Authority Magazine

Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff Shares Her Top Selfcare, Wellness, and Beauty Tips

An Interview with Maria Angelova

[as originally published on medium.com]

At times it feels like wellness or elevating one’s well-being, is diametrically opposed to high achievement and high performance in one’s career. The stress, mental energy, long hours, lack of restful sleep and preoccupation that result from a high-achievement life seem to directly inhibit wellness. And yet, in order to sustain the creativity, flexibility, mental acuity and resilience that are necessary for high performance, wellness and wellbeing of the mind, body and soul are also mandatory. So how do we achieve both? This is the question I’m hoping to answer through conversations with high-achieving leaders and influencers who are practicing their own philosophies about how to maintain their wellbeing.

As a part of our series about “Social Media Influencers Share Their Top Self Care, Wellness, and Beauty Tips, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff.

Actress, producer, and entrepreneur Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff created the Goddess of Slots as a result of a jackpot win that went viral on social media. Now known by the moniker, she has become a formidable influencer in the casino and gaming industry. Her vibrant social media presence captivates her ever-increasing audience with a mix of engaging content, game tutorials, humor, fashion, and exciting promotional activities — all serving to drive widespread interest to the gaming world. In the film and TV industries, Lorraine is known for roles in such films as Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn, Six Gun Savior, The Martial Arts Kid, and Swing State. She has also appeared on Netflix’s Real Rob as well and a number of HBO television series.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory of how you came upon this career path to where you are today?

After graduating college, I began working as an actor, appearing in both movies and television. I’d earned my Master’s Degree and worked as a school social worker and therapist, while also getting into property investment and rentals. I continued auditioning and pursuing my acting career until, one day, while between acting jobs, I happened to pass a bank of slot machines at a casino. I played it and hit a jackpot. The moment was filmed so I posted it online and it went viral. A friend pointed out that there was a niche for casino influencers, and I realized I enjoyed the spontaneity and fun of creating those reels. That’s when I decided to pursue this new career path.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My parents instilled in me the confidence to pursue my interests and not worry too much about the naysayers, and that mindset has served me well. Education further strengthened that foundation. My degree in communication, journalism, and theatre — along with years of acting classes in both NY and CA — helped me feel comfortable in front of the camera. Earning my MSW and working with people taught me how to engage easily with others and truly listen to their life stories. It was a friend who introduced me to the world of social media casino influencers and connected me with people already in the industry who were willing to guide me. For example, The Big Jackpot, a well-known casino influencer, has always been generous in answering my questions and making helpful introductions. We’ve even collaborated on posts, having fun gambling together and sharing the content with both his audience and mine.

It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story with us about the most humorous mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson or take-away did you learn from that?

Oh my goodness, I’ve made so many mistakes! From completely flubbing auditions to making errors in my social media posts for Goddess of Slots — like using too many hashtags, or posting vertical videos when they should have been horizontal, and vice versa. Each time, someone would point out the mistake, and I’d make a point to learn from it and improve the next time. One of my strengths has always been staying flexible and open enough to learn from those slip-ups.

As an influencer, you have been blessed with great success in a career path that many have attempted, but eventually gave up on. In fact, perhaps most people who tried to follow a career path like yours did not succeed. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path but know that their dreams might be dashed?

Don’t give up. That’s the best advice I could give. I’ve spent a lot of time researching different aspects of what I wanted to achieve — like building my audience on social media. I’ve stayed persistent and consistent, posting every single day, studying algorithms, popular music, trending tags, and asking for advice from people who knew more than I did about the areas where I needed guidance.

Can you share with our readers some of the strategies you’ve used to build an engaged, loyal, and large online community?

I try to engage with my followers as much as possible, even if it’s just a smiley face. People appreciate being acknowledged, and I’m happy to do that. I’m authentic — what you see is what you get. If I make a mistake, I own it. I’m silly and playful, and I think people appreciate that too. I also try to keep my posts interesting, with variety and clever comments.

Okay, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. In my work, I focus on how one can thrive and care for oneself in three areas: body, mind, and heart. You are a busy person with a demanding schedule, can you share with our readers two self-care routines, practices or treatments that help your body thrive? (Kindly share a story or an example for each.)

I love showers and baths, and I always make time for them, with music playing loudly. Baths soothe me, while showers invigorate me, so I do one or the other every day, depending on what my body needs. I also have a morning skincare routine to start my day and an evening routine to help me wind down. That time is non-negotiable for me. I also try to get some form of exercise every day. Sometimes it’s vigorous, like cycling or running on the treadmill, and sometimes it’s with weights, especially when I want to feel strong. Other days, I do yoga or Pilates, depending on what my body needs. Swimming is a favorite because it combines everything, so I swim whenever I can.

Can you share with us two routines that you use to help your mind or heart to thrive?

I see a monthly massage as a necessity. And occasionally, I’ll put the phone and social media down, climb into bed, and give myself permission to just chill — whether it’s reading a book or zoning out with a mindless TV show. Music is a constant in my life. I love all genres and usually have something playing, depending on my mood. I’ll be singing, dancing, or just relaxing. Sometimes, I need to be in nature, so I’ll take a short walk to clear my head. Being near water soothes my soul, but being around trees feels good too. And I always say my prayers before bed. I give thanks and pray for my loved ones. It’s a beautiful way to stay grounded in gratitude and humility… READ MORE