To usher in the return to school season, we tapped starlet Mychal-Bella Rayne, one of the stars of Amazon’s The Underground Railroad Series which is directed by Academy Award-winner Barry Jenkins. Her on-screen powerful portrayal in the series is sure to further cement her success on the screen. Bella is definitely one to watch!
The 10-part Amazon limited series is an adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The series premiered May 14th and follows the story of Cora who is on a journey from freedom while a notorious slave trader is in hot pursuit. This series is even more poignant as we celebrate Juneteenth and the storied past of black Americans in this country.
Bella is wearing a special gold necklace that was issued to acknowledge the legacy of Harriet Tubman.
“The inspiration for Bella’s wardrobe was definitely a mix of current trends with a retro flare. The top hat was inspired by a late 80s photo of Lisa Bonet. I wanted to keep the fashion fun adding different texture and bright colors. Some of my favorite pieces on Bella were the blue sequin OTT Dubai pants and the Elliatt three piece set we paired with the top hat.” – Stylist Courtney Welch
Celebrity make up artist Renee Loiz explain the magic behind Bella’s look for our shoot, “Bella’s skin is absolutely perfect which inspired me keep her look youthful and glowing while showcasing her natural beauty. For her I wanted her natural texture and volume to come through, but also play around with different styles to add variety.”
We also caught up with the young star to ask a few questions in addition to our fun fashion editorial.
Tell us a little about your background:
All of my family lives in North Carolina. I have a sister who is 20 years older than me, and two nieces.
Tell us a bit about how you felt when you heard the news that The Underground Railroad received 7 Emmy nominations?
When I first heard the news, I was ecstatic. At first, I only heard that we were nominated for 4 Emmys. But, later on, I figured we were nominated for 7. THAT’S CRAZY!!! I was shocked. I’m still processing it to this day.
How was your experience preparing for The Underground Railroad?
When I first got the script for The Underground Railroad, I read through the whole thing. Later on, my mom bought the book to try to find out who my character was. But, she couldn’t because I wasn’t in the book. Barry created my character.
My character was created but I later realized after reading the script that Grace was just like me. An intelligent girl who taught herself how to read and write. She was empowerment …it wasn’t hard to deliver the character once I saw that she was me.
What was it like on set?
While filming the TV series, I enjoyed how everyone felt like family and we treated each other that way. The only challenge that we all probably faced was the Covid-19 outbreak. Being on set: Barry was flexible & he allowed me to improv becoming the character organically. The set wasn’t stressful at all; which turned out beautiful on screen for everyone.
What was a memorable moment from the production?
A memorable moment from the set would probably be when I said Thuso’s character name, Cora, wrong. I was left with laughter from that experience.
How would you define your personal style?
As of right now, I wouldn’t define my style because some days I could be really tomboy-ish or some days I could be really girly. My style pretty much depends on my mood for that day. I love the freedom it gives me.
How has things changed for you on the modeling front this year? We noticed that you have been very booked and busy on the modeling front.
I have always been busy doing modeling but this year was what I feel like was my breakthrough in the modeling industry. I’ve been doing bigger and better brands. All the way up to a billboard in Times Square. It can only grow from here.
What is a lesson learned from this experience?
A lesson that I have learned is that you don’t always have to say exactly what the line says. Sometimes you can do things your way. And when the director gives you freedom to do things your way on set, it can come out a masterpiece.
What tips do you have for your peers that are interested in a career in modeling?
Some tips that I would give other kids my age in or trying to get inside of the modeling world; to stay confident in themselves and don’t let anyone bring them down. In the end it’s all worth it.
Do you haven rituals or routines for when you do fashion or commercial shoots?
I actually do not have any specific routine that I do when I go on any set. But, if I’m doing commercials where I have lines to re-memorize; I would usually go over them every hour or so just so that I could get them in my head and know what I’m doing on set.
Can you tell us what is on the way in term of productions?
I have many projects in the making that I can’t share with you all because of NDA’s. But I can share the recent booking! The ABC pilot “Queens” where I will playing the role of Eve’s daughter.
What is on your playlist? What are you listening to?
I have almost over 200 songs on my playlist, it just depends how I’m feeling. My favorite artist is Billy Eillish. She is constantly on repeat.
How has it been interacting with fans? How do you use social media to connect with them?
Sometimes when I go live, once in a while, I talk to my fans. Instead of being on social media all day. I will go outside, ride my longboard, roller skates, play piano, guitar, go swimming, etc. When I do go on social media I enjoy meeting people, it’s really cool because I meet people from all over the world!
How would you characterize the past year of your life?
The past year or so has been very eye opening for me. I learned what is valuable like family & friends. Being stuck in the house with Covid made us see what is important and also appreciate the little things like going outside.
Thank you for taking time to give Cachet Digital a peek into your world Bella! We look forward to seeing you on our screens very soon!
Credits:
Photographer: @lovelenaocean
Wardrobe: @_styledbyc_
Makeup/Hair: @reneeloizmakeup of @exclusiveartists using @exa.beautyFoundation, @tower28beauty Gold Coast, and @patmcgrathreal Lip Balm
Creative Direction: @reneeloizmakeup