Photo: Aaron Poole/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Awkwafina has spent most of her career struggling but never gave up on her dream — now she wants to inspire others to strive to achieve their own dreams.
TheCrazy Rich Asiansactress, 29, shared an emotional tweet on Monday — two days before the highly anticipated premiere of her upcoming film — and shared an inside look into her rollercoaster ride to Hollywood’s A-list, which began with the release of a YouTube video she made in 2012.
The actress, who birth name is Nora Lum, said she knew the video “probably wouldn’t do well — and it would make me the laughing stock of every job interview ever.”
Despite knowing the possible outcome, she didn’t let that stop her from continuing to create content.
“I wrote a song called NYC Bitches while making $9/hr at a vegan bodega. After it went on YouTube, a man came in asked if I was Awkwafina — it made me so happy,” she wrote. “One day, I got the email of my life. An A&R exec at a major record label wanted to meet with me.”
Awkwafina/Twitter

Fast forward and the rapper has found new success in the all-Asian cast — as well as her other acting gig oppositeSandra BullockandCate BlanchettinOcean’s 8.
RELATED VIDEO: Cast of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Hit the Carpet at LA Premiere in Millions of Dollars’ Worth of Fashion
“I remembered those days when I got fired from my job for Awkwafina, when I was broke for Awkwafina, when I got kicked off line-ups because “Awkwafina is a joke.” Awkwafina was a dream I was chasing, and in some ways, I am still chasing her,” she continued, speaing of her stage persona.
It centers on an American-Asian woman dating a wealthy man from a prominent family from Singapore. Drama ensues when she realizes his mother could get in the way of their romance.
source: people.com