Olivia Jordan’s Next Act

Olivia Jordan has worn many hats—actress, model, former Miss USA, coach, speaker, wife and mother. Today, the Tulsa native coaches actors, develops creative projects and recently earned a star on Circle Cinema‘s Walk of Fame.

What began as a five-year plan to become a series regular on television has stretched into 15 years, teaching Jordan to trust her own timing and redefine success along the way. She’ll share those lessons in her TEDx Talk, “Your Pursuit Is Your Purpose,” on Sept. 18 at Riverfield Country Day School.

TK: How do you know when you are being called to pursue something and that you aren’t simply chasing the next shiny thing?

Olivia: I think it requires continually coming back to yourself and asking, “Why am I doing this?” Am I seeking validation from the outside world, or do I believe this is how I’m meant to contribute?

Meditation helps me quiet the outside noise and listen to my inner voice. Every time I ask myself whether acting is still the right path for me, the answer is yes.

That doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the only thing I ever do. The lessons I’ve learned while pursuing this dream may be preparing me for an entirely different chapter.

TK: You originally gave yourself five years to pursue acting, and now it has been 15. What has kept you going?

Olivia: When I look at my life from year to year, I can see clear milestones of personal growth. I’m more confident and assertive, and I’ve strengthened my skills. Pursuing acting has challenged me to become a stronger version of myself.

TK: How has becoming a mother influenced your personal growth?

Olivia: Being a mother is the best and wildest journey. It has expanded my patience and my capacity in ways I never expected.

One of my biggest priorities is helping my daughter, Lola, develop emotional regulation skills. I want her to know there is space for her big feelings and that she can process difficult emotions in healthy ways.

We practice meditation, deep breathing and affirmations. I want her to have tools she can return to throughout her life. At the same time, I want other mothers to give themselves grace.

TK: How do you balance motherhood while continuing to pursue your dreams?

Olivia: I try to be honest about both sides of it. There are difficult nights, sleepless nights, auditions, disappointments and times when I have to stretch myself.

But I also want Lola to see me pursuing meaningful work. I hope she learns that dreams require effort, that growth can be uncomfortable and that we can continue moving forward even when life doesn’t unfold exactly as planned.

Olivia Jordan with husband Jay Hector and daughter, Lola.

TK: How do you continue pursuing your dream when other people question your timeline?

Olivia: You cannot allow outside voices to determine your path. There will always be someone asking why it hasn’t happened yet, telling you that you’re doing too much or making you question whether your voice matters.

I believe we are all meant to shine and contribute to the world in our own unique ways. Sometimes, seeing someone pursue a big dream can be uncomfortable for people who don’t feel free to pursue their own. But we can’t allow that discomfort to stop us from living in alignment with our purpose.

TK: How did you become involved with Cody Mayo Studios and Tulsa’s growing film community?

Olivia: Cody and I trained at two of the same studios in Los Angeles, although we attended on different nights and didn’t know one another then. After I moved back to Tulsa, one of my former coaches encouraged me to meet him.

Months later, I was sitting in a dentist’s office and saw your TulsaKids article about Cody and his studio. I immediately contacted him and asked if I could join. A couple of months later, Cody asked when I was going to start coaching with him. That had never been part of my plan, but under his mentorship, I stepped into the role.

Teaching has been transformative. I’ve worked with phenomenal Oklahoma actors at many different stages, from preparing auditions to getting ready for their first movie premiere and press interviews. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of their growth.

TK: What did receiving a star on Circle Cinema’s Walk of Fame mean to you?

Olivia: It was surreal and completely unexpected. Circle Cinema has become such a happy place for my family and such an important part of my experience since returning to Oklahoma.

Circle Cinema truly feels like the heart of Tulsa’s film community. It brings actors, writers, filmmakers and other artists together through screenings, festivals, Coffee with Crew, the PJs and Pixels initiative and so many other opportunities.

To be recognized by an organization that does so much to support Oklahoma artists was incredibly special. I’m still amazed that my name is on that sidewalk.

TK: What are you most passionate about right now?

Olivia: I’m passionate about taking greater ownership of my future. Acting often requires waiting for someone else to choose you, and that can feel disempowering.

I’m now creating projects I can put into the world myself. I’m writing short scenes that I hope to film, developing my TEDx Talk, coaching actors and using social media as a creative outlet.

TK: What do you hope people take away from your TEDx Talk?

Olivia: We’ve all heard that the journey is more important than the destination, but I hope my story helps people understand that idea from a different perspective.

When you continue taking steps forward, you are learning and growing—and that is worthwhile in itself. Whatever your mountaintop goal may be, you are already doing meaningful work each time you get up and make progress.

It’s OK if you haven’t published the book yet. It’s OK if you haven’t reached the dream job or achieved the goal. You are moving forward, and there is purpose in the pursuit itself.

Learn More

Hear the full conversation on the Sharing Passion and Purpose podcast, including Olivia’s advice for moms with kids of all ages.

Learn more about TEDx Riverfield at riverfield.org/tedx or follow @tedxriverfield on Instagram.

Connect with Olivia online: 

• Instagram: @theoliviajordan 

Nancy A. Moore is an adjunct professor at Tulsa Community College and has been a writer for TulsaKids for more than 20 years. Her podcast, Sharing Passion and Purpose, can be found on most podcasting platforms or on NancyMoore.co.