MADE Magazine Tastemakers Issue 7 | Page 35

“It’s okay to love yourself. Find out what you’re here for. - TYLER LEPLEY Born and raised in Philadelphia, after college Lepley took the leap of faith to pursue a career in entertainment when he moved to Los Angeles. Unsure of the exact opportunity that would take him to the next level, one thing he knew for sure was his passion for the arts. With the right tools, advice and team, his journey had begun. “Don’t overlook the preparation aspect of it because in order for something to meet you, you gotta take the first step,” he explained. The art of practicing your craft with repetition seemed to be a #majorkey for Lepley. “Whatever it is that you’re doing, you have to do it over and over and over again….it takes repetition,” he explains. Like many millennials who quit their jobs or move suddenly to attain their ambitions, Lepley explained how friends and family questioned his decisions. In response to how to conquer the feeling of being selfish when pursuing your dreams alone, Lepley stated, “It’s okay to love yourself. Find out what you’re here for. I really believe we’re not here to just pay bills and get by.” His role as “Benny” on The Haves and Have Nots, now in Season 4, is proof that dreams do come true. Practice makes perfect, but balance is important as well as a rising tastemaker. Although Lepley saved his coins to invest in acting classes, admittedly, Lepley explained he still enjoyed himself in the process. He laughs, “I’d go out here and there even when I was figuring it out because I think it’s important to have balance.” Lepley encouraged rising stars interested in breaking into entertainment to prepare thoroughly while traveling on the road to success. This sense of self-enlightenment and awareness may be a success factor that contributes to Lepley’s plethora of opportunities including Season 5 of the Have and the Have Nots and a new lead role in TV One movie called “Ringside”. It’s pretty clear that Tyler Lepley is on the Who’s Got Next list. MADE-MAGAZINE.COM POP CULTURE CELEBRITY 35