ANYANWU
ACTOR, MODEL, WRITER
"I was at my first stage rehearsal. Realizing that there’s space in this art for my identity as Black, Non-conforming Queer, and Female all in one body, my body. It was one of the best moments I've ever had."
FASHION
ANYANWU’s creative contributions include unway appearances at notable events like the Project Unbothered Fashion Show , starring in the internationally acclaimed film The Garden of Eden and award-winning performances in The Messiah Complex, and r.
THEATRE HIGHLIGHT
The Messiah Complex
Nia Witherspoon (playwright), Charlotte Brathwaite (Stage Director), Ni'Ja Whitson (choreography), Justin Hicks (composer), Cherríe Moraga (dramaturgy). STAGEBuddy Review
The Messiah Complex is a love story. Or many. It centers on Malika, a teenager on the trans-spectrum, who creates an alter-ego named Messiah, a popular basketball-ball star and aspiring rapper. When Messiah’s secret is revealed at 16, all comes crashing down, and s/he makes a fatal mistake. DJ Messiah, 10 years later, must face the literal ghost of a past mistake unearthed through a nightclub turned ritual. But this ghost wants more than reckoning. Set to the sound of hip-hop, the ring shout, and the wailing of ghosts, Messiah must find a way home. (BricArtsMedia)
BRIC Arts | Media House Residency, Brooklyn NY - LEAD ROLE: Young Messiah
The National Black Theatre, Harlem NY LEAD ROLE: DJ Messiah
Fire & Ink Conference, Detroit MI LEAD ROLES: Young & DJ Messiah
12th Downtown Urban Theater, Manhattan NY Festival LEAD ROLE: Young Messiah
DUTF Audience Award
Placed second for Best Play
Media not to be redistributed without model's written consent.
FILM HIGHLIGHT
THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Garden of Eden,” follows Jaliyah (Anyanwu Uwa) as she tries to make sense of her life as a young, newly outed lesbian. Following an altercation with her father, the 17-year old is forced into homelessness just neighborhoods away. As Jaliyah’s identity evolves, a friendship with an unlikely sidekick grows, along with her disdain for religion, society, and cultural norms. IMDb
2018 Screening at Paris Black Pride Official, Paris, France
2017 Cannes Creative Minds Short Film Corner recipient, Cannes, France
2017 Screening Presented by OKAYAFRICA, Brooklyn, NY
2017 Article: OkayAfrica Presents a Screening of 'Garden of Eden,' a Film About Self-Discovery
Media not to be redistributed without model's written consent.
COMP CARD
Height: 5'5'’/165 cm
Weight: 155 lbs/70 kg
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Waist: 33 in/84 cm
Chest: 36 in/92cm
Shoes: US 7.5M
ACTOR, MODEL, SPEAKER, ACTIVIST EDUCATOR & POET
IN MEDIA and more:
In addition to her creative contributions and achievements, ANYANWU has stood alongside leading trauma-informed and wellness-focused community action work, reflecting her unwavering commitment to creating spaces where healing, empowerment, and equity thrive. Through her company THE HUMAN ROOT and everything she touches, ANYANWU continues to push people to step into their power, embrace healing, and find their own path to freedom.
FORBES: Founder Of The Human Root, Helps Communities Redistribute Power
OkayAfrica: Screening of 'Garden of Eden,' a Film About Self-Discovery
CURVE MAGAZINE: #SafeWordSociety Is Everything ft. Ep 8 w/ANYANWU
Stage Buddy: Review: The Messiah Complex
PODCAST EPISODES:
SafewordSociety: Affirmations R' Us Season 3 Ep. 1
Collectively Speaking: Leading in Love & Lessons of Forgiveness w/Anyanwu Season 1 Ep. 8
As a public speaker, ANYANWU has delivered keynote addresses to audiences as large as 3,800, including at events featuring luminaries like Dr. Maya Angelou. Her story is one of resilience, shaped by her Jamaican Roots, Marin City, CA mentoring activists and her ability to survive and rise above harm from gun-violence, PTSD, and breast cancer.
ANYANWU is also a social entrepreneur and activist. She founded The Human Root in 2016, where she developed equity strategies that transformed schools and organizations, generating $130,000 in start-up second-year revenue and empowering over 1,500 leaders. She also led a university intervention movement alongside civil rights leaders Rev. Amos Brown, a mentee of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm Byrd, an interfaith advocate, to address systemic inequities and create sustainable change.