No matter what age you are, it’s important to keep dreaming. If there’s more that you want for yourself, you owe it to you to pursue that. It’s never too late to make a pivot or go for a new career, especially if a new job is what the heart wants. Success can come at any point. In fact, Maya Angelou didn’t focus on her writing career until she was 31 years old.
Pursuing gifts in the arts can feel risky, yet deeply fulfilling once it pays off. If you’re looking for more inspiration, here’s a list of the ordinary jobs your favorite Black female celebrities worked before finding their calling.
Nicki Minaj
The Queen of Rap wasn’t always sitting on a throne. Once upon a time, Nicki Minaj worked at a server at Red Lobster. She enjoyed the interaction she had with people, though had little patience for the food industry.
Gabourey Sidibe
A not-so-regular regular job, “Precious” star Gabourey Sidibe worked as a phone sex operator before pursuing the arts. “I was actually pretty good at it,” Sidibe told PEOPLE Magazine. “I did it for two months before I was promoted.”
Summer Walker
Summer Walker quickly became everyone’s favorite R&B songstress with her debut project, “Over It.” However, before she was singing songs of love and heartbreak, she worked as a cleaner for commercial and residential homes. Though she had a bigger calling, she was able to make a decent income while tidying people’s homes across Atlanta.
Beyoncé
Nowadays, it seems like Beyoncé has collected several careers. While her multiple businesses are flourishing, it all links back to her humble roots. Beyoncé’s first job was working at her mother’s hair salon in Houston. She would sweep hair from the floor, keeping the salon clean as her mother worked.
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes is a beloved actress and comedian. Before her humor took her to incredible heights, she worked a job far beyond the arts. “I have a degree in marketing, so I was a procurement specialist,” Sykes said. “Basically, I shopped all day. Just bought intel equipment.”
Taraji P. Henson
Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson was always destined for fame, though she walked a long road to get there. While she was attending Howard University, she worked two jobs to cover tuition. In the morning, she worked as a secretary at the Pentagon, and at night, as a singing and dancing waitress on a dinner cruise ship.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg was a trained beautician before she became an Oscar winner. One of Goldberg’s first jobs was working in a morgue. “I did hair and makeup on dead people,” she said. She had some spooky experiences, but overall enjoyed her time working the job.