Kiara Iman, an Augusta University alumna and actress in the new movie “Praise This,” said not long after she decided to surrender her love of acting, God gave it back to her.

Iman was a young girl living in Ohio when she first discovered her love for acting.

“I actually got into acting at 8 years old when I started with camps, modeling, training and just working with small groups,” Iman said.

Iman received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Augusta University’s Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences in 2022. A couple of days after graduation, she landed a role in “Praise This,” which is now streaming on Peacock.

“I just want to tell people to keep going. Don’t settle with where you are, and don’t neglect that feeling of, ‘There’s more that I’m supposed to be doing.’”

Kiara Iman, Augusta University alumna and actress

Not only did Iman recognize her own talents and strengths when it came to acting, but so did her parents. When she was in high school, her father told her she’d be a great fit for John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School.

Initially, her mother wasn’t too fond of the idea of Iman moving to Augusta to attend the school, but she grew to accept that it was all for the success of Iman’s acting dream.

“It was a process of trying to convince my mom,” Iman said. “My mom said, ‘I don’t know, baby. I don’t know about letting you go.’ But she said, ‘If this is what you feel is on your heart, then you can do it.’”