Anitaka Knight discusses life as a mom, actress, model, corporate professional and healthcare advocate, and what it means to stay rooted while pursuing her dreams.

​In 2020, Anitaka took a leap into the world of acting. Not long after, a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis dramatically shifted her journey, giving her a new purpose. Now, she advocates for health awareness in the Black community, encouraging women and girls to embrace their uniqueness and prioritize self-advocacy.

​The Pivot

While Anitaka always wanted to be an actress, she pursued a career in modeling at 18, aiming to appear on Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model. She says, “I found out quickly that I had two left feet and heels were not my favorite shoe.”

​During a photo shoot that turned into a motion video, a woman Anitaka met on set inquired if she was an actress. When Anitaka said she wasn’t, the woman told her she should reconsider. After that conversation, Anitaka got an agent.

​Anitaka’s journey into acting was further inspired by her 10-year-old daughter. She says of her daughter, “She actually started before me, so I’m following in her footsteps.”

​A Life-changing Diagnosis

In 2023, Anitaka and her then seven-year-old daughter were visiting Anitaka’s mother in San Antonio. One morning, Anitaka’s mother confronted her, noting that she had used the restroom 12 times during the night. Anitaka initially brushed her off, saying,  “I’m drinking water all the time because I’m working out. This is the best shape of my life.  My acting coach is telling me how great I look.”

Anitaka reluctantly took her mother’s advice and saw her PCP, but because their systems couldn’t provide definitive information, they referred her to the ER. Anitaka reflects on this experience: “They ran my blood. The ER doctor comes back and says, ‘Ms. Knight, we know you feel fine, but you’re very ill.’ I’ll never forget those words. Nothing made sense to me and nothing was adding up. My daughter was in tears.”

​With the ER doctor’s advice, Anitaka went to the ICU in downtown San Antonio. She was instructed to make the trip on a stretcher in an ambulance. She recalls, “ In my community, people of color getting on the ambulance is almost unheard of. You don’t get on the ambulance unless you absolutely have to. And even then, you phone a friend. I questioned why I couldn’t just drive myself.”

​Anitaka was told she needed an ambulance for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition where improper insulin use causes dangerously high blood sugar and ketone levels. Her blood sugar was five times higher than normal.

​During her time at the ICU, Anitaka could only eat ice chips for 48 hours, which frustrated her because she is a self-described foodie. The converging emotions of anger, anticipation and anxiety came to a head when a doctor came in and said, “ You’re a Type 1 diabetic and you’ll be insulin dependent for the rest of your life.”

Dexcom and Daily Life

Determined to meet her new reality head-on, Anitaka called every endocrinologist and managed to get an appointment the next week. During that visit, the endocrinologist told her about Dexcom’s continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, which tracks current glucose levels.

For Anitaka, wearing the Dexcom G7 has made day-to-day management much easier while she juggles the many roles in her life. She says, “I have real-time glucose alerts pop up on my phone and my watch. It’s been the best way I could ever imagine managing my diabetes because I’m always on the go. My daughter plays volleyball. I coach volleyball. I’m a working professional at AT&T. I’m an actress and mother.”

That level of support also gave Anitaka the confidence to share her story with Dexcom, which eventually led to a partnership. “It has been a huge catalyst in my acting career alone and diabetes awareness,” she says. “The best part is the diabetes family. I’ve just grown and have gotten to know others from telling my story and having partnerships like Dexcom supporting me.”

The Importance of Health Advocacy in the Black Community

When asked what the biggest challenges are for young Black women in healthcare, Anitaka explains, “ There is a knowledge gap between what’s out there and what we have accessibility to. I use myself as a prime example. Diabetes has always been out there, but I didn’t know what that meant.”

​Despite her father having Type 2 diabetes, Anitaka knew next to nothing about it. She says, “I could have had that conversation with my dad.”

To bridge the knowledge gap, Anitaka encourages more conversations with family and friends about health. She says, “ A lot of people don’t know anything until it’s time for them to know. And by then it’s usually too late.”

​Anitaka also emphasizes the importance of listening to your own body. She reflects, “ If I had been paying a little bit more attention to the frequency of bathroom breaks, and drinking five to six big bottles of Gatorade before bed due to thirst, I would have seen how that wasn’t normal. I also lost 20 pounds in the course of three months ahead of my diagnosis.”

​A second component in healthcare advocacy is facing adversity. A troubling diagnosis can bring anyone down, and it’s normal to feel sad and to have doubts. However, Anitaka encourages those to face challenges head-on. She says, “ I’ve always been a huge advocate for facing adversity, especially for people of color. It’s always easier to resonate with other people who have a similar background as you.”

​Anitaka continues, “Since it’s Black History Month, I really want to hone in on how  the statistics of diabetes for African American women with children and single family homes are high and growing.”

​Like Mother, Like Daughter: A Cohesive Team

​Anitaka’s story would be incomplete without proper acknowledgment of the role her daughter, Kayden Adams, has played in her life. The mother-daughter duo audition together and provide each other with emotional support. Anitaka proudly states, “A lot of our auditions are commercial auditions, so we can be our authentic selves for the most part.”

​Kayden is a steady presence for her mother inside and outside the audition process. Anitaka reflects, “So step one is snack time, like we usually eat before we do anything on camera. And if we don’t eat, then we’re not shooting because it’s not a good turnout and the focus is off. And then step two, my daughter’s memorization skills are out of this world. She has a lot of patience with me.”

​When we think of actors, many of us assume they have to flock to New York or Los Angeles to get roles. Anitaka addresses this misconception: “ There’s been plenty of work here in Texas. I’ve done over 50 shoots today.  Texas is now one of the largest hubs thanks to tax breaks. A lot of production companies are coming to Texas for cost savings and the great talent here.”

When I asked Anitaka what she’s excited about next, she made it clear she’s staying busy. She is booked for commercials that will have a significant impact on her career. Dallas travelers may even spot her at DFW Airport, where her work shows up on screens.

Strength in Being Different

Anitaka’s authenticity comes from her resilience, self-trust and determination to keep moving forward, even when life changes overnight. She embraces feeling different in a room, using it as an advantage and a source of strength in both her work and advocacy.

Anitaka says, “In a world where everyone is conforming, why not be different? What makes you different is what makes you unique.”

To learn more about Anitaka, follow her on Instagram @anitakaaaa

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Cover photo courtesy Anitaka Knight

Sara Aguinaga is a dedicated massage therapist and editorial contributor at Texas Lifestyle Magazine. She loves indulging in spa treatments, exploring diverse cuisines and traveling. Follow her on Instagram @sweetsaraadventures