Payton lives by the principles of integrity, love, loyalty, and inclusivity. She believes in creating an environment where everyone feels valued and celebrated.

Payton discovered her love for dance at the age of 2. Her formative years were spent training and competing at Masters Upper Level, where she was fortunate to learn from world-renowned choreographers such as Anthony Morigerato, Chad McCall, Shannon Mather, Molly Long, Sarah Reich, and many more. These experiences shaped Payton’s technical skills and deepened her love for the art of dance.

Over the years, Payton specialized in tap, jazz, and contemporary dance, developing a versatile and expressive style. Her training extends to acting and voice, equipping Payton with a strong foundation in musical theater and performance. She first discovered acting in middle school but truly fell in love with it during high school. Acting allows her to explore different facets of humanity, stepping into characters' shoes and bringing their stories to life. At OCU, Payton has had the privilege of training with professional working faculty, including Bill Langan, Caroline Liem, and D. Lance Marsh. Payton’s voice training is with Jeremy Small Studio, where she continues to strengthen her vocal performance and range.

Currently, Payton is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting with a minor in Business Entrepreneurship at Oklahoma City University, where she also is a proud member of the OCU Competitive Dance Team. During her time on the team, she has had the honor of being a two-time NDA National Champion and holding the three-time NAIA All-American title in dance. In addition, she has performed in campus productions such as Be Aggressive, King Lear, Small Mouth Sounds and more. Payton also had the opportunity of a lifetime to study Shakespeare in London and perform in Bad Shakespeare in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Beyond the stage, she is an active leader on campus, holding roles in her Gamma Phi Beta sorority such as Philanthropy chair, planning and executing fundraising events for Girls on the Run, which is empowering building strong girls. Payton also had the honor and privilege of serving on the 2024 OCU Homecoming Executive Team. She also serves as the Student Professional for the School of Theatre recruitment process.

Payton began her professional journey at the age of 14 at the Houston Racquet Club (Country Club), where she worked in various departments and developed invaluable skills in customer service and management. Payton continues to return each summer to maintain her management role and looks forward to training the new young staff that she hires each summer.  

Payton's passion for teaching dance led her to roles at Masters Upper Level, the Houston Racquet Club, and The Dance Department Company, where she had the opportunity to teach and choreograph for young dancers. Sharing her knowledge and passion with the next generation is one of her greatest joys.

Payton recently stepped into the Student Professional School of Theatre Recruitment role at Oklahoma City University. Her role consists of tracking and communicating with prospective students, scheduling auditions, organizing recruitment trips, and being a friendly face running their national auditions for the School of Theatre at OCU.

Payton’s dream is to begin performing on cruise ships, sharing her art with audiences worldwide while traveling to new places. Then, hopefully make the move to New York City! Payton aspires to grow as an artist, taking on opportunities that challenge and inspire her.