How Amber P. Riley Reached Contentment

To get to her breakout role as Mercedes on Glee, Amber P. Riley made some hard choices that eventually led her to the life she’d always dreamed of. But, as she tells Ashley, it didn’t happen overnight. Amber’s relationship with the Glee cast was tested through real-life experiences they navigated together, including some she describes as “trauma bonding.” She also discusses the tragic losses of several of her Glee castmates. Throughout the different seasons of her career, Amber has come to accept that she can’t control everything and moved beyond chasing a rockstar lifestyle to finding peace and meaningful ways to celebrate her wins.