THE JOURNEY OF CHELSKO MALIBU
1. Tell us about your success journey :
I’m still on it and I’m redefining my definition of success every day. I grew up in Malibu and was surrounded by a lot of perceived “success.” Constantly running into celebrities and passing through movie sets when I went for my morning run made success feel very close and yet very far away.
I went to school for theatre, and when I came back, I got an agent and dove right into the acting game. I was taking classes with the top acting coaches, doing any project I could get my hands on, working for free, doing background work, you name it, I was there. But none of the agents or coaches helped me get work, it was the hours I spent reaching out to casting agents on my own account that eventually got me into the music industry and landed me on MTV.
Once my MTV show released, I had a few solid songs and music videos, and MTV helped push my music. Later on I was on Disney (a job I also got through a friend, not an agent) and a few other small gigs. From there it has really been about prioritizing my time and energy. I used to be a “yes man,” I would say yes to every studio opportunity, every job, every side gig whether it was acting, cleaning houses, nannying, or getting paid to post on my instagram, I did it all. Eventually I realized the value of not spreading yourself too thin. In doing everything, I was excelling at nothing. I honed in and re-focused on my craft. This is something I am still learning daily, but I no longer have 5000 jobs. I am still running around like a chicken with my head cut off, but I have focused my energy on the things and people that bring purpose and depth to my life, not just small paychecks here and there that don’t actually amount to a real career. I am building my own social media company and have clients that are everywhere, from chefs to politicians as well as focusing on releasing the first ever (as far as I’m aware) Christian EDM album.
2. What advice would you give to younger people who want to follow your footsteps?
- 1) Be kind to yourself. The parts of yourself you want to change may just be the most beautiful things about you.
- 2) Take care of your inner child, only you can protect her.
- 3) Don’t try to be like anyone else, you are unique and wonderfully made.
- 4) Everyone is insecure, even the most seemingly confident people.
- 5) Prioritize those who are good to others and want to make the world a better place,your own world and your impact on the world at large will improve with their presence in your life.
- 6) Put people first, focus on gratitude and giving, in the end that’s where true joy comes from, all other pleasures are fleeting.
- 7) Be as much like Jesus as you can every single day, and give yourself more credit. You will never be perfect, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try with everything you have to be as much like Him as possible. That is the true key to life.
3. What is your vision in the next 5 years as the one and only Chelsko Malibu?
I plan to make Christian EDM, my hope is that my story inspires the youth. I would like to travel and share my story and my music to youth globally. Then, ideally, I will be married and have my first child at 35. But hey, I also said I wanted kids by 21 when I was 15, so who’s to say what cards the Lord might deal me. All I know is that if my plans had gone anything like I wanted them to, I would have missed out on a lot. I am beyond grateful every day that the Lord had better plans for me than I had for myself.
4. Bio
Chelsko grew up in Malibu, CA. Growing up a Christian in one of the most liberal counties in the country not only made her an anomaly but gave her a purpose, and a vision. From a young age she wanted to stick her neck out on the line for the freaks, the geeks and the under dogs. Like Lady Gaga says, we are all “born this way,” love me as I am, or leave me.
