DIYA PATEL IS REWRITING THE SCRIPT

If there’s one thing Diya Patel knows how to do, it’s shape-shift — with purpose. Born in India, raised in Singapore, and now rooted in Los Angeles, the actress and model navigates creative spaces as if she’s never been told that “no” is a final answer. In truth, she’s heard it over a hundred times.

“Rejection was my rite of passage,” she says. “It took me a long time to build a reel strong enough to be taken seriously. But I’m not interested in the easy route. I’m here for the long game.”

You get that sense watching her in Waack Girls, the vibrant dance-centric series that pulses with emotional highs and hard-earned friendship. Patel plays the bride’s best friend, a character caught in the chaos and beauty of a modern Indian wedding. “It’s the kind of role that asks you to be every version of yourself at once: joyful, nostalgic, wounded, protective,” she says. “And I loved that. Women aren’t binary. We feel a thousand things at once, and we shouldn’t have to apologize for that.”

While her role didn’t require her to master the show’s titular dance style, she was captivated by its cultural legacy. “Waacking was completely new to me,” she admits. “It originated in LA’s queer disco scene, and discovering it while living here now—it felt serendipitous. Even though I wasn’t dancing on camera, just learning about that history helped me drop deeper into the world of the show.”

But Patel’s ease on camera didn’t come from nowhere. Modeling was her first creative love, and it fostered the kind of resilience and adaptability many actors only dream of. “In fashion, the pace is relentless,” she explains. “You’re expected to change direction on a dime, embody a mood instantly, and trust the lens. It gave me the confidence to be fluid, to perform with presence instead of fear.”

Her modeling résumé reads like a curated global passport, including work for high-profile fashion houses, athletic brands, beauty companies. But Patel remains grounded in the artistry. “I wouldn’t call myself a fashionista,” she says. “But I do love good design. And I love the people. Every shoot is a crash course in collaboration with stylists, photographers, and creative directors. It’s great prep for film sets. It trains you to trust the process, even when it’s unpredictable.”

That instinct to observe and absorb came early. Raised in a fiercely creative household, Patel’s mother is a renowned photographer, and her father is a graphic designer. “Art was just... everywhere,” she recalls. “There were no ‘silly’ ideas in our house. Whether it was a shadow, a splash of paint, a human expression, we were taught to notice everything. My mom’s meticulous eye definitely shaped how I understand cinematic framing, and my dad gave me this sense of curiosity that still fuels everything I do.”

Beyond the camera, Patel has a second passion: animal rights. “It’s where I feel the most human,” she says. In Los Angeles, she volunteers weekly at a rescue shelter, where she met her beloved dog, Johanna. In India, she dedicates time to a veterinary hospital that treats injured street animals. “There’s a profound kindness in that work,” she says. “It’s messy, hard, and deeply moving. It reminds me why storytelling matters—because at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to be seen and cared for.”

When she’s not acting, modeling, or advocating? She’s likely in the kitchen. “Cooking is another creative outlet for me,” Patel says. “It requires technique, imagination, discipline, and heart. And like acting, sometimes you follow the recipe. Sometimes you improvise. I love that balance.”

And as someone who has navigated cultural currents across continents, Patel credits her global upbringing with her chameleon-like presence. “Living in India, Singapore, and the U.S. gave me this layered lens. I’ve met so many kinds of people, heard so many truths. It’s impossible not to carry that with you into your art. It makes you softer, sharper, more open.”

For anyone considering a leap into a new creative space—say, modeling to acting—her advice is bold and honest: “Get comfortable with rejection. It doesn’t mean you’re not good. It just means you haven’t found your moment yet. Don’t be afraid to stand still while everyone rushes past you. Trust your gut, stay weird, and never lose the fire to keep going.”

Patel makes it clear that she’s not waiting for a door to open. She’s building her own house.

BDG Media newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.