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photo by Joie de Vivre photographie
She embodies beauty and embraces diversity. She is unique, and being in her presence alone gives you the feeling of empowerment. Having travelled all over the world working in the entertainment industry as a makeup artist for numerous celebrities, JoAnn Wabisca’s remarkable journey eventually brought her to the Santa Clarita Valley.
Born in Canada, in the northern part of British Columbia, JoAnn is of Native American and French descent. “My background really developed me as a child,” states JoAnn. “The awareness of being a part of a Native American community who was forced to change or assimilate, created me to be proud of my heritage…My ancestors were storytellers, and I always knew I would be a part of storytelling.”
“I journeyed from the north to Hollywood, and continued to work in the entertainment industry,” states JoAnn. “After travelling all over the world, from Brazil, to Europe, to the United States and Canada, being requested by prominent producers and directors to work for them as a makeup artist, I was doing well…but I needed to find something for myself.”
At the age of 35, JoAnn decided she wanted to do something different; she wanted to return to her native roots. “I am a story teller, and I saw how traditional beadwork was a form of story telling.” In 1991, JoAnn became a fashion designer of Native American contemporary couture clothing. “Working with the community, we produced clothing on the reservation. I recognized a new way of expressing fashion and was amazed with how well it was received.” JoAnn’s clothing line was sold to stores in New York, Santa Fe, Aspen, Los Angeles and London.
While she parted ways with her fashion designer endeavors, JoAnn knew she did not want to return to Hollywood. “I didn’t have the spark to go back to Hollywood, so I turned to meditation, to dance and hip hop and even kickboxing.”
Once JoAnn learned to spar, she became aware of her calling. “It was then that I realized this is how I’m going to learn my journey, and this is how I was going to learn what life’s about.”
JoAnn embarked on a new adventure, into the world of martial arts. “There was this inner knowledge that this is what I was here to do, and as I closed one door, I immediately embraced another. I began fighting when I was 35, and continued in my 40’s. I competed all over the world, and now at the age of 55, continue to express my story through the world of martial arts.”
She also recently completed her short film “Unbound” in which she acted, wrote, directed and produced. Currently her short documentary “Shame No More” has been accepted in Women in Minorities and Media International Film Festival and will premier in April. The film is about members of her family who attended Canada’s Indian Residential Schools.
JoAnn continues to tell her story through martial arts. “I train intelligently for longevity. Women are naturally designed to be expressive through martial arts. Our natural softness and intuition can be utilized powerfully in this form of physical practice.”
For more information you can contact JoAnn at joannwabisca@gmail.com. |
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