Beyond the Lens with Elisa Berdugo
Updated: 3 days ago
It is really my pleasure to interview this next guest, Elisa Berdugo!... She is a Former Colombian Beauty Queen, Travel & Marketing Company Owner, Actress, Model, Influencer... And if that wasn't already enough to love about her... on top of all that she has her own charity - Hands for Children, where she provides nourishing meals to underprivileged children in her native country of Colombia. 🇨🇴 That implies she actually has a genuine heart for people, and volunteers to go out of her way to do for others as she would want done for herself... Oh... aaaaaand one more thing... she has a law degree!!!... Which means it's not just exceptional beauty with her... she also has an exceptional brain too... So that's the good news, for starters.
Now for the BAD news... Not to rain on anybody's parade of course, because I'm sure I'm the only one that was actually wondering about this... but just incase anyone else was curious... Spoiler Alert: She's married... and she doesn't have any twin sisters... I know, I know... sorry guys... I ALREADY ASKED!... What can I tell you... sometimes this life can be so unfair!!... I only asked for the sake of thorough editorial investigative journalism... I mean, enquiring minds have to know, of course.
Now before we get into her interview... Consistent with her character, Elisa was kind enough to listen to a few sample clips of the Death of a Cameraman podcast. A podcast about the rise and fall of myself... a Hollywood Casting Professional who worked on projects for creative artist like Michael Jackson, Salma Hayek, Heidi Klum, Beyonce and then lost everything during COVID and was forced to live out of my car.
For context the first video below is a short clip where I talk about the first time I realized other people could see I was homeless. The following video is Elisa's reaction video to this sample.
Thank you soooooo much for giving us that reaction video Elisa!!... Your reaction video captures emotional weight I can never produce with words! If you are interested in the hearing the podcast please start episode #1 on the link below. https://www.deathofacameraman.com/post/death-of-a-cameraman-episode-01-faq-s
And now let's get right into the rest of Elisa's interview...
Aaron: How would you describe who you are today?
Elisa: I am a Child of God - my spirituality is the most important, I am a grateful Mother who cares for her child, a woman that loves everything around me, my family, my country and people.
Aaron: What are you working on now??
Elisa: I'm getting ready for my next opportunity!... Training! Updating my demo reel! Working on myself!
Aaron: What first pulled you toward a career in entertainment?
Elisa: I got “discovered“ by accident. I was In law school, doing homework in a government building and someone from a pageant organization asked me if I wanted to compete in a pageant - on short notice - without training... and I went to the pageant and I won... and it launched my career.
It felt like destiny or something I dreamt before - but I forgot about it because growing up, I always dream of being a beauty queen but never thought it will happen to me - so I moved on from that dream.
Aaron: What is something you had to learn the hard way??
Elisa: You have to show up to work ready! One time I was not ready and I lost a job. I really wanted, it was a fashion show - you have to show up ready physically and mentally to perform to win - to be your best!
Aaron: Tell us about your law practice. I love the duality of your ambition in entertainment and in law... If I need free legal advice, can I call you?
Elisa: No - you can’t call me because I only can practice in Colombia legally
I never really practiced law - just a little bit.
When I started working in entertainment in Colombia, my career kind of take off - I just knew I wanted to be in front of the camera. But the reason I study law was to help others - being a model and a beauty queen in Colombia has helped me launch my foundation and do what I wanted all along.
Aaron: Have you ever had a "Death of a Cameraman" moment?
Elisa: Many times... When I lost Miss World Colombia - I worked very hard to win that pageant and I had to comeback to my small town to start again. When I became a mother - I have to change everything about myself. When I got diagnosed with cancer - I got my faith strengthened and many other times in my life, but these are the most important.
Aaron: Has being photographed, filmed, or seen publicly affected how you view yourself?
Elisa: Yes, I'm always very insecure about myself. I don’t want to brag but, people in the industry said "You so beautiful"… or regular people on the street… say it … I say, "Thanks so much" with gratitude. But… inside me… I don’t feel too beautiful. I can tell you many areas of me I don’t like.
Aaron: What is the difference between how people see you and who you really are?
Elisa: I look very confident - powerful, strong, and beautiful. But I’m very insecure, I doubt. I’m weak most of the time and I don’t like many of my features - I work very hard in the gym... maybe because of that.
Aaron: Have you ever felt trapped by an image, role, look, job, or identity?
Elisa: Of course! All the time!! But my country - my culture - being Latina - we have very high beauty standards.
Aaron: What role has discipline played in your journey?
Elisa: Big one - I still train... And I look younger than I am, because of diet/exercise and I make myself - even if I'm uncomfortable... I want to show up looking perfect.
I study. I go to acting classes. I go to networking events and I always try my very best even if I don’t feel my best, but I remember… when I was in Colombia... when I was starting to follow my dream... it was one hundred times harder. I had no car. I had to take buses. No A/C... Travel to model jobs, or pageants even if I didn’t have money or they were so far away from my small town. I remember arriving all sweaty... and if it rains!... The floods!! Have to take my heels off and cross sewer water! So I'm not complaining now! It's easier! But you still need discipline!
Aaron: If someone discovers your story for the first time through Beyond the Lens, what do you hope they take away from it?
Elisa: I hope - Maybe not yet, I still need to do more. But I would like to inspire others - specifically little girls in my country, that no matter where you come from... Your dreams can come true!
It's absolutely amazing thinking about everything this woman has been through... Third world poverty... walking through sewage in the streets... very high level academic achievement... As well as very high level professional achievement competing in Miss World Colombia... cancer diagnosis... business owner, charity founder... I'd say Elisa is doing a knock out job of inspiring us all. What a testimony!... I don't think she has anything to feel insecure about.
In my life... in my career... I've met so many just... simply entitled people... that believe they're so cool, or "somebody" because they can wear their hat slanted a certain way... or they sag their pants a certain way... or they wear their sunglasses indoors for "the look", or "the fit"... or they have this purse or that purse, or talk with certain slang... or smoke a certain way... and many of these people actually believe that this type of supercial, instant micorwave mentally makes them someone of elevated relevance. When in truth, they haven't accomplished anything in their life of any real significance... It is rare to find a woman... a person with such depth of character. God has truly blessed you, and gifted you with so much perspective that most people will never gain. God gave you a gift that money just can't buy...
Thank you so much again for this amazing interview!... Ladies & Gentlemen... THE Elisa Berdugo... she's wonderfully inspiring...
You can follow her journey online at - https://www.elisaberdugoactress.com/ and on Instagram @eliase.daily
I would like to thank my sponsor -- IULaccount.com... your go to source for all things Life Insurance, Trust & Estate Planning, Infinite Banking Strategy, Generational Wealth Building, and Tax Free Retirement Savings. If you believe taxes will go up in the future, you should call us... If you believe taxes will go down in the future you should call us. Don't wait... Get ahead of the game!... Strategies and solutions for anyone ages 15 days old to 80+ years old. Give us a call now at 844.711.1130 or visit IULaccount.com to schedule your 100% free consultation.
Comments