Check out our interview with former football player, model, actor & entrepreneur Jamaal Lewis.
Jamaal has landed several principal roles in national commercials such as Smirnoff, T-Mobile, IBM, Truist, and Microsoft. He has recently signed with new management to take his career to the next level and is already seeing success as he has booked huge roles in the feature films including “Barbie.”
Follow Jamaal @officialjamaallewis
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Goofy, Tall, positive.
Who has made the biggest impact on your life so far, and why?
God. He never fails or lets me down.
How and when did you start into modeling?
I actually started modeling 13 years ago when my football career was over. It was something that I ever had my sights on doing but a close friend of mine suggested it and I ran with it.
What is fun and rewarding about modeling and acting?And what is not?
It’s always something new I love the fact that one day you can be a detective the next day you could be modeling for a high fashion clothing line and the next day promoting I finish line.
You have worked with well-known international brands. Please tell us about it.
For me honestly no brand is bigger than the other. I approach each gig with gratitude and spirit of thankfulness that I get to be the face of that brand. Which is pretty amazing when you think about it.
Which magazine or project is still on your bucket list?
My two overall goals was one to be on a billboard in Times Square and the other to be in GQ magazine. Just recently I accomplished the one of being on a billboard in Times Square so now I have my sites set on GQ.
What did you learn from your biggest failure?
It’s only temporary and when you learn to take the lesson out of it instead of playing a victim it only makes you stronger
The most important thing when you are shooting is?
To maintain a level of professionalism and always be yourself because ultimately that’s what makes the client call you back.
What’s your advice for the young models and influencers?
Consistency in this game is key a lot of people see the accomplishments of people that have been in the industry for 10 years and think that that kind of success happens overnight. You’re gonna get told no a lot because believe it or not you are not the look that every single brand is going for and sometimes when starting off that’s a hard pill to swallow. You really have to find your niche and understand the importance of branding yourself however you wanna book.
What mindsets helped making you so successful and popular?
I think that it was my upbringing in the sports world because it creates a good sense of responsibility and attentiveness to be on time. As well as consistency day in and day out setting goals and achieving them.
When you started your Social Media accounts, did you expected such a success?
Honestly over the years I’ve shifted the way that I looked at social media because when I first started it was strictly personal so people could see how I was living and have a little window into my life where is now it’s almost nothing personal and only business. I think when I really focused on it and decided to grow it and brand myself The only option was to succeed.
As a popular model you are followed by so many people. How do you feel about that pressure of doing always the right thing, and encourage people to follow their dreams?
Being completely transparent social media is a perception. People show you what they want you to see which is a beautiful thing but can also create a false sense of reality to fans. I myself am human and just like everybody else we go through trials and tribulations. I think the beautiful thing about it is being completely transparent and being able to share it with your audience to connect more and inspire them.
I bet you get millions of it, but what are the best and worst Instagram DM pickup lines you received so far?
To be completely honest I don’t get a lot of crazy DM’s because of the way that I bring myself and I’m very outspoken about my faith in God Which illuminates a lot of the nonsense that I would get otherwise on a daily basis. But if I had to narrow it down to one pick up line which wasn’t really a pick up line it was kind of a green light toy that I looked at it was my girlfriend asked me what nationality I was the second sentence in to our Diem exchange. Which for me was all I needed to hear.
What would say are the greatest lessons you learned so far?
I’ve lost a lot in my life due to personal decisions that’s all the part of growing up and the most important thing that I’ve learned is that no matter what happens life goes on and you can always reset and level up even higher.
Now tell us about acting and what kind of roles do you like or would like to play and why?
My ultimate goal is I want to play an action hero. I think that that’s where I’m really going to come into my own and make a huge name for myself and with that being said I already have the road booked I’m just waiting for Production to give us all the start date and then it’s game on!
Tell us about your work in “Barbie?”
Barbie is going to be hilarious I can’t say too much but you will see me on the big screen in a scene with Will Ferrell. The man is absolutely brilliant at what he does and it was a pleasure getting to work with him.
How challenging was the casting for this project?
It was actually very simple process because I already fit the mold of what they were looking for so I just had to deliver my lines
What’s next for Jamaal Lewis in 2023?
Bigger roles and bigger publications. In this industry it’s hard to determine where exactly your career is going to go because you can’t control the castings but as long as you’re staying booked and blessed there’s no where to go but up.
Please describe a typical day for you. What is your daily routine like?
My life is very simple if I’m not working I’m either at home or in the gym.
Do you miss playing football?
I’m at a point now in my life where I do have flashbacks of the glory days and reminisce and just I’m truly thankful that I even got the opportunity to play and actually thankful that I’m done because my body really took a beating in those days
If you are a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
Transparent with nothing to hide
Now talking about Instagram, can you share some tips for keeping your account interesting?
I think overall it’s just being yourself and creating really good content that’s easy on the eye.
What is your own definition of happiness?
Where I’m at right now in my life. I have a healthy career, I have a healthy relationship, I have a healthy family.
What is you favorite song to belt out in the car/for karaoke?
Anything 2Pac I’m gonna make a scene
Name one your strengths?
Patients and love
Idea of a perfect Sunday?
I’m supposed to be resting but the way I’m built I’m in the gym
What do you think of Social Media?
It’s an amazing platform to make money if you utilize it right
Where we can follow you?
Quote:Stay Blessed
Song:2Pac so many tears
Movie: Elf
Travel Destination:Bali
Food: EVERYTHING
Photos
Beach: Epic Destinations
