thankfully accomplished so much

at 18 at, you know, now, and even as a child, you were accomplishing a lot more than

you're the average child. So I think that is amazing. I have one last question

do you think um did you ever have a say in the type of roles that you got or do you feel like

at any point you were typecasted there's definitely like a 50 50 mix of when it comes to if I have a

choice or not if it's something that's you know not I'm really not jamming with or something that's

maybe not really aligned with my morals I just won't go out for it so that's me automatically

taking myself out of the running for it if I'm not even submitting for it. But I don't look at

myself as being typecast in a sense as much as I think I've established a niche for myself

It's sort of the same thing in the sense of one has, you know, sort of a negative view

and the other one is looking at it from the perspective of, gosh, I'm really good at something

thankfully, and I'm able to sort of consistently bring whatever this special flavor is to whatever

set or whatever project that is. And so being able to, of course, explore other genres, other

you know, mediums of creativity, but always having something that, you know, you're always able to

deliver, I think is really important because for me, it's been a real blessing for me when I go on

different sets. I'm able to do improv on some of my lines and really just have a lot of extra

creativity that maybe other folks aren't able to express quite yet. That sort of comes from being

able to operate in the same space more than once gosh you make that sound like so much fun

it is it is and i love your questions thank you denise thank you so much for the questions we're

gonna go to rose next because rose told me this morning i have i've researched i've got someone

i've got my questions i do i'm trying to find a way to sit my phone down here we go hi my friend

is in the back so hi friend in the back um that was my little Erin I had to run real quick I had

to go grab her um I actually wrote down a lot of questions but I will try to find my best ones um

I think I was really interested in the fact that you went through school so fast um I was curious

like what was that like is there things that you feel you missed out on like because you graduated

It's so, is everybody hearing me? Yep, we're hearing you. Oh no

No, we hear you. We can hear you. Hear you. You're good

I think she can hear us. Rose we go back to you What is happening Rose we go back to you I going to go to Z next Z do you have some questions Oh wait

Is Rose back? I think Rose is back. Oh. Rose is back

Rose, go. You just made it. Okay. Go for it, Rose. No

We lost you. Oh, God, no. Rose, we hear you, but we will go back

Z, what you got? Hi. Thanks. My name is Z. Nice to meet you, Trinity

So as I was reading your letter and kind of looking at your repertoire, it really sounds

like you're in this stage of life that is all about your freedom story, your liberation

And so I would love to know from you what beliefs or belief did you really have to unlearn

to get to the stage of happiness that you're at today? That's a great question

I don't think it was as much of me having to unlearn anything as much of it was me actually fully believing everything that God promised me and everything that he says about me

So for me, when you're in a world where everything is sort of measured by a narrow idea of beauty or success or happiness and, you know, everyone has their own idea

But for me, remembering that, OK, I am fearfully and wonderfully made according to God

So if that's what I'm going with, which is what I go with, that means that all these extra voices, these extra opinions don't matter

They shouldn't matter and they should not impact the way that I move in the way that I do my work

So fully believing and realizing that, OK, I have everything inside of me that I need to succeed

I don't need to feel like I need to scramble to, you know, become someone else or do something different to achieve the goals that God has given me

And my mom always tells me, she says, you know, your blessings aren't going to find you being someone else. They're looking for you. So if you're being someone else, you're going to miss it. So I always try to keep that top of mind when I go into different spaces and I show up. Okay, you know who you are. What is the best way for you to fully operate in yourself in every area that you go in

I love that so much, especially around authenticity. It's, you know, that reminder of we already have that key to the kingdom that is, you know, being given to us

We just have to use it to open the door. So thank you so much for sharing that. I do have another question

I would love to know what was the last thing that you had to say no to in order to say yes to your calling

oh my gosh that is a great question wow you guys are really making me think here

the last thing I had to say no to was probably a mutual dissolving of a friendship that I had

I realized that it wasn't really serving me in the best way it was sort of one-sided and I was

sort of doing a lot of the work there and so I realized in of course in retrospection that it

was draining so much of my energy. And I was not able to focus on the things that made me happy

and the purpose that God had given me. And so it felt it wasn't immediate, but it felt like

almost immediately after I sort of got rid of that toxic energy or whatever, all of these new ideas

started coming and all of these new strategies from God just kept coming. And I was able to get

so much closer to him. And I realized I was like, okay, this was really sort of taking me

off path. And I was a bit more, you know, invested in their life and what they had going on, then

putting as much energy into my own life, like I should have been. So thankfully, I, you know

sort of caught that early on, and I didn't do any irreversible damage there. But I think that was

the last thing that I can think of anyways. I love that. It's always your environment. And I feel

like sometimes it's the easiest thing to miss, but you know, the most important thing to pay

attention to. I do have one last question. It's more so legacy based as someone like yourself

who is, you know, femme presenting, really making a mark in the industry, being multi-talented

multifaceted and someone who is spiritual and leads with that openly. Like what is something

that you are wanting to leave behind in terms of your legacy once you're, you know, gone and

enjoying your afterlife? Like, what is it that you are wanting to leave behind

I think the very first thing that comes to mind is a strong legacy of faith. That's something that

my parents both passed down to me and I hope to sprinkle out into the world that if you really

believe in God and you believe in yourself and you trust him that when you put all that together

and you start taking those leaps of faith and making those big strides toward achieving whatever

your goal is, that you will start to see that success in that payout. But another legacy that

I want to have would be no limitations. I feel like even when we say no limits, I feel like

subconsciously we put limits on the no limits. So I just want to really encourage people to do

whatever makes you happy to the fullest capacity that you can. I was raised always being able to do

a million things. I was like, oh my gosh, I'm interested in this and this and okay, let's do

that too. So I want to be able to encourage people from like the start, the beginning of your life to

dream big and always dream in the sense of, okay, this might be the main thing, but what if I do this

as well or what if three or five things are the main thing so just encouraging folks to dream big

and realize that dreams don't just have to stay in your head they can come out into your reality

I love that yeah you don't have to keep it in uh in a container so thank you so much for answering

I really really appreciate you and your time thank you so much for your questions I'm gonna go to

Donna next what you got I love the hat by the way oh thank you I love my bucket hat so I can't help

myself but hi Trinity how are you I'm good how are you I'm good I'm Dana and I I have a question for

you because I was reading your letter and just hearing about what you were saying um in response

to Z's question um but you speak about wanting to create space for yourself and for others um and

in my head that kind of spoke to what Z was saying about freedom but also caring about the safety of

those around you especially in creative spaces. So yeah it just reminded me of Rupi Carr's poem

about not just wanting success for herself but wanting success so that others can benefit from

the milk and honey of it and so I just wanted to know if you had a mental checklist of ways to

create space for others in those creative spaces like things that you specifically do to help

yourself create space for others yeah I definitely think there's some things sort of on the grand

scale that will be unfolding soon that I sort of want to keep in the mystery there but in terms

in terms of like a practical sense I love to check in on my friends who are also in entertainment just a quick phone call to see okay you know where are you at mentally What up with you you know creatively

professionally, whatever. And I love to lend a helping hand when I can, if that's, you know

helping someone else with their project or just being a listening ear or a creative soundboard

We always, you know, sort of value the opinions of others and wish we had X, Y, and Z. If I was

younger, I wish I would have. So if I think of those things, and I have those moments, I love to

find like basic ways that I can sort of turn around right now in this young moment and pay it forward

So I always am looking for the next moment. It's not as like, okay, this is my grand plan. This is

exactly what I'm going to do. A lot of times I find it just comes out in authentic moments like

oh, I didn't know you were working on this. I actually happened to know somebody who does this

Let me connect you or little things like that. So it's pretty authentic, pretty spur of the moment

but it's definitely something that's on top of mind to actively do

Okay. Okay. Awesome. Thank you. And I do have another question. It's kind of like long-term

goal question, just because I'm in a space around different people who are actively retiring and

looking back on things that they've accomplished. And so as someone who has accomplished so much

already at such a young age, I want to know, at what age do you think that you can look back on

your life and be like, I've accomplished all the things that I want? What is that long-term

rest peace look like for you? That's a tough question because I'm kind of one of those people

where I'm always sort of moving the needle for myself. I'm always like, okay, great. I've

you know, accomplished whatever this is, whatever this is. I'm living in the moment, next big benchmark. Like I'm always just striving for whatever the next thing is. So I don't know

what that age will be when I'm like, okay, I've done all of the big stuff. I don't know because

I can't see my brain ever reaching a stopping point where I stop generating new things for me

to do. Because I, even for me on a small scale, when I'm reading books, like I'm a huge reader

I love reading. I'll read a book and I'm like, okay, great. I read 300 pages in a week. Let's

find a longer book to try to read in a shorter time. Like I'm always just moving the needle

always trying to keep, you know, achieving or, you know, as the folks say, leveling up or whatever

So I don't know, maybe, maybe in my 50, I don't know. I feel like the answer to that question is

I have no clue because I don't even think it's possible to reach like a psychological stopping

point thank you for the answers I appreciate it thank you that was a good question thank you so

much for the questions Dana um and then Rose is next and we got Rose back yes yes I am so so sorry

my wife I just decided it did not like me as soon as I got home all good it happens all the time

yeah um but I don't know how much y'all caught but when I was reading when I was reading through

your letter I was really interested in how fast you went through school so I was curious is there

things like in a normal amount of school time that you feel that you missed out and what would you

have wanted to do that you didn't get to do like I don't know like there's sports that I'm sure you

weren't involved in that you might have wanted to or like proms or dances things like that like that

you didn't get to participate in because you did it so quickly. I was just curious what was there and

what you missed out on that you wanted to do. So you guys are going to laugh at this multifaceted

answer. So the answer to your question is, there's one thing, but to the majority of things, no

that one thing is a food fight. I always wanted to do a food fight. It seems so much fun. Like

I've always just wanted to like safely in a condoned environment like hit somebody with a

piece of bread I don't know it just seems like but in terms of like big things like you know

prom dances all that sort of stuff thankfully I actually did not miss out on any of that

I was super sort of conscious of okay what's my high school hit list you know so to speak

all of my friends were older than me so I got to see like what are the to-dos what are the things

to do. And I really sort of set out with my parents, how are we going to get this done? Like

I don't want to have any looking back high school regrets. Thankfully, I don't. I had friends who

were in high school the same time as me. So I would go to their football games or whatever

sporting events they were having. So I got to participate that way. Disney had lots of Disney

balls, we would call them for all the kids on network at the time. And so they would sort of

Amazing. Our internal proms. But my church at the time was actually, I was a part of a youth group

and they were taking suggestions for events for the year. And I was like, hey guys

we should have a prom. So I convinced them to throw a prom and I was like, okay, internal goal

I want to be prom queen. How do we go about this? Hey guys, we should have prom king and queen

let's do some sort of voting system so we can have prom king and queen when i tell you i was

literally busting my butt for those votes thankfully did you get it i absolutely got it

thankfully god i was like how terrible would that have been for me to suggest something like that

want it you know suggested because i want it and not even get it that would have been that's fair

So I, you know, was really conscious of all those things because I didn't want to miss out on anything, but I didn't, thankfully

And I feel like my life was so busy and full in so many other areas that sort of equaled up to any small thing that, you know, I might have missed

But if anything, I kind of wanted more. If I look back on it, I wanted more of, you know, X, Y, and Z classes

I'm a huge history buff. So I wanted more history classes. I wanted more. So thankfully, my look back isn't I wish I had it. I wish it was more of it

Right. Yeah. I ask because I am. I was in homeschool for my high school years and I luckily got to go to prom with a friend

But there is things that I would have wanted to do. So I was curious if you had like the same kind of outlook on it

But that's really interesting. Another question that I had was now as an adult with all of the things that you

Oh my god! I still just can't even I tell my mom

I'm a junior adult I still have a teen in there I'm 19 now

I'm a junior adult You're very mature I 24 I 24 and I nowhere near as at the mature level you are so it really weird to think that you are 19 um but no I was curious like with everything that you do all of like the acting

and the music and like your fashion and all of the things um what is something or some things

that you use as like a mental release like um where you step back and it's something that you

like try to do on a regular and how do you incorporate that into your very busy schedule

I love this question. So my favorite thing is coloring. I'm a huge coloring book girl. Like

I like the elaborate small line, you know, big picture coloring books. And so I like to pick up

new coloring books every time I travel based on the city that I'm in, which is super cool

I still color with regular old colored pencils. So coloring is like my number one release activity

I really just shut my brain off and just focus on the mechanics of staying in the lines, which ladies and gentlemen, I still do not do 100%

Surprise, surprise. Love that. I love word search. Oh my gosh. I love word search. I have like tons of word search books

I have like a thousand count word search book that I'm still working through that I love

And I try to do everything off screens as much as possible because I'm on screen so much during the day

I try to take a minute and get back to paper. And then my other activities would be reading, which I mentioned earlier, and cooking

Sometimes, you know, I'm in the mood to cook, sometimes not, but I'm always in the mood to bake

So I like to say, you know, I'm everyone's favorite neighbor because I'm always baking something up and just giving it away

So those would probably be my regular run of show things. I don't mind staying up late if that means I get to do my relaxing task of the day

I will stay up till like 2 a.m. to get my relaxing in

Like I got to do it. If not, my sleep will be funky. So I always find time to get it in, even if it's like after hours

I love that. Thank you so much. We're going to go to Jake next. Jake, what you got

Thank you, Lauren. Thank you, Trinity. People say that they want to do what you do, but

to some people it's very far fetched. Is there a practical thing that you could tell people

to be able to get that much closer to accomplishing their dreams

That's actually a great question. One, surprisingly, I actually don't get a lot in terms of practicality

So I actually started in theater, which I think is a great way to start

It gives you some fundamental skills that when you transfer to set

you'll be so much more ahead of the game. When you're in theater, you have to know all your lines

If not, you have to improv real time to figure out how to fix it and still be with the flow of things

So I think theater is just such a great way to, you know, get engulfed into the world of acting and connect with your audience

If you can connect with them in real time, it's usually transferable to connecting with them via screen

And then I would also say to find acting classes. I'm not saying if you live somewhere else other than New York and L.A. to come out here

That's the only way to make it in, you know, acting or whatever

That's not the only way. Find local classes. So many folks do great classes on Zoom. So figure out a way that's, you know, most flexible, most applicable to you. And then after that, I would say find agents that you think are in your area or accessible. Take some nice headshots, which there are tons of examples online, and sort of take it from there

But I think the first building block would be theater or improv classes, because that right there will set you up for life

Very cool. Thank you very much. My last question for now, I

excuse me I believe that individuals will say well she accomplishes so much

she's in fashion she writes she writes books and also music but

when people think back at who Trinity really is what do you want

people to think about Oh my gosh, that's a great question. I would like people to think about me as a good person. I mean, you can take all the accomplishments away. If I was a mean person or folks thought I was a mean person, I would be like, gosh, that sucks

So I'd like folks to think about me as a good person, a kind friend, someone who thinks of others and is really committed to helping improve the lives of others through laughs and all the other mediums that I express in

Cool. Thank you very much. I'm sure this will not only help us, but everyone who gets to watch it. So thank you very much

Thank you. I love your questions. Those are really good. And then we're going to go to Lindsay next

Hi, Trinity. It's nice to meet you. And you have such a dynamic energy

So this has been a great interview. I've had a lot of fun listening to you

Thank you. My question is, how has your faith given an advantage or disadvantage in your celebrity

Oh, my gosh. I mean, it is the advantage. I mean, that right there is the lifeline

I mean, if you look at the surface of sort of the roller coaster that is being an entertainment

folks varying opinions, everybody's given their thoughts on this or that, or being able

to simply not compare yourself to other people and just have the strength to stay your own

course and carve out your own space. It's something that I would not have been able to accomplish, you know, without my faith, because I'm really able to go back to the core of who I am outside of everything that I do and realize, okay, I know that God has a plan for me

He had the plan for me before I was even birthed. So he knows what he's doing and being able to just relax into the trusting of God and

not trust in people or, you know, depend on people for your next big break or, you know

all the different things that people sort of lean into being in the entertainment industry

A lot of people, well, I mean, it is a people forward industry, but realizing that, okay

If my relationship is with the people creator, then I'm all good

That's so good. The other question I have is how do you balance being multi-talented like those multi-talent ventures that you have

It's interesting. I do find myself trying to do everything in one day, which I have found through trial and error is not the most effective way

So what I usually do is I'll try to do two things

or three things that I do in one day and then do the other things the other day, sort of alternate

it. But when it comes to, you know, writing music or writing on my sub stack or whatever that looks

like, those things are pretty moment generated, I would say, when it comes to a song or something

it will just come to me, okay, these are some words that keep floating around. All right

let me just sit down and let me do that. So there are a couple different things that I do that aren't

that are not really schedulable. I really just have to kind of roll with the flow

and sort of take it as it goes. But I do my best to not overwork myself

and try to not do everything in one day and just pace it out

That's a great answer. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thanks for the questions

And we have Kendra next. Hi. There you are. It's nice to meet you

Nice to meet you too. So a lot of my questions have been asked. So I actually only have one left

But I was going to ask who your biggest support system has been through everything that you've accomplished

My parents. I mean, there's no amount of words, I would say, to be able to sum up just how supportive they have been

I think the biggest example of that would be both of my parents just uprooting their life in Mississippi

and moving all the way to California for me to be able to follow my dream

And so they just believe in me and the talent that God has given me so much

And they're so supportive and they're so brilliant. And so they're really able to support me and, okay, always bring me back to base

If I start, you know, doing too much or feeling, okay, a little worn out or too tired

they're always there to be able to bring me back to base and hold me accountable to who I really am at my core

which I think is really important, especially being in LA. A lot of people love what you can do, what your talents are

And it's really nice to be able to have two people in my life that don't care about that

My dad is most happy when I clean my room. So being able to just go back to folks that don't care about all the extra

They just want me to be a good person and do the basics

And so for me, it's really, really comforting to be able to have that

and I know everyone doesn't have that so I'm really really fortunate and I try to tell them

as much as I can that's cool I love that thank you for the question and then to Brittany next

oh I'm you Brittany there she is okay how are you all I'm great how are you I'm good so um the

first thing I just want to bring up is I love the part in your letter where you say we all should

have the freedom to operate in multiple lanes. It's how we learn and grow. I just, I love that

because I have that same mindset and I have, um, I have little girls, I have a 16 year old

a 12 year old and a seven year old. So I tried to just like, tell them, you know, be you and do like

just live your life to the fullest and do what you want to do and try everything in the world

that you can. Um, do they listen to me? No, not always, but Hey, so anyways, I just wanted to

tell you I love love love love that part in your letter um and then some questions um so you said

also in your letter that it said I love me what has the journey to self-love looked like for you

I would say the journey has honestly been realizing okay you're able to look at other people and

you're able to say all of these things that you love about them what you love about their friendship

and the rest of it. Okay. That's great. What do you love about yourself being in your own company

And so being an only child, I get a lot of time that I'm able to spend with myself and I'm able

to do a lot of that, you know, sort of introspective thinking. And so honestly sitting with myself and

saying, okay, I love how I'm able to do that. Wow. You're so quick on your feet or, Oh, I love how

I'm able to just bounce back from different scenarios. Wow. You're so resilient. So I think

for me looking inward and finding all the things that I love about myself internally and really

realizing that. So to the point where it's like, okay, if you don't love me, if you don't like

you know, what I bring to the table, that's fine. You don't have to, I love myself enough for the

both of us. So I don't have to stay in this environment that isn't serving me well, because

at the end of the day, I'm good with myself. And, you know, we're able to really just say, okay

great. I'm good with myself. I can be by myself. I can entertain myself and do whatever I need to

And so it didn't come overnight, but I think I'm to the point now where I've kind of got a little

bit of, you know, water off the duck's back attitude about it. Yes. I love that. I'm that

same way too. Like, um, I know what I bring to the table and I'm not afraid to eat alone there

That's just where my brain goes. Yeah. Uh, so one more question, if I can just ask one more

um it's uh okay why would you tell someone or I'm sorry what would you tell someone who's afraid to

live unapologetically unapologetically I would say the only thing that can go wrong is you having

regrets if you don't do it I mean there's there's really no real long-term risks sure there might be

some people that you know make some faces or have some small comments but you'll be so fulfilled

internally, I found that, you know, when I started wearing what I wanted to wear, you know, doing my

makeup how I wanted to, all these different things, I was just so much more confident, so much more

happy with myself. So I would just encourage that person to do what makes you happy, because you're

the one that has to wake up in the morning and be you, you're the one that has to do this. So I feel

like it doesn't really make sense to live our life for someone else when they're not us. So I would

just encourage other folks out there to put themselves first. Absolutely. I agree. Thank you

Thank you. Stacey, you want to go next? Sure. Hi, Trinity. How are you

Everyone has asked you that already, but it's all right. Reading a letter was very inspiring. I like the fact that you talked about so many of your passions

and I love your video by the way thank you um you did talk about cyberbullying

um what was that like for you and how did you overcome that it was terrible oh my god

I mean it was such a unique experience I won't say I was sheltered as a child but I certainly

was not around folks who were bold enough to come at me with so much hate. I think when it first

when I first experienced I was maybe nine and 10. So I wasn't really aware that there were people

out there who were so like vindictive and so vengeful. I was aloof to the reality of the thing

So for me, I was on a live video. So it was a moment where I was like, what, what is happening

right now And so of course folks took the video started inboxing it to me posting it everywhere The video of me being live I mean it was a whole thing So I think for me being able to

overcome it was like, of course, I took some time off of the internet to ground myself and get back

to reality. But I think the most important thing for me to internalize was the fact that, okay

what you're saying is a literal lie I mean it's an actual lie like what are you even saying right

now so a lot of times when you look at these attacks and different things so much of it is

based in stupidity that after I got over like the raw emotion of it I was able to laugh because

if I'm someone that you don't like so much or that so this or so that why are you even here

Why are you even, you know, on my socials? Why are you even still following me or whatever

So something you're saying isn't true. So for me being able to, I'm, I'm pretty ytical person

which is kind of funny to also be such a creative. So that goes well together. So being able to sort

of just yze it and being like, okay, what you're saying isn't true. And even if it is

if I don't have a problem with it, I'm not going to change it because you do not get to dictate

what I do in my life. And so I really think that's something that I just want to encourage

other people when it comes to bullying. You know, who are we to adjust our life for a comment that

someone behind a fake profile, fake username, who wouldn't say that in real life, thought about

ourselves. So when I really sort of took the emotion and dealt with that, and I just really

looked at the situation, I was really able to sort of debunk it a little bit. What a positive and

amazing message that that sends in itself um you also said that and everybody has them

all the haters um the rejection and the downside of um show business i guess um

how do you get to your positive mind frame um is there a a go-to that you

go to? Honestly, I think a lot of, sometimes I just have to drag my psyche along. You know

sometimes I'm not, you know, volunteering to wake up and smell the roses. Sometimes I'm just like

we're not going to be sad today. We're not going to be like this today. Come on, let's do it anyway

So a lot of times I'm just sort of, you know, dragging myself along internally because I know

that I benefit in no way sort of staying down in those slumps. And so for me, I have, I am's and

positive messaging on my mirror, on my wall in my bathroom, and all around my room on my desk

like on my nightstand, like, I've got all these messages everywhere. So that way, when I am having

you know, sort of a down day or whatever, I'm even if I'm irritated when I do, which happens

I just sort of look on the wall and I'm just like, okay, I can do all things through Christ Jesus that strengthens me

It's the truth. Come on. Let's do it anyways. Well, you know, sometimes I just have to drag myself along with it

And so after I start sort of functioning in that positivity, functioning in a better reality of things, I'm able to actually sort of break out of the fog and be like, okay, yeah, you know what

You're right. You can do all things through Jesus. This is going to work out for your good

So sometimes I just kind of have to practice the positivity. Even if I don't really feel it, eventually I will feel it for real and it'll be authentic

Positive affirmations go a long way. I agree. And I encourage you to go out and throw bread at people

Thank you very much. I'm really hoping somebody will throw a food fight so I won't do it in real life and it

maybe not come soon. Thanks for the questions, Stacey. Janae is next. And then we'll go to

Brian and Janet. How you doing? I'm good. How are you? And it's been a pleasure sitting here

listening to you talk. The amount of wisdom and the clarity and the confidence in which you speak

with is, it's inspiring. It truly is. Everybody has asked so many great questions. So I only got

one and hopefully this wasn't already asked in another form but um you said that and I wanted

I think uh Dana brought this up about I want to be in a position where I can create space for

myself and others and not rely on fitting into other people's visions all of the time I wanted

to know what is the biggest difference in how you show up as an artist when you're putting your energy

into one of your creative visions versus someone else's? That is a great question

Wow. It is slightly different. It's a little different. I feel like for me, when it's something that I'm creating

I know exactly what I want to do. I know exactly what I want to convey

And I'm able to just streamline with that vision. If it looks like I'm writing a project

or I'm putting a project together to pitch it, whatever that looks like

I know exactly what I want to convey, what character that is, how I want to say it

So I'm able to kind of have less dialogue about it, less, you know, opinions around it, because I already know what I want to do internally

So I'm able to just bring that out with a lot of precision versus when I'm, you know, a part of a different project or it's not a project that I'm originating

I have to sort of sit and be a bit more creative in figuring out, okay, this is what I get from the project in my acting or whatever it is that I'm doing in my delivery

How can I find a way to amplify this message? So if that looks like, you know, wardrobe choice or hair choice, whatever that is, still sort of finding a way to weave me into it

Sometimes it takes a little bit more of sitting and thinking and be like, okay, if this were me, something that I was doing, how would I do it? And so finding ways to sort of weave that in there can be a little tricky, but so far so good. But I definitely think the biggest thing would be just sort of quick precision, just pulling something right out of my head versus finding a way to sort of sit and think and sort of strategize an effective way in someone else's project

I like that I like that I got one more thing for you because shout out to your mother and your

father oh yeah the environment that they have for you for you to be able to show up and be whoever

it is that you want to be and so I'm curious as what was what was the moment or what was the thing

where they were like oh yeah man we got to pack up the fan we got to go to California we got to

take Trinity out there so she could pursue her dreams what was that thing that they were like oh

it? So I think the sort of oh yeah moment was when I went on stage so my mom was a playwright she was

uh posting a play a Christmas play and I I was three at the time and so she wrote a small role

for me at the end of the play I couldn tell you what the line it was a line right you would think my mother is writing a play for me that she would give me more lines but you know she was breaking me into show business from the start I guess But I couldn remember the line But I went on there and I just remember everyone just laughing and they were just having such a good time

And so that was sort of my first stage moment. And I really think that sort of show my parents that this was like legit

And another sort of secondary moment would be in Mississippi. There was like an agent showcase

And so there were lots of different talent agents from LA and New York. And I went up and I did a monologue and all of these agents wanted to sign me

And they were like, she has it. She has the it factor. They were like, she's got to be on stage

She's got to be on TV. You guys have got to, you know, really nurture this gift

So I would say that would be the, the it probably moment

I would say for them, if I could imagine. Yeah, that's awesome

I love that for you. That's awesome. Thank you. Thank you so much. Absolutely

Thank you so much for the questions today. And then we got Brian and Janet. What you got, Brian

Hello, ladies and everyone. Miss Stokes. First of all, I want to say you're going to tell me that you didn't have any kind of food fight up in Emerson

No, not while I was there. I don't know if they had some when I went home, but I didn't have one, sadly

anyone to that yeah yeah you missed out a good time but let me um let me ask you these questions

um first knowing the knowing what we see in as far as media is concerned with with um some of

the struggles of of um child actors and some of the things they've gone through and obviously your

parents has a lot to do with keeping you grounded but were you able to help those that you saw that

were kind of that probably needed needed a need another hand needed some kind of some kind of um

um hug and say that everything will be okay yes were you able to provide that thankfully i of

course as you know a sort of child actor sort of running a bit of a bunch there's always a

i call them classes in a sense we're kind of classes in that way that there's just groups of

us on at different times. But there's definitely been folks that I've run into and I'm just like

okay, hey, there's either a better way to go about this, or maybe we, you know, should try therapy or

whatever that solution is. I think the biggest thing that I would say to child actors that I've

run into or other folks that I might see now is that there's more than one way to solve your

problem. I think that's one thing that you sort of see with the older actors now who started on

child networks is, okay, they went about it their way. I don't want to go about it that way

So let's look and see what is the best way for us to come out with our new expression as adults

and our new messaging that we want to present to our audiences and things of that nature

So just reminding everyone that there's more than one effective way to go about solving our problems

I love that. And what was who were big influences for you now outside of your parents as far as other actors is concerned, especially doing the shows that you've done

I would say Raven Simone was my biggest influence. She watching her on That's So Raven is actually what really sort of sparked that vision of me being an actor

So the way that she was able to go on screen and just punch lines and really just make people laugh for doing like the silliest of things really, really inspired me

And so being able to work alongside her on Casey Undercover was such like a special moment sort of for her being able to see the full circle of it all

She was the inspiration. And now here we are together. So it was honestly a really special day for me

What was the biggest advice that she gave you? to keep going that was her biggest advice and she was really pleased with how my career was

going so far and she thought I was funny so for me gold stars thank you so much miss though

thank you questions brian and then last but not least I wanted to make sure everyone got to ask

uh Janet what's she got hi hi Trinity how are you I'm good and I appreciate you being patient

for these questions. I don't know. It's okay. I was just listening like, nobody better ask my questions

but you know, some people already did. Brian kind of asked one of my questions

So first, I just want to say you look amazing. Your skin is glowing

You look beautiful. You're just, you're smiling. You're so bubbly. So I do love your spirit

I just want to say that. Thank you. And your confidence level

I feel like it's 11 because you're just so like, you're just very like happy

and I love it. So after dealing with the keyboard thugs, I would say

Oh my gosh, that's a new one. Oh my gosh, I love that keyboard

How are you feeling emotionally and mentally? I think for me, sort of going through the brunt of it

at such a young age, at this point, I've been on the internet for like 10 or 11 years

Nothing really phases me at this point. People have said all types of comments from North to South

Nothing really gets me sort of out of my seat at this point

So now if I see something, I will actually send it to my family and I'll be like, guys

do you believe they said this? This is hilarious. So nothing really, really ruffles me too much these days

All right. So good. You just dusted off your shoulders. Okay. Brian asked a similar question I was going to ask you

You know, you're young and successful as a child actor. Like it seems like your parents are highly involved in your life, which is a bonus

so what would you how do they how do you and your parents keep your head above water to keep you

spiritually lifted um all the time like what what like how did how do you guys handle that

they keep me super grounded like after this I need to go and wash dishes so you know that's right

wash the dishes as you go in context like okay I'm speaking here I'm speaking at a conference

But it's all like in context, you know, of me being a child to my parents

So everything is very sort of normal around here. I was. OK, good

Entertaining has been my norm since I was three. So everything, you know, run of the mill around here, which I think is is great

So my parents never really allow me and nor do I naturally just get really caught up in the magnitude of whatever is happening in my life

I enjoy every experience and everything is a privilege to me, but I do my very best not to think about it too much and get too caught up in it

I just enjoy the wave, enjoy the ride and just take it as it comes

but yeah, they're really good almost too good about keeping me grounded, but hey, it worked

so far so good, no complaints Well, your parents did an amazing job, so tell them

I said that Also, you were in Mixish, right? That was my son

we loved that show, we loved your character in there so now that I looking and talking to you do you feel like that character is relatable to you in real life Totally Okay I do it I would say I have a bit more poise in my work choice than Tamika probably had

You know, you won't catch me popping off on anybody or anything like that. Well, she was hilarious

She was hilarious. You know, a bit more selective, but I would like to think that I'm super funny on a regular basis

but being on Mixed-ish was so fun for me because that was the first time I was on a show

with kids my age. So it was super fun for us to sort of be together

and be on set and be in school scenes together. It was sort of a college, pre-college school-esque vibe on set

So it was certainly a good time. It was, it looked really good. Now you were in KC on the cover at eight, right

Yeah. And I read that you said you just went in, read your lines and you were like ready to go

I am 49 and my and when I do poetry as everyone knows I can't I can't memorize everything like I

gotta have the phone and you know so how do you even memorize like all your and you were eight

I'm I'm gonna be 50 and I'm just like what did I write so like how do you how do you even do that

I mean it's a mix of things I would say I have a semi-photographic memory uh only works for

scripts. I cannot transfer it to anything, but it works very, very well for scripts. So if I

you know, read it, practice it and rehearse it out loud for a little bit of time, usually I'm

pretty good. I like to think it's a special gift from God because my photogenic, it doesn't work

on anything. It doesn't work on math, directions, recipe, it don't work on anything. So yes

on scripts, but a mix of rehearsal. I try to do pretty good with rehearsing with my mom before

I go on set just to make things go smoother and help everything sort of keep going along. But I

do a good bit of rehearsing at home. So that way, when I get on set, everything is as smooth as

possible. Oh, good. I love that. Now the food fight thing. I'm just gonna, I want to make sure

we finish on time because we only got five minutes left. And I want to ask a question to all of you

guys. So after I talked to Trinity, I was like, so inspired. I was ready to conquer the world

She empowered me so much. And obviously she's decades younger than me, but your spirit

your energy is incredible. And I just wanted to know if anyone wanted to share how Trinity, her story, her letter, her conversation tonight, how she has inspired you

made you feel, made you think in context of your own life. If anybody wants to share up

Denise got it. Praise your hand. What's your got? Just getting all of the insight that you gave today

I have kids and I was a theater kid growing up. They're theater kids now

So I also lost my memory a while back. So getting into it has been very healing

Seeing you and how you thrive in it and how you're fearless in it has definitely helped me get away

from all the fear that I had with it. And it's given me a lot of confidence

to be able to pursue something like that with my kids because they say that I already give them a lot of insight when I do remember things

But as a mom, I think I always just feel like I could do a whole lot better

And just seeing how successful you are and that you have your family as your support system right behind you

enjoying it every step of the way, you are my new life goal. I want to do that with them. And so thank you for sharing that

I think you just gave me that last push that I needed to realize we can make this happen

you know despite whatever circumstances we can make it happen so thank you for that oh my gosh

I love that too and then Rose wants to share something as well I um I read through your

entire letter and I even went back to a couple of your shows I watched a few of those just to get

my mind refreshed on how you were as a actress and when you were younger I even went through and

listen to your music. It's really inspiring to watch you conquer all the things that you do

because I personally, I am a fresh new mom. I'm four months postpartum right now. And it's really

inspiring to see somebody do all those things because I am right now struggling to try to

figure out how to do multiple things, how to juggle like being a mom, being the person in the house

that controls all the stuff and at the same time find time for myself and it's really inspiring to

watch somebody do all that you do and to know like I am able to do that if I really try

thank you so much and just a little quick line there you know moms are moms for the first time

too you know you guys don't have some second or third life where you guys have been parents before

So I always just encourage you guys to have a little grace for yourselves too

I am trying my absolute hardest. Love that. Janae, you had a, you wanted to share as well

Yes. I just want to say Trinity, you are such a light, you know

And when I tell you, I can not only see, but just hear the God in you

It is, I don't really know how to put it into words, but girl, you doing it

You hurt. You hurt. And I just, I know you feel it because you exude that, but it ain't, I still want to

give you your flowers and affirm what you already know about yourself and just let you

know I'm proud of what you're doing. I'm proud of you. Thank you so much

I really appreciate it. That means a lot to me. I love that

and then Janet has a request you want to share your request Janet

so the food fight um I never had a food fight either my friends and I never had one

so we went to my girlfriend's house this was about we were probably 45 all of us and she got

a backyard and we put some old clothes on and we just put a bunch of food out there and we had a

food fight so if you have a backyard you can have a food fight now if you want kind of like

that is such a great idea I've literally never thought of that before yeah I'm going to bring

that to my family yeah who bites because I want to throw some bread y'all yeah we had we had bread

you know we not too messy like sauce or anything yeah fries we had simple things and neither of us

got into food fights and then I was like we had to sleep over in pajamas

and I said alright guys and I didn't put that on invitation

I said so when we got there I was like we were having a food fight so it was

amazing and it was a wash and dry in the house so we all threw our clothes in the machine

and that was it I love that I'm going to try to make

that happen seriously thank you for that idea and Jake says he loves your

authenticity I'm going to ask you one more question because I know you have to go. But Jake wanted me to ask, is there one question you wish we asked tonight

And what would it be? And while you answer that, I'm going to put all your contact info and your new song in the chat box for everyone

to click on, follow, read, all of the things. I, that's a great question

Is there one question? I don't think, I don't know. I feel like you guys asked all of the important good stuff

but I'm very glad that you guys were really able to sort of learn a little bit more about me

and that I was able to answer everybody's questions and comments and thoughts about all the things that I do

So I'm really glad that I was able to sort of make that happen. And it was so great to connect with all of you guys

I think Lauren put all of the things in the chat. So that is sort of where I am in the cyberspace

So I'd love to connect with all of you guys on all of the various platforms that I have

there too. And we will send that. We do a post-show email. So we'll send everyone all these links in the post-show email too

So it's her sub stack, her TikTok, her new single, her sub, I said sub text

Okay Sub stack We have twice I actually think I have two things twice I sorry but I will send I will send that And if Trinity there anything else you want me to send in the post show email let me know and I will get it in there But you are as Janae said a light You have

have God speaking through you or within you. You are just an incredible human. And

with all your accomplishments, with all of the things that you've done and the confidence you

have just remained so kind. And I think that is such a testament to who you are as a person

And we are really, really lucky that you took an hour of your day to talk to us and answer all of

our questions about your life, about your wisdom. And you clearly spoke from the heart with kindness

And I think we're all grateful for that. Thank you guys so much. I really appreciate everyone

being here and asking some really great questions. Thank you, everyone. And I will

send you an email about more information about Roku and everything else. So thank you all for

coming. And I hope you guys had fun. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Thank you