Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Young.
Hi Monica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Germany—Army brat—and raised in the Midwest. My mom is an immigrant from Korea who met my dad when he was stationed there. After we moved to the U.S., we bounced around between small towns in Missouri and Kansas. After my parents split, we eventually landed in Topeka, Kansas where we stayed until I was out of high school.
My mom, despite facing every kind of challenge—being an immigrant, a single mother, raising kids in the land of nuclear families where diversity was pretty scarce—somehow made it all work. She taught herself English by watching Sesame Street with us when we were little. (which is why I’ll always have a soft spot for that show.) She worked tirelessly in the fast food industry to keep us afloat. Let’s just say… very humble beginnings.
I’ve always sung, but I didn’t realize it was a special skill. I genuinely thought if you could talk, you could sing. In fifth grade, a classmate suggested I audition for a solo in the school program. I hadn’t even considered it, but I did—and got it. That tiny solo gave me the biggest high. I was hooked. That was it.
Since then, I’ve performed in all kinds of shows and theater, and eventually moved to Los Angeles with my then-boyfriend, now-husband. We were just two Midwestern kids with big dreams and two very old cars. He gave acting a shot too—until a part-time job turned into a full-on career. He’s my biggest fan, cheering me on through every twist, pivot, and ,WTF moment along the way.
I started singing in corporate cover bands and gigging all over. At one point, I even landed a recording contract—but the music industry… well, let’s just say the business was very different then, and I was green. It just wasn’t the right time for me. So I stepped away from music for a while and leaned into acting. Over the years, I’ve worked on everything from commercials to films to musicals and plays to network TV appearing on shows like Community, Modern Family, Criminal Minds, Two and a Half Men, and most recently, ABC’s High Potential. Somehow, it all kept the lights on.
Then the pandemic hit, and something shifted. I started writing songs again—and I haven’t stopped. I started releasing music in 2023 and now I’m writing with people from all over the world—many of whom I’ve never even met in person. The industry has changed so much, and indie artists have way more creative control now. Lately, I’ve been focusing on getting my music placed in TV and film, and it’s been such a fulfilling (and fun) new chapter.
I guess I’ve officially become a California girl—this is home now. Sure, everything’s more expensive and the traffic’s a nightmare, but I just love it. I’m still here. Still singing, acting, writing, creating. Still throwing spaghetti at the wall—and honestly, it’s making a pretty great mural.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh no! It’s been a long road full of ups, downs, detours, and a few potholes. I’ve had some really, really close calls—those “this could change everything” moments—where I was this close to landing that dream job.
Early on, I had a meeting with a manager who told me that, as an Asian woman, I’d only ever be cast as a stripper or a hooker. That no one would hire me for anything else. Like, he looked me in the eye and said that. Spoiler alert: we did not end up working together. But here’s the plot twist—I’ve played doctors and nurses more times than I can count. So thank you very much—I went full opposite stereotype.
Being mixed race, has sometimes made it even harder for people to “place” me in an industry that still clings to narrow boxes. But I’ve kept showing up, kept creating, and kept carving out space—even when there wasn’t one waiting for me. And while not every opportunity has played out exactly how I imagined—because who expects that?—the ones that did have been nothing short of amazing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Creatively, I do a lot of different things. I sing, write songs, act, do VoiceOver work, and dance (when required)… or sometimes just because.
As a singer, I’m mostly a soulful pop artist—that’s the lane I love the most. At a gig once, Quincy Jones happened to be in the audience and afterward kept asking me if I grew up in the ghetto. I said, “Does a trailer park count?” He laughed and told me I sing and dance like I’m from the ghetto. Still one of the greatest compliments of my life.
Acting-wise, I’ve done everything from multi-camera comedies to emotional dramas. Working in comedy is my favorite, but one of my most challenging and rewarding roles was playing an award-winning musician losing her hearing in the feature film Concerto for Abigail—a role full of vulnerability and tears.
I also do VoiceOver work—commercials, animation, video games, all the fun stuff. And there’s a super secret VO project coming out at some point this year. That’s literally all I can say for now…but I’m really excited about it.
Basically, if there’s a way to perform, I’ve probably tried it. Minus the stripper thing—not that there’s anything wrong with it, I just haven’t played one. Yet. Take that, Mr. “You’ll only ever play a stripper.”
What sets me apart? I bring heart, humor, hustle, and just the right amount of chaos to everything I do. I’m just throwing spaghetti at the wall over here—and some of it is sticking.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Surround yourself with good humans. And if you can, people who are more talented than you—it’ll push you to level up. Don’t waste your energy being competitive with others. Be competitive with yourself. (Nothing better than kicking your own ass on the Peloton.) Competition kills creativity and joy. Sounds cliché, but it’s true. Just root for people. Unless they’re a giant jerk who doesn’t deserve it… then carry on. Which brings us back to: surround yourself with good humans.
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from an acting coach who said, “This business is a marathon, not a sprint.” Hearing that early in my LA journey was everything. Another gem: “Think of every audition/opportunity as a boomerang of good work—just keep putting good work out there and it’ll eventually come back.” And it does. Sometimes it flies back quickly, sometimes it takes a weird bounce and smacks you in the shin. But it does come back—usually in a way you didn’t expect, but somehow exactly when you needed it.
If you’re just getting started as an actor, read Jenna Fischer’s The Actor’s Life. It’s a goldmine.
And finally: Be on time. Know your lines. Don’t be an asshole.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.monicayoung.com
- Instagram: @sailorgal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@monicayoungs
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3OOimWBp4bpvfKyTJobot6?si=MBGks63qTcaS7QtGMUiQ6Q
