Shayla Racquel

Shayla Racquel is an energetic, quintessential creative with a passion for storytelling birthed and honed by her southern roots. She is no stranger to overcoming odds - diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease at birth and a stroke at the mere age of 12, her battle with this illness brought her closer to the art of storytelling, which unlocked her love for filmmaking. 

Shayla’s work has been featured in over 40 film festivals and has received over 20 awards to date, including a Student Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences - National Capital Chapter. Her storytelling capabilities have been featured in the Washington Post, VIBE magazine, and numerous other notable outlets.

Shayla Racquel was the lead director of the premiere show for Keke Palmer's KeyTV Network. She has since directed three digital series for the network, garnering over a million views. She was a 2023 Finalist for the National Black Arts Horizon Award for Emerging Artists and a 2023 finalist for the Seriesfest x Shondaland Women's Directing Mentorship Program. 

Lastly, Shayla serves as the Executive Creative Director for Chosen Few Creative Agency and works as a director/producer in the commercial space. She has participated in the creation of global campaigns with clients such as American Cancer Society, Procter & Gamble, Design Essentials, Facebook Meta, and many more. Her felicific smile and appreciation for life brighten any room – you will always know it's her when she greets you with, “Smiles are Sunshine for the Soul!”