Meet Maya!!!

A woman with long dark hair looking upwards, wearing a cream-colored top and a beige fur coat, standing against a gray background with her shadow visible on the wall.

A young woman with dark hair slicked back, wearing a black strapless top with sheer black lace, looks over her shoulder at the camera against a plain, light-colored background.

A young woman with dark hair styled in a bun, posing against a neutral background. She is wearing a black halter top with ruffled details, with her back partially turned to the camera and her gaze directed slightly over her shoulder.

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a yellow dress with cut-out detail, faces sideways with her face turned to the left and looks over her shoulder. She has a butterfly tattoo on her side and is positioned against a plain gray background.

A woman with dark brown, wavy hair looking over her shoulder, wearing a shimmery, pink dress with spaghetti straps against a plain gray background.

My mom jokes that I was born ready to perform. I was put into dance classes shortly after I learned to walk. My grandma had a little stage in her house, and every visit, I would play American Idol; I’d step on that stage and sing my little heart out. I took any opportunity to perform. However, as I grew, my love for performing shifted to sports. I discovered soccer, and I decided, “Ok, I will compete with the U.S. women’s team in the World Cup.” That didn’t last because every time I didn't have the ball, I would do cartwheels on the field or spin around. I knew by 8 that my heart was with performing. I remember telling everyone I was going to go to New York University or Juilliard, and eventually, I made little 8-year-old Maya’s dream come true. I am now attending New York University, where I am completing my BFA in Drama. I moved to the Big Apple and got out of the California Bay Area. Outside of the stage, I love to explore. I love to travel and to see exotic animals. If I were not pursuing the arts, you would find me on a small tropical island, working at an animal sanctuary. I grew up with two dogs, two cats, a fish, and a lizard, so I am definitely an animal lover. However, as of now, I intend to stay in New York and perform, but who knows, maybe one day, when I retire, you will find me on that island with animals.