How I Found a Way to Pursue My Acting Dreams as a Single Mom

My love for acting began in elementary school when a free program brought Gilbert & Sullivan operettas to NYC public schools. I still remember stepping on stage for the first time, performing in front of a packed auditorium, and hearing the applause that turned into a standing ovation. That was it for me—I caught the acting bug. From then on, I was hooked! I performed in every play, recital, or talent show I could from elementary school through junior high and high school, whether it was singing, acting, or dancing. Being on stage felt like home.

By the time I graduated high school, I started modeling, singing, and working gigs in the fashion industry. During this period, I met Dominican American director and producer, Ulysses Terrero, who was a casting director for his brother Jesse Terrero at the time. They casted me in a few music videos when I was around 19 or 20. Little did I know that our paths would cross again many years later under completely different circumstances. My passion for performing was still alive at the time, but life took me in another direction.

My love for dance came from my Colombian roots. Growing up, I spent countless nights on the dance floor at family parties, dancing to Joe Arroyo's "No Le Pega a La Negra" before I was old enough to remember. Dance was an integral part of our culture and our gatherings—a way of celebrating life and staying connected to our roots. It was second nature to me and something I've carried with me throughout my life.

But life wasn't easy. My family and I came to the US as immigrants, and we didn't have much. I remember living in a tiny apartment, so many of us sharing everything we had. Those early struggles taught me resilience and the value of hard work. They also made it clear that chasing my dreams would be anything but straightforward.

Then, life shifted. I became a young mom, and with that came a whole new set of responsibilities. I had to put aside modeling, music, or any creative endeavors. I started working in hospitality, juggling long hours while trying to navigate motherhood. There were moments when I worked double shifts almost every day. The cultural pressures to prioritize providing for my children above all else, including my dreams, were immense. I was told repeatedly that my life had to be about my children now, that there was no space for anything else. Mothers are supposed to be selfless and put everyone else's best interest first. Anything else was frivolous and irresponsible. And while I loved being a mother so very much, it was suffocating to feel like my needs and dreams no longer mattered. As Latinas, we are raised to cook, clean, and care for everyone but ourselves.

During those years, I kept my connection to the arts alive in small ways. I would dance in the living room with my daughters or sing along to our favorite songs. But the fire inside me never fully went out. I just didn't know how to reignite it. Then, the pandemic hit, and like many others, I found myself at a crossroads. I lost my job, and as the sole provider for my household, fear set in. How was I going to feed my family? How was I going to keep us afloat? It was a time of anxiety and uncertainty, but it also gave me something I hadn't had in years: stillness. With no noise or distractions, I began to hear my inner voice again—the one I had silenced for so long to meet others' expectations.

That voice led me back to my dreams. During the lockdown (while fighting not to slip into a deep depression), I started thinking seriously about pursuing acting again. Then, in 2021, as the world slowly began to open up, I ran into Ulysses Terrero at the Verzuz battle of Jadakiss and Dipset at Madison Square Garden. I hadn't seen him in years, but something told me to share what was on my heart. I told him I'd been thinking about getting back into acting, and he informed me that he was teaching a remote acting class that was going to begin that upcoming Monday. I paused; it instantly felt like one of those synchronicities—some might call it a coincidence, but I don't believe in those. It was another nudge from the universe, telling me I was on the right path. I followed up and, days later, was on the zoom.

That class was the first step back into the industry for me. From there, I started networking, reconnecting with people, and auditioning again. I took more acting classes, gained more experience on various sets, and got my SAG card in one year! From the time I started full-time acting to becoming SAG-eligible in one year, it just confirmed to me that I was walking in my purpose. I've worked on the sets of "Power: Ghost," "Wu-Tang: An American Saga," "Harlem," "Gossip Girl," "And Just Like That," "Anora," "Babygirl," and "Raising Kanan," just to name a few. I danced salsa in Spike Lee's unreleased movie. I've even worked on a commercial with Timothée Chalamet, directed by Martin Scorsese. I'm still in complete shock even as I write this. I worked with incredible acting coaches like Tracey Moore and appeared on "Inside the Black Box" with Joe Morton. Being on that show was like a master class in acting, surrounded by top Black and Brown actors, casting directors, and industry professionals. I was learning the skills and techniques I needed, but staying motivated was up to me. I had to wake up every day and put in the work, all while being a present mom to my children.

Some days were easier than others. There were moments of mom guilt when I felt like I was stretching myself too thin—rushing from auditions to soccer practices, remembering pajama day at school, or scrambling to pick them up on half-days. Not having a stable paycheck and supporting a family wasn't easy either. But I had no choice—I had to keep us afloat at all costs. I couldn't turn down any job I booked and found a way to make that money stretch. Moms are superheroes at budgeting. My schedule isn't a typical one, and some days, I get no sleep running from acting classes to auditions, sets, and school pickups. Then I have to go home and study more scripts. But I also knew I was setting an example for my young, impressionable girls. They needed to see a mother who didn't stop reaching for new heights just because she was a single mom. They needed to witness me taking my power back and taking control of my life. They needed to see that pursuing your passions while caring for your family is possible.

Opportunities started to come my way as I continued to show up, put in the work, and get referred from casting offices. Booking a Super Bowl commercial in 2023 was one of my most surreal moments. During the Zoom audition, they asked me what I do for fun when I'm not acting. I told them about taking my daughters to the roof of our building with a Bluetooth speaker, playing salsa music, and teaching them simple choreography. It was my way of instilling my Colombian culture into them while having fun. Cricket Wireless ended up incorporating that exact scene into the treatment for the commercial. When I got the call that we booked it, I couldn't contain my joy. It felt like a full-circle moment, a confirmation that I was on the right path. I celebrated watching it with my friends at a Super Bowl 2024 party, and Cricket Wireless used that footage of us celebrating to make a video for their social media.

When I booked the commercial in 2023, I wasn't aware it would air during the Super Bowl in 2024, and that was probably for the best. I can't imagine the pressure I would have felt during that audition had I known. But I got the call months later that it would air in spanish during the Super Bowl and could not believe where my leap of faith had brought me! The commercial aired during the Super Bowl, and I was proud to represent an Afro-Latina family. It wasn't the typical light-skinned, novela-looking Latinas we often see in the media. It was a real Latine family with all our hues, curly textures, and traditions. Representation matters, and being a part of that moment meant everything to me.

Looking back, I see how every step of the journey has prepared me for this moment. From performing in elementary school plays to dancing at family parties to facing the challenges of single motherhood, every experience has shaped me into the person I am today. I'm still navigating this path, but I know I'm meant to be here. I'm an artist, a creative, and I'm doing this for myself and my children. They're watching me, and I want them to see a mother who didn't let fear, lack, or societal expectations stop her from chasing her dreams.

If there's one message I want other Latina moms to take away from my story—or all moms for that matter—it's this: don't let anyone dim your light. It's never too late. You don't have to come from privilege, have connections, or get permission from anyone to pursue your goals. Your dreams might seem outrageous or scary to the people around you, but they're yours for a reason. Take the leap of faith, put in the work, and trust that God will guide you through. The road won't be easy, but it will be worth it. Dreams save us, lift us, and transform us. Don't let them die with you—no matter your age, because when you show up for your dreams, the universe will show up for you, too.

Angie Palacios is is an actress, model, writer, and dancer from Barranquilla, Colombia, based in NYC. She has appeared in numerous commercials, movies, and TV shows, including "Saturday Night Live." Angie draws on her journey as an afroLatina artist and cultural advocate to craft essays that resonate with authenticity, depth, and humor.