In my humble opinion, Madison Bailey is a force to be reckoned with, embodying passion and family values at the very core of her being. Her journey, much like a well-crafted Southern tale, is as timeless as it feels. She’s not just a celebrity, she’s a sister, an auntie, and most importantly, herself – unapologetically authentic in every aspect of her life.
You might recognize Madison Bailey from her role as the carefree character Kiara in the series, “Outer Banks“, but this 25-year-old actress has talents hidden off-screen that have yet to be showcased on it.
Throughout her upbringing, music creation and writing were her most fervent passions. However, during her teenage years, she found herself unintentionally delving into acting. This unexpected turn led her to secure a recurring role in the DC superhero series Black Lightning, which subsequently catapulted her to fame with a leading part in Netflix’s popular show Outer Banks. The fourth season of this series will be available on October 10, and her movie, titled Time Cut, is slated for release on October 30.
Five years since the debut of Outer Banks, Bailey is once again embracing her initial passion by using her voice to entertain the masses. Recently, she released her debut single titled “The Grey,” which she characterizes as a song that embodies the essence of being true to oneself and living life freely, unfettered by societal constraints.
In this piece, Bailey openly discusses managing fame following the hit show Outer Banks, the significance of staying true to herself and proudly representing her queer identity, and her aspirations for where her musical and acting talents might lead in the time ahead.
What made you want to be an actor initially?
After attending my first acting class at age 15, I found myself captivated by the possibility of finding lasting love in this art form. At that age, everything can feel awkward and embarrassing. However, as I sat in that room with eight other students, they were performing an airplane scene where everyone was pretending to be on a plane. Despite it seeming a bit silly to me, there wasn’t a hint of self-consciousness among them. Instead, I felt more embarrassed just watching than they did participating! That moment of seeing a group of people fearlessly expressing themselves is what initially attracted me to acting.
What impact did your previous roles like portraying Wendy Hernandez on the DC superhero series “Black Lightning” have on your readiness for both the achievement and time demands of “Outer Banks”?
It’s hard to believe anything could have primed me for the rollercoaster ride that is Outer Banks. Now, Outer Banks has made up nearly half my acting journey, which is astonishing. I’ve been with the show for a full five years now, and nothing could have prepared me for the madness. Many in our profession will agree that the best lessons come from diving in headfirst and being present. For me, Outer Banks was my debut as a series regular, which meant it was my first time leading a cast and crew and forming a bond that feels like family.
As a gamer, stepping into the rhythmic world of music composition, I must say that unveiling my debut single “The Grey” has been quite an exhilarating journey. It’s like leveling up in a game, diving headfirst into a new creative realm and seeing what secrets it holds.
It’s been incredible. For me, it’s less of jumping to it and more of revisiting this lifelong dream before acting was even in my mind. Music is honestly the passion that raised me. I saw myself as a storyteller and for the majority of my life, music is how I wanted to tell my stories and to express myself and getting the opportunity in between projects and all of the craziness to make it happen, it’s a dream come true to even be making the music, let alone sharing it with the world, which is crazy and something I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to do.
What do you hope your fans and listeners overall take away from the song?
In my opinion, this debut song serves as a strong reflection of the overall style and artistic ethos I aim to express, which emphasizes embracing your true self and living life freely, unbounded by society’s constraints. I believe “The Grey” captures that essence flawlessly. The underlying theme revolves around finding comfort in the gray areas of life, understanding it’s not merely a transition phase but rather a state of freedom when you exist within those spaces.
What’s your ultimate goal with your music and how far would you like to take it?
To the best of my abilities, I’m sincere about this. It’s almost as if I’m going wherever fate leads me, like a leaf caught in the wind. However, I strongly feel that timing plays a crucial role, and this is the right moment for what’s happening now. I plan to create music for as long as my abilities allow, and it’s all so fresh and exciting! I’m in a stage of learning and can hardly wait to grow with it. If you had asked me ten years ago how long I would continue on this path, I wouldn’t have been able to answer. And the same is true today – I don’t know exactly how long I’ll be here, but I hope it’s for a very long time.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Madison Bailey (@madisonbaileybabe)
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome to get to where you are now?
One significant hurdle I’ve managed to conquer is my own self-doubts, those nagging feelings that there are people more gifted than you or that they have connections others don’t. Overcoming this struggle has been a battle, but validation from projects like Outer Banks, and other endeavors I’ve pursued, have served as beacons of hope along the way. Once you learn to step aside from yourself, you realize that you can often be your own worst critic.
What are ways you kind of disconnect from social media, work and life overall?
I find myself balanced between introversion and extroversion – a blend of solitude and sociability. I cherish my personal time, considering it a vital form of self-care, much like TLC. The saying “look good, feel good” seems evergreen, as does its sentiment. My family and friends play a significant role in this balance, serving not only as a means to unwind but also to reconnect with reality. As we discussed earlier, I am an individual with my own identity – I often speak to my family and say things like “I’m just your little sister” or “I’m one of the 10 kids,” even being affectionately labeled as the ‘really corny auntie.’ This authenticity is incredibly rejuvenating, and these young ones will certainly keep you grounded.
If you have a day off from everything, was does the perfect free day look like for you?
A blissful free day for me involves staying home, relaxing, and zoning out to reality shows. However, if I step out, a massage is usually my preferred choice. Spending time with friends is another favorite activity, whether it’s trying something new like an escape room or bowling, or hosting a game night at home.
How does it feel to be a respected figure in the LGBTQ community, yet continue to evolve and learn as an individual at the same time?
Initially, when I started using this platform and was told that many people admired me, I felt quite nervous. Over time, I’ve learned to reduce the pressure by being true to myself and unabashedly expressing who I am, which includes being openly queer. However, it can be hard to comprehend that strangers look up to you when all you see is a number of followers without a face. For me, connecting the dots and giving faces to my followers is by focusing on inspiring my nieces and nephews. I strive to share with them, and consequently with others, the same messages I feel comfortable presenting.
I think being honest is really, really important. I don’t think you get anywhere by telling people that you got here because you were like the most confident, the most put together, the most anything. And I’m like, no, I’ve been a mess this whole time. I’ve just been very, very passionate and very consistent. It’s a message that I always wanted to see when I was looking up to people and when I wanted to be in this industry. People like Jennifer Lawrence would just get in an interview and you felt how much they were being themselves and that’s something I always looked up to. It’s how I always imagined I would be in the public eye.
What would you tell younger Madison seeing what all you have accomplished so far?
Reflecting on my journey as a gamer, it feels like shouting out, “Mission accomplished! We stuck to our word and made it happen!” I can’t help but wonder what advice I’d give to my younger self if given the chance. The unwavering faith I had in myself seems almost illogical now. It’s pushed me to where I am today, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that self-belief. So, if I could talk to her, I’d ask, “How did you just know deep down that we would get this far?” And I imagine she’d respond with a smirk, “Remember when I told you so?
If you had to describe what makes Madison Bailey, Madison Bailey, what would you say?
I would say passion and family has just made me who I am. My family is a huge part of me and a huge part of pushing me to be myself. And I think growing up where I didn’t have to apologize so much for being a loud voice, benefited me in ways that I didn’t even understand at the time.
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2024-10-11 17:55