Embrace The Unknown: Actress & Model Bianca Stam, From Hong Kong To The States
I am not only enough, I am plenty.
A short and simple statement yet powerful in a world that is quick to tell you differently.
Everyone knows the entertainment industry is tough one, filled with people ready to tell you all the things you are not and never will be. It takes some thick skin, passion, and love if you really want to pursue anything in this industry. Our latest collaboration is no stranger to the harshness of this world but her ability to adapt, manifest, and stand in her own power has helped her to create the life she’s always wanted.
Born and raised in Chicago, Bianca Stam, is a true Midwestern girl though spent a good portion of her life living between Hong Kong and the UK. Growing up in a single parent household, she spent a lot of time with her grandmother watching TV dramas including “Pearl Princess” which is where she realized she wanted to become an actress. It’s through these TV dramas that she also became fluent in Mandarin, even though she spoke Hokkien and Cantonese in her grandmother’s house.
By the way did we forget to mention that this woman is fluent in five different languages, Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Italian, and English. Whoa…crazy talented!!
This half Chinese, half Italian actress and model has made a name for herself in Hong Kong and is currently embracing the unknown by making the jump over to the states. We had a chance to sit down and chat with Bianca about her cross over journey thus far as well as other exciting projects she has going on.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR INTERNATIONAL JOURNEY INTO ACTING & MODELING. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?
My more notable and proud projects include 'OCTB' on Netflix and 'Chasing the Dragon' with Donnie Yen and Andy Lau. I would say I fell into acting in Hong Kong because I was already modeling commercially pretty successfully, and those two sometimes go hand in hand (I find this to be the case mostly in Asia.) I feel so blessed to be involved and I got those projects by grueling auditioning processes that I was not used to. I was more used to going to a casting and then either booking it or not. I find with acting that sometimes it's far more complicated than that. Currently I'm working on a pilot for a TV show with my Fiancé for the Food Network, a couple's cook off!
HOW HAS IT BEEN CROSSING OVER INTO THE STATES?
It has been more challenging than I expected, not going to lie. This is the most competitive industry in the world in the most competitive area in the world, Los Angeles. I love every second of it though, and I love the challenge. As long as I get to act, be with my loving fiance who fights for my love every single day, have my successful business on the side, I consider myself happy. Anything else I get is just the cherry on top of the cake.
YOU’RE ALSO AN INVESTOR IN A RESTAURANT?
I loved food and I really believed in my group I went all in with. Far beyond just a restaurant, it was a real estate investment for us so I was confident in my investment because I knew even if we failed restaurant wise, we couldn't fail buying that stunning building foreclosure. It was like almost immediately after i saw it I was in. I'm a TOTAL real estate nerd, being half Asian i just grew up having so much faith in it and had the goal to own as many properties in my life as I possibly can. So for me, it was a no brainer!
WHAT MAKES BAR ROMA SPECIAL?
Dining at Bar Roma is like going home. All our patrons are return folks who bring friends and family over, who bring other friends and family over. This is why we are successful, not only because our food is consistently good and excellently priced, but because we have a family atmosphere and treat everyone with genuine kindness and 0 discrimination. We are located at the heart of Andersonville, Chicago, which is a very LGBTQ friendly neighborhood and we believe everyone is equal and deserves to eat well. We're so honored to be amongst such kindness and creativity that is the soul of Andersonville.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON, HOW DO YOU MANAGE IT ALL?
I get this question a lot, I always feel like When I'm taking breaks I'm actually doing nothing. I hate it, so I love constantly moving. I feel stagnant now especially due to the pandemic happening, so daily I am working on things I didn't expect I would. I journal everyday to get to know myself more and more and realized a few things about myself that I want to rediscover. In college I was a huge arts and crafts nerd, I spent every single day making figurines and paintings. So to answer your question, I guess during this time I'd actually love to do MORE than I already do, because I cannot sit still!
WHAT PIECE OF ADVISE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
Have faith in yourself. You manifested so much already in your life that you never thought you could get, but here you are. Keep believing in yourself because you have so many people around you who love you and you're so blessed, the world makes it happen for you.
DESCRIBE YOUR SLAY.
My 'Slay' is my confidence to just be me. Just like everyone else I have days where I feel so discouraged, so far from my dreams and so under-accomplished. We just live in a world where we are constantly compared to each other and told we are not yet good enough. I just learned that now that I am almost 30, I've really come to terms with myself and my own center of happiness. I have worked so hard to slowly build myself up to the level of confidence I have no to say HEY! I don't NEED to constantly worry about my weight or my looks, I am perfectly beautiful the way I naturally am. NO to plastic surgery. NO to fixing my teeth (I was asked to do this countless times while modeling), I love my flaws and imperfections because I really truly love who I am as a person. I am kind, giving, hard working and these are all qualities that are stunningly beautiful, surpassing any gender, race, size etc. Girls need to wake up and say THESE are my greatest assets and these make me great. I am not only enough, I am plenty.