The short one-hour drive from Detroit to Flint is the metaphorical bridge between two worlds that have shaped Ryan Destiny’s past and future. The Motor City native recently took on her biggest role in The as , a young woman from Flint that went on to become one of the The emotional drama is one Destiny’s most ambitious and, according to her, has forced her to tap into parts of herself she hadn’t ever touched. “I really liked being stripped down and having people see me in a whole new light is something that I’m really excited for,” Destiny tells ESSENCE.
“I know that it’ll shock a lot of people, even my family.” The film follows the life of Shields as a teen grappling with poverty, growing pains and inequities while working her way up the ranks of professional boxing. Also starring Academy Award-nominee Brian Tyree Henry who portrays Shields’ coach and surrogate father, the story is a bit of a departure from Destiny’s typical roles.
One of the most followed young startlets online, she is the face of countless beauty and fashion brands. “[This change of pace] was something I really wanted,” Destiny says. “I know how people perceive me, and I am aware of the box I was starting to be put in.
I’ve always known I was capable of so much more, but other people didn’t realize that, and that really bothered me.” Destiny first came on the scene as one-third of the girl group and eventually turned to acting, finding success as the perpetually-coiffed on.
