Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani

Summary

Podcast Summary: Keep it Positive, Sweetie Episode: Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Release Date: March 16, 2025

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Introduction

In the latest episode of Keep it Positive, Sweetie, host Crystal Renee Hayslett welcomes her close friend, sister, and dynamic guest, Nzinga Imani Zingzing. Nzinga is a celebrated actress and entrepreneur known for her roles in Tyler Perry's Zatima and Sistas, as well as BET's Curves, Pretty for a Big Girl, and The Queen's Men. The episode dives deep into Nzinga's journey in the entertainment industry, personal struggles, faith, and the power of sisterhood.

Career Journeys

Nzinga shares her path to acting, highlighting the challenges she faced as a plus-size actress in an industry often pigeonholing talent. She reflects on her early days working in theater, music, and makeup artistry while striving to break into television.

“I was a preschool teacher, I was doing anything you can think of... I knew I had to do something else.”
[07:33] – Nzinga Imani

Nzinga discusses her strategic use of social media to build an audience, emphasizing the mantra "Create Don't Wait." Her dedication to producing content independently eventually led to breakthrough opportunities, including her role in Zatima.

“You can never know what kind of doors it'll open. If you have a phone, honestly, if you have a phone some time and the confidence to put it up and let people see it, you never know what kind of doors it'll open.”
[08:27] – Nzinga Imani

The Waiting Season

The conversation delves into the often unseen "waiting season" in an artist's career. Nzinga emphasizes perseverance and consistency as key factors that sustained her through a decade-long struggle before achieving recognition.

“When you’re waiting, waiting, waiting, and then when it happens, all these other doors open.”
[05:31] – Nzinga Imani

Both hosts highlight how success often appears sudden but is typically the result of prolonged effort and dedication.

Personal Struggles

Nzinga candidly discusses her financial hardships and the lengths she went to make ends meet while pursuing her passion for acting.

“Ubering, sleeping in my car, just Uber… I was terrified.”
[17:54] – Nzinga Imani

She recounts the tough decision to leave her stable job as a preschool teacher to fully commit to her artistic endeavors, a leap that required immense courage and faith.

Self-Image and Boundaries

Addressing the challenges of being a plus-size actress, Nzinga opens up about the industry's limited roles and her determination to break stereotypes. She speaks about personal boundaries, especially concerning intimate scenes in her acting roles.

“I do still want to draw boundaries. I do. I am mindful that I want to have children... I want to be married.”
[32:57] – Nzinga Imani

Nzinga shares an incident where a love scene reportedly strained her personal relationship, illustrating the delicate balance between professional work and personal life.

Faith and Church Experiences

Nzinga reflects on her deep-rooted church background and the painful experiences that led her to question her faith. From being let down by a pastor to a manipulative relationship within the church, she discusses the concept of "church hurt" and its impact on her spiritual journey.

“It made me question everything. It made me step away from that church.”
[35:34] – Nzinga Imani

Despite these challenges, Nzinga remains hopeful and committed to her faith, seeking solace and connection through personal prayer and moments by the water.

“When I'm at a beach... I feel like God is speaking to me directly in that moment.”
[40:37] – Nzinga Imani

Sisterhood and Friendships

A significant portion of the episode celebrates the bond between Nzinga and Krystal, underscoring the importance of sisterhood both on and off the screen. They discuss how their real-life relationship enhances their on-screen chemistry and mutual support.

“Those are my people. Those are my best friends in the world.”
[42:47] – Nzinga Imani

Their shared experiences growing up close with siblings further solidify their unwavering support for one another, creating a strong foundation for their personal and professional lives.

Personal Growth

Both guests touch upon their ongoing journey of self-discovery and personal development. Nzinga speaks about the importance of self-belief and the sacrifices made to pursue her dreams, while Krystal shares her experiences overcoming financial struggles and finding stability in her career.

“You have to believe in it. You have to pursue it. You have to take the sacrifice.”
[17:54] – Nzinga Imani

Acting Insights

Nzinga and Krystal explore their acting methods, balancing script adherence with moments of improvisation. They share anecdotes about challenging scenes, maintaining professionalism on set, and the physical demands of their roles.

“Crying scene or a fight scene? Fight.”
[46:09] – Nzinga Imani

Their discussion highlights the versatility required in acting and the importance of setting personal boundaries to maintain emotional and physical well-being.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Wrapping up the episode, the hosts reflect on the key takeaway: the significance of second chances and resilience. Nzinga's journey exemplifies how overcoming setbacks and maintaining faith can lead to personal and professional fulfillment.

“Confidence, perseverance, and consistency can take you places.”
[Final Statement]

The episode concludes with a playful "This or That" game segment, providing listeners with a light-hearted glimpse into the personalities of Nzinga and Krystal.

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Notable Quotes:

• Nzinga Imani [05:31]: “When you’re waiting, waiting, waiting, and then when it happens, all these other doors open.”
• Nzinga Imani [07:33]: “Ubering, sleeping in my car, just Uber… I was terrified.”
• Nzinga Imani [17:54]: “You have to believe in it. You have to pursue it. You have to take the sacrifice.”

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Key Takeaways:

• Perseverance Pays Off: Nzinga’s decade-long wait before gaining recognition underscores the importance of consistent effort and resilience.
• Breaking Stereotypes: As a plus-size actress, Nzinga challenges industry norms, advocating for more diverse and authentic representations.
• Faith and Healing: Navigating faith amid personal and spiritual challenges highlights the complex relationship between belief and personal growth.
• Power of Sisterhood: Strong, supportive relationships are crucial for personal and professional success.
• Setting Boundaries: Balancing professional roles with personal life requires clear boundaries to maintain well-being.

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Connect with Crystal Renee Hayslett:

• Instagram: @lovechristalrenee
• Keep it Positive, Sweetie: keepitpositive.sweetie

Join the Conversation: Share your positive outcomes and stories by emailing keepitpositivesweetiemail.com.

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Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations on Keep it Positive, Sweetie! Remember, no matter what life throws at you, stay focused, stay confident, and, as always, keep it positive. Sweeties, until next time!

Transcript

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hayslett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Let's be real. Life can get overwhelming. Between work relationships and just trying to keep everything together, sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. And let's be honest, finding a therapist can feel like another task on the to do list. I remember when I was looking for a therapist, I needed a great deal of support to research therapists in my area who are right for me. I wish I had this resource back then. That's where BetterHelp comes in. BetterHelp is an online therapy platform that connects you with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your own home. No waiting rooms, no long drives, just professional support when you need it. With BetterHelp, you can message your therapist anytime and schedule video or phone sessions that fit into your schedule. Plus, BetterHelp allows you the flexibility to try out multiple therapists until you find the one that's suitable for you free of charge. Taking care of your mental health shouldn't be complicated. Get started today and find the support you deserve. Visit betterhelp.com CrystalRenae for 10% off your first month because you deserve to feel your best mind, body and soul. Welcome to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. The place where we bring real conversation and a whole lot of heart and positivity. I'm your host, Krystal Renee Hayslett and today we have my girl both on and off the camera joining the show. She's a dynamic actress, entrepreneur and trailblazer in the plus size fashion world. Best known for her roles as Angela in Tyler Perry, Zatima and Sistas, she has also starred in BET's Curves and Pretty for a Big Girl. After giving what it needed to give, her career defining scene in all the Queen's Men further cemented her rising star status. Please welcome my friend, my sister, Nzinga Imani Zingzing. Hey, we got you on the sofa.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yes, girl.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

The people have been asking for you.

[Nzinga Imani]

Oh, well, thank y'all.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

They have been lead in Zinga. I heard you guys, so we got her on. Thank you so much.

[Nzinga Imani]

Thank you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

This is fun.

[Nzinga Imani]

I'm excited.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Me too. Cause they get to see us on tv. But the show hasn't really like really delved into our story yet and like how we became friends and our backstory and everything. But I just, I love you and I wanted to bring you on so we can share more of your story so I can get to know you a little better, and the audience can get to know you better.

[Nzinga Imani]

I appreciate it. It's been so beautiful to watch this, What Season seven. You've been doing your big one, so thank you. You know, I very much am inspired by all that you do, so thank you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

It's great to be here saying you are so talented, beautiful as ever. I remember when we were casting for Zatima and you were all the Queen's Men, and we were trying to figure out who Fatima's best friend was gonna be, and Tyler was like, I have the perfect person. I was like, who? And he goes, nzinga, Amani. And at that point, I didn't know who you were personally. And I was like, who? Because I was like, let me see her Instagram. I was like, oh, I do know her from Instagram. I was very familiar with you from Instagram, but had never met you personally. And I was so happy when we got to work together, and you were just a delight. Cause you just never know, like, you just never know what you're gonna get with actors. You know, you got all different types of personalities that people use to get into character, and as a castmate, those are things you have to adapt to. So I was really happy when you were super cool and easygoing. Y'all, our rooms are probably like two or three rooms apart on Actors Row, and I'll yell down the hall, zing, zing. You wanna run it?

[Nzinga Imani]

Oh, yeah. And I'm always gonna wanna run it. Let's run it. That's all.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Listen, we don't do nothing else. We gonna get these lines.

[Nzinga Imani]

Absolutely.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And it's so much. And it's just been a beautiful journey, for sure. Thank you so much for that.

[Nzinga Imani]

Thank you. I. But y'all may not know this, but the way that her and Deval lead us as a cast, it's like no other. They take the reins and really make sure that we're already prepared. And it has been like a crash course and just, like, how to be. How to prepare. It's amazing. Yeah, I appreciate y'all a lot.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Of course.

[Nzinga Imani]

Of course.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Speaking of crash course and this whole new TPS world for you, but you've been acting and doing your thing. How was that adjustment, like, coming into our world and be like, ooh, this how y'all doing things over here?

[Nzinga Imani]

I mean, I'd heard, like, stories and things of, like, how quickly we work and things like that, but it's nothing like being on it. But. Because I had that brief experience on all the Queens Men. I had an idea, but we were in the bubble during the time we filmed that, so it was like summer camp. There was nothing like being on TPS set. I loved it. Like, I couldn't wait to go back. So to get that call and then to have been working for 10 plus years in this industry and having the hardest time breaking into TV because I'm theater, music, all of that, but having the hardest time breaking into the industry. And then from one scene on all the Queen's Men being, you know, being able to audition for a series regular on Zatima was like, oh, wow.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You know, then it goes from Zatima to Sistas.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yes. How is that?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Like, it's just like, boom, boom, boom.

[Nzinga Imani]

When it rains, it pours, and it's like. I was so grateful for the preparation that I had leading up to that, because it happens just like that. You know, you're waiting, waiting, waiting, and you're waiting for an opportunity, and then when it happens, all these other doors open. So I'm so grateful.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I want to talk about that waiting, waiting, waiting season. Because so many times when we do, like, when it happens, that's all that people see. They're just like, where does she come from? This happened overnight. And no, it did not. Let's dive into that. Because a lot of people, I think people are inspired by the Waiting season to know that they're not alone.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah, no, for sure. I mean, I did everything. I did everything. I just wanted to be in the room. And then I've always been an artist. Whether that's painting, whether that's singing, whether that's acting. I've always just been in the arts. So I guess it all kind of started. I was in school for theater. That was my major. And part of our extracurriculars were stage makeup. I've always been a painter, so I was naturally really good at stage makeup. And my professors were like, girl, you need to do that. My younger sister is a professional model, and she was like, them makeup artists get paid. And as a struggling artist, I needed to find a way to have a flexible schedule and, you know, do what I love and be on the sets and everything. So it started there while I was doing makeup, actually, I did Danielle's headshot for Artema. So very full circle. I run into so many people working now where it's like, you did my makeup franchise and stuff like that. So it's beautiful to see the relationships and how they grow, how people keep me in mind for different opportunities. But from that to, I mean, I was a preschool teacher. I was doing anything you can think of. Way to think of a preschool teacher. Oh, yeah, I love the kid, Zay. Love the kids. I love the kid. Ms. Z, that's the teacher you want. The parents were fighting to get their kids in my class, like, honestly, because especially three year olds. I was a preschool teacher, so, I mean, I had them kids singing songs like we were singing Annie in the playgrounds and stuff. We had the greatest time. But unfortunately, teaching does not pay the bills like it should. I mean, I was living with my mom at the time that I was a full time teacher and struggling still. So I knew I had to do something else. Not to mention the. The parents and even like the grandparents would be like, girl, what you doing here? You supposed to be doing something else.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

This ain't your calling.

[Nzinga Imani]

They were like, you're great at this.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

But there's something greater on your life.

[Nzinga Imani]

And I was grateful for that because sometimes we get complacent, especially when we're, you know, when we're enjoying something. But I did a little extra work on Black Panther during the time that I was teaching. After I got back, I knew I, like, put in my resignation. I was like, I have to pursue this fully.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

What year was that?

[Nzinga Imani]

Don't get me lying around 2015 somewhere in that.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's crazy. That was the year my life shifted.

[Nzinga Imani]

Beautiful.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I went from costuming to being Tyler's stylist in costume design. That was a shifting year for me. And I think that was. I think I turned 33 that year. So there's my Jesus year. There's a lot of things happening that year. That's amazing. So 2015 was the year that you were like, this is what I'm going after. I love that. And then from that moment to 2020, ooh.

[Nzinga Imani]

I mean so much. I was doing a lot of indie films. I was trying to get my foot in the door however I could. You know, the parodies, if you guys don't know. I do a lot of musical parodies with Queen of the Ratchet. I mean, I was super thankful for that because it was just create, Don't Wait. You know what I mean? Ooh, that's good. And if I, yes, create Don't Wait. Because if I was waiting for someone else to give me the opportunity and not putting that content out there, then when Tyler told you nzinge Mani, you would've been like, who is that? What do I see? You know, I was able to build up a audience and engagement from just putting out my Own content to the point where I was recognizable. Yeah. And, you know, people, people were like, I don't know if she can do tv, but it's like, well, she can do this and do this.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

She can definitely do it. Yeah.

[Nzinga Imani]

Give her a chance.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Isn't that the power of social media?

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Like you can literally, like even YouTube, like the world is your oyster. You can do anything if you have a camera and a tripod or a few friends that are willing to work with you.

[Nzinga Imani]

A phone, honestly, if you have a phone some time and the confidence to put it up and let people see it, you never know what kind of doors it'll open.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, I love that. Was there any point because you talked about you got all the nos. Was there any point in your journey where you may have had doubt or did I really choose the right thing? Or where you had any self image issues where you were like, damn. Because I know for me, this industry is so vain and there's times where I like, I just don't. There's times I didn't feel my best self. Did you ever have moments like that?

[Nzinga Imani]

In ways, especially being plus size, I feel like you're oftentimes pigeonheled. Like, you know, there's so many situations where people are just like, I don't know if she'll fit for the lead or I don't know if she would be like a love interest that people will be. Would believe. But it's like, why not? Why would, you know, like, people love me in real life, so why couldn't people love me online or in the movie? So I definitely felt held back. Felt like there were a lot of perceived notions about what kind of parts I could play and things like that. But doing the Queen of the Ratchet and developing my plus size modeling career and all of those things that I did outside definitely, I think opened up people's minds. Absolutely. Not to mention that scene in all the Queens Men, which opened up a lot of.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Let's talk about that scene in all.

[Nzinga Imani]

The Queen's Men, which opened up a lot of ideas too.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I was like, what did your mama say about this?

[Nzinga Imani]

You know, I avoided my mom for like a week. I just, I didn't answer, I didn't pick up calls. And I. And I tried to warn her because she got real happy, started telling people I was gonna be on tv. I said, no, no, no, no, no, wait a minute. Yeah, my grandma saw that. Didn't nobody tell you to tell grandma. But oh my gosh, what happened, happened. And honestly, surprisingly her reaction was a lot more supportive than I thought it would be.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Isn't that amazing? My parents are the same way when it comes to my roles and the things I do. Think about it. The team of season one. Was that the shower room? No, that was, like, across the bed, head hanging off and. Yeah.

[Nzinga Imani]

Oh, that. Yes, I remember that one.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I couldn't even look at that. Yeah, like, it went from, like. It was such a quick cut. It was like, bam. I was like, ah.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I was like. I said, dad, I said, just don't watch the first, like, five minutes of the show.

[Nzinga Imani]

But they gotta watch.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

No, I don't want dancing on that.

[Nzinga Imani]

Well, my sister still won't watch. So I get it. I get it. She's like, I can't even see you like that. I turn it off. But, yeah, I mean, she was kind of just like, well, it was shot very well.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

This is your mom?

[Nzinga Imani]

Yes.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Aw.

[Nzinga Imani]

She didn't want to give me too many crazies about him. It was. I mean, especially because it wasn't a romantic scene, but it felt romantic. So I was super grateful to that. Because, I mean, the situation is not romantic. They're not a couple. You know, even just the shoot.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

The situation, like, in real life, like, as you're filming it in a room around strangers, it's not romantic. You know what I'm saying?

[Nzinga Imani]

It's not at all. It's not at all. We had all the extras by the pool. I'm like, what happened to the closed set?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right?

[Nzinga Imani]

Closed set, right. And it was. Which. I don't know. That was shot in December, and we were outside of Tandy's house in the little gondola or whatever. It was freezing.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Even when we filmed season one of Zatima, February was like, December. It was freezing cold. Oh, my God. I think I got sick right after that.

[Nzinga Imani]

Although I prefer. That was when you hit Cam in the. And they were in the Jacuzzi, freezing, barefoot.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Like, he was in. Him and Jazzy were in the Jacuzzi, freezing. I had to keep running out from upstairs, down the deck, barefoot, in that wet, rainy, cold grass. Two days later, I was like, But.

[Nzinga Imani]

I gotta say, I prefer that over when we have to shoot in the heat. Cause we done melted on camera before.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I be like, y'all have me some extra draws, some extra Spanx, everything.

[Nzinga Imani]

Once the hair is gone, it's really like, what are we doing?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

It's just, like, hot. And then you gotta turn the air conditioning off because of the sound. And, like, turn everything off. So we're just in there baking.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. So I prefer the cold.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

What we deal with, we deal with so much. And we make it look good, though.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah, we do. We stay in it even when we're melting and the makeup is dripping down our mouths. Cause that was in the parking lot. Y'all seen that scene in the parking lot? Yes. My hair went from this to dripping. I said, okay, that was.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

So keep it going. Don't let us be shooting for winter in the middle of summer. It's like, oh, my gosh.

[Nzinga Imani]

Then you got on all the clothes. Plus, it's hot outside.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Hot outside? Yeah. Those garage scenes during the summertime, it's just smoldering hot. I just. And I get hot fast.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

So I be like, mm, mm.

[Nzinga Imani]

Under all that hair we be wearing.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah.

[Nzinga Imani]

Oh, my gosh.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

It be too much.

[Nzinga Imani]

Neck melting.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Too much. Looking back, we're on season three. Season three just wrapped of Zatima. Looking back, what was one of your, like, favorite moments? Filming.

[Nzinga Imani]

Ooh. Hmm. I wish that I had, like, oh. Oh, well, that's not season three. Let me roll back. Let me roll back.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I had to catch myself. I'm like, wait, has that aired yet?

[Nzinga Imani]

Right? No, that hasn't air. I would probably still say the season one, when the whole thing happens where Zach and Danielle's character meet, and we were all kind of there together, and we all.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes, yes. Oh, my goodness.

[Nzinga Imani]

That was intense.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That was very intense.

[Nzinga Imani]

And it was fun. And I feel like that was the first time we were all. Cause everything happened so fast. It was the first time we really were all in a scene together, acting. So that just stays in the front of my mind. What about you?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

What's your favorite? Somebody just asked me this, and for me, it is every day that we go to work. Like, I love our cast. Everybody is just so amazing to work with. Everybody's so grateful to be there. We all come, we work our butts off, and we work so hard, and we create beautiful magic together. And I think everybody doesn't get that opportunity to say that. Like, I love everybody I work with, you know, because not all environments are as peaceful as ours. Like, we come in there, and we're like, all right, it's been we two days in. We probably got hit by a bus.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

We respect each other's face and time, and we're like, what do you need? You good? Do you feel like running lines? Are you good? You know what I'm saying? And we just get it, you know?

[Nzinga Imani]

Even after set going and running lines together. After a 16 hour day shoot. People don't see it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

They don't see that after we done ripped the wig and we. And our.

[Nzinga Imani]

Just our little. Just our braid backs, the braids, our Meek Mills.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And we're like, all right, let's run these lines before we go home during lunch when we got a little time off. Okay. Like, let's run it real quick. It's so much that goes into everything that we do. If you could give anybody advice on some. There's a young girl wanting to do what we do, and she's not quite sure of herself, or she's struggling. Maybe she's from a small town like I was, or she's from a place where her parents don't really accept it. Like, you don't need to go get an education. Go get you a good job. But she's a dreamer. What would you tell her?

[Nzinga Imani]

Girl, do it anyway. You're not living for them. You're living for you. And if you want anyone else to believe it, you have to believe it first. Come on. Like, ooh, I can't tell you. Even though my mom supported me doing plays and doing all these things, I think in the back of her mind especially. Cause I was super good in school. Like, I was in all the higher education classes, everything like that, you know, really, she expected me to be working for NASA or something like that. So for me to take this other. This other path was some shock and some awe. Cause you know, she's Caribbean background. You know, we believe in that stability, that whole art thing. She's like, that's good to keep you well rounded, but you need something. So my mom actually found out that I changed my major at a play. I remember she came up to me. I did the big finale number. Everybody's coming up to me congratulating me. She's walking up to me with the brochure like, what is this? Like, what do you mean? She's like, what do you mean? This is your major, ma'am? She's like, major in fine arts and theater girl. Be for real. So I didn't have support when it came to pursuing it fully, but at the same time, she was the one who had me in those plays, who had me in the choir, who made sure that I touched into my art side. So I really feel like, you know, she was giving me nothing, but she was still scared. And I'm glad that I didn't have that fear. And that's why I feel like that's the most important thing. You have to believe it. First, you have to give it your all, because it won't happen if you're halfway doing it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's right.

[Nzinga Imani]

You have to believe in it. You have to pursue it. You have to take the sacrifice. Because there was a time when I dropped that school and was pursuing acting and doing theater and makeup and everything where I was struggling real bad. Let's talk about the struggle real bad. But, I mean, Ubering, sleeping in my car, just Uber.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Like, you was Uber driver Uber?

[Nzinga Imani]

Yes. Until I was about to fall asleep. I was terrified. And don't recommend because there were a few times that something could have definitely happened. There were a few times that I had to speed off in situations.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Oh, my goodness.

[Nzinga Imani]

I do not recommend. However, at the time, it was necessary. And, like, literally, I'd be driving home too sleepy to make it. I'll pull up into a Walmart or a McDonald's, something that's open 24 hours and try to nap. But that was the grind. I mean. And, you know, in retrospect, I thank the Lord every day because things could have ended much differently, but it was necessary for me to maintain while I pursued what I was pursuing. So still grateful? You know, it definitely keeps me humble. It keeps me. Yeah. Cause I'm like, you know, at any moment, if anything didn't pan out, if any opportunity didn't present, I might not be where I am today. Then I might not feel the same way about that struggle. But gratefully, I can feel great about the struggle because it led to where I am now. So I love that.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love that. For me, I went through a similar phase of my life where I was, like, really struggling, trying to figure it out. I just moved to Atlanta, and it was like, all right, I gotta figure it out. You know, I was working a job. The job. First job I had, I was literally making, like. I think it was like, $300 a week. So it was like $1,200 a month before taxes. Like, it was not a lot of money. So, like, talking about, like, scrounging for change in the cup holder, back in the day, all the change went to the cup holder. I don't really see change much nowadays. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Because people don' Carry cash as far.

[Nzinga Imani]

As everything on our phones and everything.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah. Like, so, like, it was changed everywhere. So I was really trying to count the quarters and, like, can I get a double cheeseburger fries? You know what I'm saying? The dollar menu. Just trying to make a meal literally out of 2 cents.

[Nzinga Imani]

Absolutely.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And I remember those moments and I think that's something that always keeps me grounded now that I have made it. But I'm grateful for those moments where you had to struggle and grind because I feel like if you don't go through that, you're not gonna appreciate it.

[Nzinga Imani]

When you make it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, not gonna appreciate it.

[Nzinga Imani]

Even speaking of like that long time struggle, if I had gotten the opportunities any earlier, I might not have known how to manage it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Oh, absolutely not.

[Nzinga Imani]

I think about the relationships I was in the mind for financing and the things that I would have been splurging money on then versus even just a year later. And I'm so grateful it happened when it did. Who knows what could have happened or who I would have not been able to see for who they are because I have this new level of success and they're, you know, so it's a lot of things that saved me having that long 10 year wait.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Come on. God knows. Like, it's all in his perfect timing. That's what I always say. Because if things had happened before they were supposed to, we would have blew it. Yeah, we really would have. Nzinga, you are one of the most stunning. Your whole family is just stunning.

[Nzinga Imani]

First of all, thank you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Please go to her Instagram. Her whole family, like, all of them. I know your mom just sits back and be like, I did that.

[Nzinga Imani]

She will take all the credit. She will.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

But you guys are also beautiful. But you're like, you're beautiful, you're confident. Thank you. When it comes to love life, let's talk about it.

[Nzinga Imani]

Ooh. Okay, girl. Yes.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Have you always been confident and known your worth because you walk in with so much confidence and self worth? Or is that something that you struggle with at points? Or have you always been like, mm, I know I'm that girl?

[Nzinga Imani]

It's hard to say because I feel like it's both. Like, I've never doubted that I'm that girl. But things, things show up, you know, like, you know, my father wasn't around when we were growing up and so, you know, there's abandonment issues on that side, there's trust issues when it comes to men. You know, my mom didn't really date when we were growing up. She. For different reasons, but mainly cause she had three young girls and she wanted to keep us safe and protected. So, you know, there's reactions that I have to that as well, where, you know, I may not want to be alone, so I may stick it out with somebody longer than I should. Even when I see the signs and things like that. So it's definitely up and down. I think just in dating and living and growing, you learn things. I mean, when I got Zatima, I was in a relationship with someone who I had, you know, sacrificed so much for and really felt like they were gonna be rooting for me. And that showed me that they were not and that they were a bit jealous of me and that, you know, and it manifested in different ways, and it let me know I had to get up out of there. I remember after we finished wrapping the dinner that you and devale hosted, I came to that late, and I was flustered because we had just got into it and I felt like I wasn't in my best moment, but I was pushing through. There were so many things, but so many great moments of my life were being kind of, like, watered down because this person and their energy or how they felt or their insecurities were attacking me. But I also was like, well, this person has been with me. I should stick it out. Don't, girl, save yourself. You know, if I could go back and talk to her, it would be like, girl, save yourself. Cause there was a lot of, you know, just self reflection that had to happen after. Especially just being alone, stepping out of it, where it's like, man, how long did that person hate me? Low key, right?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right. Cause you start to look back, wait a minute.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah, man, that thing that they said two years prior, that didn't really register. But then when you look at the whole thing, it's like, oh, wow. No, it's been a while of just not realizing it. And in the moment, I didn't think of it as like a lacking or, you know, what was going on with me, why I would choose someone like this. But then when you look back at it again, it's like, well, what did you let slide? What things did you let, you know happened that you didn't address or that you didn't stand firm in that allowed that to happen? So I'm still figuring it out. You know, I feel like it's ever growing.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

It is.

[Nzinga Imani]

You know, not to mention those family wounds. You know, even I love my mother dearly, but there was a lot of trauma that happened within our relationship as well that made me. Other wounds are real, Very real. And I'm a middle child, so if y'all know about. Oh, really? I love it. So if you know anything about the middle children. I feel like I was so independent that I was left alone a lot. I was just kind of like. It was like Fend for yourself. And then I'm like, but, you know, but that's not how you treat this child or that child. So it makes you question yourself in that regard too. So it was a lot of self discovery. That is still happening. You know, I'm still figuring out why I do things, why I say things. I could be very snappy, especially in romantic relationships. And I'm. I know I learned that recently and I'm grateful for it. Although it was just kind of like, oh, okay, maybe when I say something and I mean it as a joke, not everyone perceives it that way, so be more careful, you know, that's real. So learning myself in these different seasons has been big, but I'm grateful for it for sure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

At what moment did you realize, wait a minute, like, I'm. I had these issues from my childhood that are pouring into my adulthood. And was there a moment where you're like, I need therapy. Are you into therapy? Or has it just been more of like a I got this on my own type of thing and just constantly.

[Nzinga Imani]

Evolving in full transparency? Oh, I wasn't even planning on going on here, but.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Did you say, oh?

[Nzinga Imani]

But it reminded me of the first time that I really thought about therapy. I was auditioning for a dating show of some sort. And when we. During the process, I was getting through, like, easy. They were loving me. Then we had to do a kind of sit down with the therapist before we moved on to the next round. And I unloaded on her.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Wow. Real big. Realize you've been holding a lot in.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yes. And also the fact that they did not call me back to this show.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

After they was like, you need to work on yourself.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. They were like, maybe not. Cause this could be a liability. This was years ago, but I think that was the first time that I was like, this is something that I need to look into. And also just realize, like, there are things that I need to reflect in, to my reflect on within myself. In all transparency, I have not done therapy, but I would like to. I think it's just kind of like figuring out who to trust, who to talk to, how to approach that. Which is not an excuse because I feel like I've figured out so much improvement on myself in other ways where I'm just putting that to the back burner and back burner. Not to mention my family is not super supportive with that. Like, speaking of my mom, she was like, you're not crazy. What do you mean you need to go to therapy. That's how she thinks. And it's Like, I know that that's not a legitimate reason, but I do think that those things are still in the back of my head. So yeah, I need to work on that and I want to look into that for sure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I got you. No, seriously. Remember my first live show? I brought my therapist out. Absolutely love her. But it wasn't until like you said, find the right person, finding somebody you can trust. For me, it was the first time I did therapy. I wasn't honest with the person because I didn't really trust them. So I'm like, this ain't working.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Like I literally was like, this isn't working. And then I got delayna and I was like, just be honest. If you want this right, you have to just tell her everything and trust that and pray that she's not gonna tell anybody your business. But finding, I feel like it's like dating, you know what I'm saying? You gotta like talk to them, feel the vibes, if you're ready to open up to them. But it's not like you hire one person and you gotta stick with, you know. So I would just like take your time and just fill people out and see who you like and who you mesh with. Cause it can like, this is the person that you really have to confide in everything with if you really want to get the help you want. And for me it's like that self realization because we think and we're working on ourselves until you really start to unload, like you said, and you're like, oh, I got a lot of work to do.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah, yeah. It's like, oh, yes. Yeah. Because I told her about some situations that, you know, I wasn't proud of, but I also felt like I was justified in it, you know, I was like, no. Yeah. Ran into that knife ten times. No, no, it wasn't that extreme. But it was kind of like, you know, I was battling within myself and relationships will bring that out of you. Especially when people are not genuine on their side or they're doing their own thing and then they want you to be, uh huh, you know. Anyway, we're gonna move on first. Okay, listen.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

So since you've gained success in acting, I know that something that can be challenging for us women is dating and finding a man that is confident in what you do and knowing that you may have sex scenes or love scenes with another person and that you have to kiss them. Have you had issues since you started acting where a guy's like, I ain't with that.

[Nzinga Imani]

And you're like, but Absolutely.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Really?

[Nzinga Imani]

Me too, girl. Yeah. And it's difficult, but it also, like, this is what I do. And that's a hard conversation to have. Especially when you, like, if we're already in a relationship, we're already talking, we're serious. It's like, how are you all of a sudden upset with this? Like, you didn't already see all the Queen's Men? No, that actually really happened.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Really?

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. Me and my guy had been together for a while. Like, over a year. And then his mom kind of brought him. Brought the episode to him. And I think that's why it shifted.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Because his mom said. Cause he probably didn't really care. But when the mom says, I think he cared.

[Nzinga Imani]

Especially because there have been different times when we're at comedy shows. And I don't know why, but every comedian has seen that scene. Cause they always stop the show. They're like, you, the girl. They be like, I know you. And then they typically harp on it for quite some time where it's like.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Sinking in your chair.

[Nzinga Imani]

Like, yeah, you know, I can laugh it off. Cause I'm in this industry and I'm used to it. And I'm like, okay, listen. But with him sitting there next to me, it's kind of like you still talking about you're sexualizing me in front of a man.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah.

[Nzinga Imani]

And what is he supposed to do? Cause he's like, I'm an actress. He supports that. He's always been super supportive of that. But at the same time, it's like, how am I supposed to feel sitting here? And I'm like, well, what am I supposed to do sitting here? I don't know either. So that can be difficult. But, yeah, when his mom brought it to him, I think it just hit him that anyone has access to this. My mom has seen it. That means my cousins have seen it. That can mean anyone can see it. And I can understand how that can hit him. But it's also. This is what I do. So let me know now what it's gonna be. We done put this much time into it. Let me know if we should put any more. Cause those opportunities are gonna continue to happen. And I don't intend on saying no if it's relevant to the scene. You know, I might not go as graphic as that was. But once again, that was also my first time being on tv. So I was open. I was like, let it go.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Do you feel like you're as open now, or do you? Cause me, I have very firm boundaries on what I'll show What I'll do. Are you still like, some actors are like, no, this. I'm not gonna say no to anything. I'm good.

[Nzinga Imani]

Oh, well, I'll say no to things.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

But what would you say no to?

[Nzinga Imani]

I mean, if that same situation presented, I don't know if I would necessarily do it now, but I mean, but still close to it, especially if it's relevant to a love scene or a love interest or something like that. But that, I mean, we was just one off and tag teaming over there. So that was crazy. It was different. But once again, it was shot beautifully. So I'm not mad at. But I don't know, I just feel like it's situational, but I do still want to be respectful. I know at that time I hadn't done anything, so I was kind of open. Not to mention, it was in the midst of the pandemic and it was the biggest I had ever been. Like, size wise, I was the biggest.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I had ever been. Girl, everybody had been, oh, my gosh, I couldn't fit nothing.

[Nzinga Imani]

But it was so liberating for it to be like, here I am in my full splendor. Like. Cause this is what it is. There is no, like, we have sex. We, you know, plus size. People are intimate and things like that. So to be able to show that and see that and feel confident with the end result was a big thing. So I'm happy, very happy with that scene. But moving forward, I do want to draw boundaries. I do. I am mindful that I want to have children. You know, I want to be married. And I don't want anyone to be able to hop on Twitter and find scenes. Right. This your mama. They'd be like, so I'm still figuring it out.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah.

[Nzinga Imani]

Especially if the opportunity, like, seems worth it or like, it's relevant to the story enough.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I feel you. I feel you totally. I understand it because that's something I actually had an audition for. It was really bad. It was a rape scene, but it was a true story. So in my mind, as an artist, I'm like, okay. Like, they weren't shooting the actual rape. It was more so the aftermath of it. But, like, everybody knew what had happened. And I was like, second up for that part. I didn't end up getting the role, but when I auditioned for it, I had to call my dad. And I was like, listen. I was like, how do you feel about this? You know? Cause I was thinking about my parents and, like, what they have to go through. If you say, if I play certain Roles or do certain things. And he was like, you're acting. He was like, that was a true story. It happens. And you're shedding light on something that happened. So it changed my perspective on certain things. But then also, when it came to, like, me setting my own personal boundaries because thinking, if I have children one day, what are they gonna see? And this Internet is like, it's forever once it's out there. And it just goes from one place to the next, and before you know it, like, it's everywhere.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. And out of context, it can be very scary, ma'am. Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Very, very scary. Yeah. You know, this is a safe space. And we also love Jesus over here at the Hew Potted City show. Has there been moments where your faith has been stretched or moments where you really had to lean on your faith through this whole journey of life?

[Nzinga Imani]

Absolutely. Well, growing up, I was heavy in church. I'm talking, like, praise, team leader, all types. I was in church five out of the seven days a week and super happy to be there. The thing that kind of shook me was, like, I was preparing to go to London for study abroad, and I was working my butt off to raise the money for that. And it was about a few days past the. Not past, but until the final payment was due, I was only, like, $200 away from my goal. And I was at church, and the pastor did a whole sermon about, you know, you ask not because you have not because you ask not, and, you know, leaning on one another and all of these things. And I've been going to that church since I was. I was baptized there. I was. Been there forever.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And been serving there, too.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. And, you know, whole family. My sisters didn't dance. You know, everybody's really deep into the church. So I'm like, okay, this is my sign. So after I asked to have a meeting with the pastor, and we go into the room and I kind of tell her what's going on, and she's like, I'm going on vacation. So I don't know what to tell you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

After she just preached that, yes, I.

[Nzinga Imani]

Felt like someone shot me in the heart. I remember sitting in the parking lot in the car, crying like, I could not breathe. I was hyperventilating, not only because I had worked so hard to raise all of this money, but because I would. It was like I. The veil was pulled back from who she was. This is someone I admired my entire life. And then this is how you act. This is how you, like, even if you couldn't do it. That's fine. But the way that she said it was just like, who are you? And it made me question everything. It made me step away from that church. And it took a while to start going back to church again. And then when I did, I was dating one of the pastors at the church and he brought Executive pastor. Yes, honey. They were calling me First Lady Zinga from day one.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

It's giving First Lady First Lady Zinga.

[Nzinga Imani]

I'm sorry, he was a preacher at the church, not the pastor. I should specify that I learned after a few years into this, not a few years, a few months into relationship, that he was having relations with people all up and through this church. Yeah, that happens past, present and future. Yeah. So that was another hit that just was like, you are not who you say. And not only that, but he preyed on me because he sought me after at a low time. The way he used the word and everything to manipulate me into that relationship. It was very calculated. Of course, in retrospect.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right. We see it after.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. So that was another time. But I had to just be like, once again, somebody who acts so holy is the opposite and is like the worst kind of person that you can be. And that really hit me as well. And I think to this day, I'm still struggling when it comes to church and the people to trust in church, because, I mean, I still love the Lord. But even now, I was on a. I don't want to say a tour, but I was trying out different churches. Not too much because you came by.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I remember.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yes. I went to change and I loved it there. It was just a long time drive.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

It is long.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah, but that's what he said.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You come here, you wanted to be here.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

No, for sure, it's a trick.

[Nzinga Imani]

But even that became awkward because, you know, our fan base is churchgoers. So going to church and knowing that in the midst of my praise and worship that this person might be filming me or, you know, I went to a funeral and someone was asking to take pictures with me and things like that, and it's like it. I want to be able to be vulnerable. I want to be able to drop to my knees and cry when I feel like it. But to know that someone is constantly watching you, it's like, how can you enjoy that experience?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

So that happened to me too.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I actually had to talk about it because people were coming up to me after church, like, wanting to hug and, like, talk and ask for pictures. And I just felt like it's a time and a Place for everything. Then finding out that people were driving hours to come to church on Sunday in hopes to meet me. You need to be coming to meet Jesus, not Crystal Renee Hayslett. And I had to like, publicly speak about that because it is disturbing when you're in. I literally was in full on tears one Sunday. Church had, like, let out, but we were still doing praise and worship and the spirit was just moving and I was just crying and praising God. And somebody literally came and tapped me on the shoulder in the midst of it, in the midst of that, and I was like, what?

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah, like what?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Like in what world? You know? And then not too long ago, praise and worship and like a guy turns around and it was like, you know how they turn. And then they were like, oh, shoot. And then before you know it, they're like holding their phone up like we're at a concert. And I'm like, I literally just turned, like, turn my back so, like, you can't film me. I'm like, like, read the room facts, you know what I'm saying? Like.

[Nzinga Imani]

But people feel like you don't have those boundaries when you're known. And that's something that really disturbs me because I hear how people talk about, oh, they were rude when I met them. Well, how did you meet them? What were they doing? Because they don't owe you their time like that. I appreciate the support, but there's a time and a place and there's certain times. Absolutely. No, I was at a close friend's funeral. And you want to take pictures. Why? Why? Why is that even where your mind is at when you're at the same funeral?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

We should be thinking about this person that we just lost.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. So a lot of different. But that. But once again, that's church. That's not one part of it. Yeah, exactly. I definitely feel like that was a major part for me, though, especially the way that I was raised. It's a part that I miss dearly and I hope to get back to. But. But, you know, I stand from my faith still. I still, you know, pray as much as I can. I talked about this before, like, praying in water is like my favorite thing. And I think that's also because I know that it's just me. Especially if I'm at a beach or some kind of big body of water where I can just go in and I don't hear anything else but the waves. And I feel like God is speaking to me directly in that moment.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Girl, that's one of my favorite places to be around Water. Because when you look especially huge bodies of water, it just shows you, like, the awe of God. Like, wow. He created this. You know, you really just see, like, the endless. Almost like it's symbolic to his endless love. Because it's like water just. You can't. Like, you don't even see the end of it. It's like it just keeps going.

[Nzinga Imani]

You see how small you are.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yes.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

In the midst of all this. That is so true. Let's talk about sisterhood. Yes. Because. Because we're both on Zatima and Sistas. Sisterhood is so important to me. Our two characters. I am, like, always, like, what you mean, Angela? Cause you always. You check me. You check me when I'm wrong. You try to hold me accountable.

[Nzinga Imani]

Y'all heard that, right?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You try to hold me accountable. And a lot of times we don't want to hear that as friends. But I appreciate the way Tyler writes our characters because Fatima does need that. Cause she's usually the one always trying to, like, help people. But you're the one that's always helping Fatima.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. And we do a good back and forth. Cause you tell me about myself, too.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes.

[Nzinga Imani]

Whether I listen or not.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right, Right. But that's what friends are for in your real life. Cause you have sisters. Amazing sisters. How is Yalls relationship and did that actually help when it came to being on the show? Sisters?

[Nzinga Imani]

Oh, absolutely. I mean, my sisters are the closest thing to me in general. We were raised super close. You know, it was us against the world. Except we fought. We fought a lot, but that's a part of the sisterhood. You know, we had very humble beginnings. So, like, we shared a room growing up, the three of us.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

What?

[Nzinga Imani]

You know, from four years older to two years younger. We were all, like, really close quarters, so it forced us to be close and ride for each other. Like, I remember one time a boy hit me, and my little sister came out of nowhere with a metal bat, just swinging. Mind you, her little self. She's two years younger than me. But in those years, that's a huge difference. But we've always just had each other's back, and I feel like that's only grown as we've gotten older. My older sister has the cutest son. Now my nephew, who is like, that's my baby.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Adore him with my younger siblings. Yeah.

[Nzinga Imani]

And then you a God mama, too. So I already know. So. Yeah. I mean, that experience, too, is just, those are my people. Those are my best friends in the world. They're the only people in the world that I feel like I can tell anything to without feeling judged. You know, I have my friends and everything, but my sisters, nothing is like that. Nothing. Nobody could come between that.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes. I love that I have two sisters, but all my siblings, we have different moms, but me and my sisters weren't raised together. But our relationship is so beautiful. And it's always fun to see how, like, no matter what the dynamic is, that's a bond you can never break. So, yeah. Love my sisters. And I love how Tyler wrote the show for us to just exemplify what sisterhood is.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes.

[Nzinga Imani]

Cause you need your people in your corner.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

We do that. We really do. Before we get out of here, I wanna play a game with you.

[Nzinga Imani]

Uh. Oh.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love playing games.

[Nzinga Imani]

I feel like you trying to hit me cold up. Let me get relaxed.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

It's easy. It's just called this or that. All right.

[Nzinga Imani]

I knew.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Keep his life.

[Nzinga Imani]

I knew it was gonna be a this or that.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes. All right, let's see. And this is, you know, a little. This is a little cast made edition.

[Nzinga Imani]

Okay.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

All right. So do you like movies or TV shows?

[Nzinga Imani]

TV shows.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Scripted or reality?

[Nzinga Imani]

Oh, scripted.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

The hero or the villain?

[Nzinga Imani]

The villain.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

The villain.

[Nzinga Imani]

Sorry.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Like improv or strictly following the script? Script.

[Nzinga Imani]

I love improv. That's when we get the best stuff. Yeah, it is.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

We do a lot of that on Zatita. We do you like night shoots or early morning call times?

[Nzinga Imani]

Ooh. It all depends on what the day has been, to be honest.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And the night before.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah, yeah. I'm a morning person, so I don't mind mornings.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You are a morning person. You really are.

[Nzinga Imani]

I have a problem. But them late nights, especially if we've had a long day, it can get real.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, I'm with you on that. I'm with you on that. On set. Pranks are keeping it professional.

[Nzinga Imani]

Do not prank me on set.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Listen, not the stress we under.

[Nzinga Imani]

Do not. We ain't got time.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

We do not prank.

[Nzinga Imani]

For me at the wrap party. Don't prank me on set.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Exactly. Method acting or just turn it on and off?

[Nzinga Imani]

Oh, it all depends on the part.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Same.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. I feel like I'm very like my character Angela in a lot of ways. So it's a little bit of method, but not all the way. So it's a little turn. It's a little off and on too.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Nzinga Imani]

I'm sorry, y'all.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I guess it's both, I think, for me, like, method. When I have, like, emotional scenes, it's hard for me. To just turn it on and off. But when it comes to other emotional character traits, I can turn those on off. But that, like, crying and stuff, I kind of have to wake up down, like, to really, like, be ready to. All right, and action. Like, I can't, like, wake up happy, and then, like, okay, it's a crying scene and just start crying.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. You know that. Cause I be like, okay, give me a second. Give me a second. I need a. I need a minute.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes. But then it's hard.

[Nzinga Imani]

Cause so much is going on. People talking and laughing. It's like, oh, no.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes. And then everybody's like. So I'm like, yeah, I need everybody.

[Nzinga Imani]

To, like, don't talk to me.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, don't. Not right now. Please stop talking. Like, I gotta get there. We don't have a lot of time. Time is money. All right, let's see. We just basically just talked about this, but crying scene or a fight scene?

[Nzinga Imani]

Once again, it depends on the context, but I will say I would love to do some fight scenes. I wanna do some action, honey.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love the fight scenes. Cause I don't be fighting in real life.

[Nzinga Imani]

That's when you get it out.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Fight.

[Nzinga Imani]

I love it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Oh, I get it all.

[Nzinga Imani]

It's coordinated.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes. I love it.

[Nzinga Imani]

I'd be ready to jump off something, land somewhere, you know?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Exactly. Live audience or no audience?

[Nzinga Imani]

Live.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Ugh.

[Nzinga Imani]

There's nothing like the theater.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah. I live for that. It's true. I love it. Costume, heavy roll, or a casual wardrobe.

[Nzinga Imani]

Oh, please don't make me have to wear too many things.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right?

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. I want to be comfortable.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Same.

[Nzinga Imani]

It's hard to lock in when you're thinking about too much other stuff.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, no, for sure. Oh, this is another good one. Makeup chair for hours or quick and easy, baby.

[Nzinga Imani]

If I can do my makeup in 20 minutes, I don't want to be in this chair for two hours.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I was gonna ask you that, too, because you do your own makeup. Have you ever had a makeup artist? And you got it here? And you was like, I do not.

[Nzinga Imani]

Like the way this looks, friend. I am so quick to go to my dressing room, wipe off my makeup, and start over. I am so quick, ma'am.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I literally carry my whole makeup bag every day. Because, I don't know, like. And my makeup. Manny, he's amazing.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yes.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

So, like, I don't really have to touch anything, but, like, I've had artists before where I'm just like, no, Like, I need to get this nose right. I need. There are certain things I just need to pop.

[Nzinga Imani]

I won't even do that. I'm like, oh, thank you. And I will go to the room.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Oh, yeah, I'm gonna go to the room and fix it.

[Nzinga Imani]

Because if you didn't do it right the first time, then telling you and instructing you is not gonna get us there when I could just finish it in 20 minutes or less.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Exactly.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah. Be prepared, actress. Be prepared. Bring your stuff. Be ready.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Be prepared. All right, last question. Binge. Watch your own show or never watch it.

[Nzinga Imani]

Ooh. I hate to say this, but it's so hard for me to watch myself back.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

So many people say that. So hard.

[Nzinga Imani]

I do, because I feel like you have to learn, you have to grow. You have to see the way things are being done. But I can only do it once. I cannot watch it over and over again.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, for me, it's like watching tape. Like an actual. Like, I watch it so I can get better. Like, to get better and to study myself. I'm like, okay, I could have done better here. I could have taken a longer beat there. Or I should have, like, did a different octave in my voice, because sometimes I can talk very monotone. So I'm working on inflections and different things like that. But, yeah, when I watch, I can only watch it once. I can't go back.

[Nzinga Imani]

Yeah, same.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Oh, great. This has been fun.

[Nzinga Imani]

So much fun.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes. Thank you so much.

[Nzinga Imani]

Thank you. I appreciate it. Jinx.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

1, 2, 3. No, but they're gonna love this. They've been asking for you. And thank you so much for taking time to come sit down.

[Nzinga Imani]

Anytime, girl. You let me know. And if y'all wanna keep asking, I'll keep coming.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Okay. I guess you heard it here. Thank you so much.

[Nzinga Imani]

Thank you, love.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

When I say I absolutely enjoyed my conversation with Nzinga, if I had to take one thing away, it would second chances. After being raised in a church and experiencing church hurt, she did not let that keep her away from cultivating her own relationship with God. Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the Keep It Positive, Sweetie Show. Today's episode doubled down on how confidence, perseverance, and consistency can take you places. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with someone who could use some positive energy. You guys can follow me on all platforms at lovechristalrenee and you can follow the show at keepitpositive. Sweetie, if you want to write into our Positive outcomes listener letter, you can send us an email to keepitpositivesweetiemail.com Remember, no matter what life throws at you, stay focused, stay confident, and, as always, keep it positive. Sweeties, I'll see you guys next time.