Influencer Joanna Younes On Moving To LA, Representation, And “Night Hunter”

This rising influencer is becoming a person to know!

This triple-threat is quickly making a name for herself in LA. In addition to her incredible collaborations with brands like Lulus, Joanna is making waves in the industry after her role in the feature film “Night Hunter”.

We had the absolute honor of talking with Joanna about winning a ‘Best Actress Award’, favorite red carpet experience so far, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to move to LA to pursue your goals?

J: “I think I’ve always sort of known that I wanted to be in LA for acting at some point in my life, but I never really started mapping out the possibility of that until I was around 15 or 16. That was around the time when I really wanted to build a concrete plan for myself, and I started exploring the different ways of how I can pursue my acting career beyond the Middle East. My goals have always been a priority for me, they’re my passion and they’re the reason behind my drive, so I knew that I wanted to make it happen no matter what it took.”

You recently starred in “Night Hunter”. What was that experience like for you?

J: “It was definitely a wild ride to say the least. It was my first feature film and I got to play a leading role, which I was super excited to tackle. We filmed for about a year, and at first it was just a fun passion project that we were all collaborating on together. We put our all into it, because the topics that were covered were pretty sensitive and serious issues. We wanted to highlight the main message behind the story, so the entire cast and crew really put in the work to make that happen. While it was fun, I felt a little overwhelmed with the character I had to play. Since it was my first lead in a feature film, I of course wanted to deliver in the best way I could. But it was also a little intimidating due to the nature of the character I had to play. I got to play Sylvia Steel, a young girl dealing with substance abuse issues, as well as mental health struggles. I wanted to handle her character with care and I wanted to have a deeper understanding of where she was coming from and what led her to be put in some circumstances. It was really eye-opening, and it helped me grow, both as an actress and as a person. It’s important to not judge anyone’s character. I’m really glad with how it all turned out, and the best part was that we got to premiere and screen our film at a movie theater in San Diego. We sold out on all three nights, and the positive response was overwhelming. We didn’t expect a passion project to come out as successful as it did, so I’m grateful that I got to be a part of that. It was also a nice way for me to wrap up my senior year in college right before I left San Diego and headed to LA.”

What was your reaction to receiving a Best Actress Award?

J: “I remember that moment like it was yesterday – I was in so much shock and disbelief. I literally did not know how to react, I wanted to cry. It was my first semester in college, and I was trying to adjust to life in the United States. I was trying to juggle so many things at once; college, making friends, being on film sets, and taking acting classes at studios, all while I was dealing with homesickness. I was just trying to do everything I could to make sure I was on the right track, even if it meant burning myself to the ground sometimes. The night I won that award, I was in the library studying for a midterm I had the next day, so I couldn’t make it to the film festival. I was bummed but I had no choice, I wanted to do well in school. It would have also been my first time going to a film festival, so I don’t think I actually comprehended what I was missing out on. I just thought that there would be more opportunities, and I didn’t think much of it at the time. Next thing I knew, I get a text from one of the actresses that was in the film with me saying I had won. I was so confused, I texted saying: What do you mean won what? After she had explained, I was completely freaking out. I was so excited I couldn’t even focus on studying anymore. I of course called my mom that same minute and told her. She was so happy for me that I was able to accomplish that within a few months of moving here. It felt validating, and I felt like it was a sign of confirmation that I was on the right track. I look back at that moment often and appreciate how far I’ve come. Winning that award is definitely a highlight for me still.””

If you could star in a project with any actress, who would it be and why?

J: “Meryl Streep! She’s an icon. It would be such an honor to learn from her and grow. I respect and admire her so much.”

You have attended several red carpets and premieres already. What has been your favorite Hollywood experience so far?

J: “My favorite would probably have to be going to a red carpet event organized by the Asian World Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatres, in honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month! It was organized so beautifully, and I had the opportunity to meet some incredible creatives. It’s nice to get to meet new people that are passionate about similar things. I always have a good time attending Asian World Film Festival’s events – they’re so welcoming and the films they screen are incredible.”

How important would you say Arabian representation is in the entertainment industry?

J: “It’s not only important but necessary. There’s not enough of it, honestly. I’m trying to think of prominent Arab actors in the industry, or Arab actors that have been cast as leads in commercially successful projects, but there aren’t many that come to mind. I’d love to not only be an example of Arab representation, but help initiate and lead conversations on why they’re so important. I think it’s so amazing to be able to watch something and relate to it completely. I honestly never had that experience until I watched a show called Ramy on Hulu. It was only until then that I realized how different it feels to watch something that felt familiar or nostalgic. I genuinely had no idea what it felt like to relate to a show on such a personal level until Ramy. I’m so appreciative of that show because of the representation and the story-telling. Not only is it humorous, but it was so real. That show did not shy away from any topics regarding Middle Eastern culture that others would find odd or strange and I love that.”

What advice can you give to aspiring actresses of color who are nervous?

J: “I would tell them to feel the fear and do it anyway! Being nervous is a good thing – it means you care enough. Women of color, actresses of color, we need you, we need your talent! Be okay with not hiding yourself, be okay with not being the underdog. You have so much to offer – the world wants to hear your story and see your journey. Of course it’s going to be hard, but your journey will inspire the people around you. You’ll be the reason why the industry will slowly but surely grow in terms of diversity. One of my favorite quotes is: “You have been assigned this mountain to show others it can be moved.” It keeps me going because it reminds me that even if I am facing something that seems hard to power through, at least I’ll get the chance to say that I powered through it when I do. You’ll be amazed at what you are capable of – I believe in you!”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

J: “You can follow my Instagram: @joannayounessss and my Tik Tok: @ayooitsjoo. Thanks for the support!”

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.