Jessica (Jess) Bailey exudes effervescence and has a confidence evident to anyone who meets her. However, the journey of her transformation into the powerful woman she is today is, ironically, reminiscent of a movie plot.
Jess's story begins in a small village in Nigeria, where she lived with her mother and three siblings while her father pursued his university studies in Lagos. Financially constrained, her father relied on government scholarships to sustain his education. Like many kids, Jess’s Dad was her hero.
With her father away, Jess's mother became the family's main breadwinner. “I have visions of her very pregnant with firewood on her head and walking alongside her with my siblings. We would walk in heavy rain and scorching sun,” said Jess.
Following his graduation, Jess's father secured a job in Lagos and sent for his family to live with him. She and her brother commenced schooling and life was good. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when her father fell seriously ill, and just two years after their arrival in Lagos he passed away. The situation worsened when her father's family accused her mother of causing his death and refused to provide any assistance.
The broken family relocated to an isolated village devoid of electricity and running water. They lived in a one-bedroom mud hut with a leaking roof. Jess's mother had to regularly walk over 50 kilometres in search of food, while water had to be fetched from a stream. It was these trying times that became the catalyst for Jess's determination to create a better life for her family.
Two years later, Jess's uncle arrived from a nearby city and took her and her brother to live with him, where they commenced their education. It was here that storytelling became a place of comfort. She would watch Nollywood movies on her uncle's television, a luxury for most households. At school, Jess would narrate these stories to her classmates at lunch. “My friends always looked forward to this time. I would start with four friends listening to me but by the time I was halfway through the story I had a crowd!”
Upon completing school, Jess aspired to attend university. Despite consistently ranking at the top of her class, her applications were repeatedly rejected, leaving her confused and questioning her own worth.
It was at this time that Jess’s uncle's behaviour turned violent, and she was no longer welcome in his home. Some nights, she would have to sleep outside. Jess moved to a friend's one-bedroom house, where she managed to find a job paying less than $4 per hour. Any spare money was sent home to her family.
During this challenging time, Jess met an Australian man in his 40s who immediately offered to take her to Australia. “I didn’t even know where Australia was. I’d never heard of it”.
Jess was just 21 when she followed him to Perth. In her eyes, he represented a potential solution to her family's struggle. She accepted his offer to support her family financially. “I saw myself as a sacrifice,” she said.
Arriving in Australia, Jess fell into a state of depression. The relationship with her then-husband felt transactional rather than loving. Isolated, lacking any African companions and struggling with language barriers, Jess felt like a lost child. Once again, she sought solace in storytelling and began writing.
Jess panicked and was convinced that her passion for writing had no place in Australia. After seeking approval from her husband, Jess made a bold decision to move to Los Angeles and try acting. However, reality soon dawned that an acting career was impossible without a Green Card. Making the difficult decision to return to Perth, Jess embarked on a nursing journey.
Re-evaluating, Jess made a life-changing decision. She decided to turn the story she was writing into a film. A stranger she met in the park convinced her to enrol at Murdoch University to study Screen Production and Journalism.
The road was far from easy. Her accent and skin colour made her feel inferior to her white classmates. “Growing up we were taught that white people are only second to Jesus Christ. You can imagine how I felt in a classroom of people with an IQ I associated to be almost holy!”
While pursuing her studies, Jess faced the additional challenge of domestic violence after her husband lost his job. In her second year of study and pregnant with her second child, her husband ceased her family’s financial support. Jess felt completely lost.
Immediately after graduating in February 2018, she left her husband and Australia, returning to Nigeria to heal and rebuild. Immersed in her community, Jess regained her strength. When she decided to return to Australia in 2020, she approached her return with a determination to triumph. “I said to Australia, one of us is going to surrender and it’s not going to be me.”
When Jess returned to Perth, she shared her story with Screenwest. The same people whom she froze in front of at University were now met with her unwavering confidence as she pitched her ideas. She secured funding to write her story and her first film, I'm Not a Nurse (2022). Murdoch University lecturer, Dr. Glen Stasiuk, become the film's producer.
Reflecting on his time teaching and working alongside Jess, Dr. Stasiuk commended her for being passionate, highly motivated, and challenging the conventions of screen as an African woman. “Her passion and pride motivated all of the crew and cast, and I am especially proud of her efforts, craft and the film itself, “he said.
At the Australian premiere of her film, Jess was overwhelmed with emotion. The man who she had met in the park and convinced her to pursue screen studies at Murdoch accompanied her. “He’s like a father to me now, he’s so proud.”
To further add to her accomplishments, "I'm Not a Nurse" secured a Best Actress award for Christine Ayo at the Cannes Shorts Film Festival in 2023. “It felt so good. I never thought we’d even get a nomination. It’s interesting how we don’t always realise our potential,” said Jessica.
Following the film’s success, Jess decided to transform it into a written memoir. The process proved to be transformative. “It was a big healing process and gave me lots of reflecting time. It gave me time to be grateful for my challenges. I wouldn’t be who I am without them.”
Jess remains dedicated to filmmaking. She is determined to bring African stories to the forefront, in Australia and beyond. Alongside her mentoring business, True Voice, she is currently working on a new book scheduled for publication in the coming year.
Throughout her personal journey, Jess has come to appreciate the power and significance of authenticity. This realisation has driven her to share the lessons she has learned with the world.
“Passion, I believe, is the key to discovering our unique gift, leading us to fulfillment, love, and all the positive aspects that enrich both the individual and the community we serve.”
To learn more about Jess’s story, you can visit her website. You can also find her book, “I’m not a Nurse” here.
