Last Wednesday night Rémy Martin launched their 2016 Circle of Centaurs program with guest of honor Jackie Cruz.
Orange is The New Black actress and singer and photographer Jackie Cruz was the newest addition to Rémy Martin’s Circle of Centaurs. The Circle of Centaurs program is a mentorship program branching off of the One Life/Live Them campaign. Circle of Centaurs allows creatives to share their experiences and challenges regarding a particular theme. As the newest mentor, Jackie Cruz performed for guests with her band “The Family Portrait” and shared a video in which she discusses her passions. Cruz will be a mentor in the singing category. Through an online singing competition one lucky winner will have the chance to be mentored by Jackie as well as receive funds to further their musical interests. More of the Orange is the New Black family came out to show their support including Diane Guerrero, Adrienne Moore, Selenis Leyva, Yael Stone and Karina Ortiz and actors Colin Egglesfield and Nolan Funk also made an appearance. Jackie gave us an exclusive about mentors who’ve impacted and shaped her outlook on life, check out the interview below.
Can you talk to us about the best part of this collaboration?
The best part is that I get to mentor someone and inspire someone on something that maybe they don’t feel that they can do. I get to believe in them which was very valuable for me growing up. I had five mothers who pushed me and pushed me. I was knocked down more than once and they never let me give up and that’s important to have in life so thats’s the most important thing for me in Circle of Centaurs, Rémy Martin One Life/Live Them, you have millions of passions and why not do all of them.
Can you elaborate on a mentor you’ve had in your life?
I had my mothers, but there was this – I don’t call her a mentor because she was 8 years old, but that little girl changed my life. I was in a car accident at 17 and this little girl who was quadriplegic would come into my room every night and I didn’t notice because I was so into myself, I didn’t like the way I looked. I had a shaved head and crooked face and then I was like mom I’m gonna go talk to her, do you know where she is? I go up and was like wassup and she was like you had brain surgery too, and I said I did and she said I think you’re really pretty and I wanna be like you when I grow up and that did it for me. I went back to Dominican Republic, I rehabilitated and came back with my hospital mullet an I was ready to take the world and it took me 15 years, but I’m here.
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