By the time Pina Abay moved to the United States in 2023, she had already built an impressive career. She had appeared in several movies and TV shows and had launched her own advertising agency in Addis Ababa. Her success in the entertainment industry seemed certain, as she continued to land major roles in popular films and television series that made her widely recognized.

However, moving to a new country forced her to reassess her place in the industry she had loved since childhood.

Born in Ardalta and raised in Nazareth, Pina grew up watching Western movies and TV shows.

“My parents worked and lived at a camp for the Department of Agriculture, where we had access to DSTV and Channel O,” Pina said. “I think that exposure made me passionate about acting from an early age.”

As a child, Pina was known to be playful and ambitious.

“From a young age, I dreamed of something bigger than my surroundings,” she said. “I always believed my life would go beyond what I could see at the time.”

In 2007, Pina moved to Addis Ababa to complete high school. As graduation approached, she felt drawn to the film industry. However, in 2009, she reluctantly enrolled at Bahir Dar University to study Computer Engineering. She stayed for only one year before returning to Addis Ababa in 2010.

Back in the capital, Pina began auditioning for movie roles while continuing her education at Microlink Information Technology College, majoring in Computer Engineering. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree after five years.

In 2011, she landed her first supporting role in the movie Valentine’s Day, where she played the best friend of the main character.

“I was so happy to get that role,” Pina said. “And the movie did really well.”

Her performance opened the door to more opportunities. However, her breakthrough came not from film, but from television. Around 2015, she starred in the EBS series Welafene, where she played the mother of the main character.

“I think Welafene brought me a lot of fans and really solidified my place in the industry,” she said.

Around 2016, Pina appeared in the movie The Fourth, which tells the story of a young mechanic in Addis Ababa striving to build a better life. She played the mechanic’s girlfriend.

In 2018, she returned to EBS in another TV series, Yeras Tela, where she once again portrayed a character who lost her eyesight in a car accident.

By 2020, Pina had become a familiar face in Ethiopia’s film industry, with numerous roles in both movies and television. Despite her success, she realized that acting alone was not financially sustainable. This led her to launch her own advertising agency, Pina Multimedia.

The company went on to produce advertising campaigns for brands such as Ishac Watch, Konjo Water and Yolly Hotel.

“I love the creative process in advertising,” Pina said. “It may seem easy from the outside, but it’s actually very challenging—and fun at the same time.”

However, running a business as a woman came with its own challenges.

“It’s very hard being a businesswoman in Ethiopia,” she said. “As a woman, people don’t always take you seriously.”

In July 2023, Pina moved to the United States to start a new chapter and pursue film school, with the goal of learning more about movie production. But adjusting to life in the U.S. proved difficult.

“It’s a tough country,” she said. “You often have to do odd jobs before you can get the job you want or start your own business.”

Despite the challenges, Pina remains determined to return to both filmmaking and advertising. She believes it is only a matter of time.

“I want to make movies about Ethiopians living in the U.S.,” she said. “There are so many stories that need to be told. I also want to help the community as much as I can.”

In her new home, Pina misses her family and friends back in Ethiopia. She also offers advice to other entertainers considering a move to the United States:

“It takes time to be successful,” she said. “If they work hard, they will succeed. There are always ways to make it—you just have to be creative.”