Daily Inspiration: Meet Kyna Lee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyna Lee

Hi Kyna , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, a small surfy beach town that still to this day doesn’t have a self tape or acting studio.
My first desire to move to the United States was sparked by numerous trips to North America working as a model.
I fell in love with the sights, the people and the opportunities over here.

I left Bondi Beach in Sydney behind and moved over to chase my American dream.

I first moved to New York to model, only because you don’t need a car in NYC.
I love NYC and love flying there for jobs, however the fact that its cold most of the year and the summers are brutal, I eventually found my way to LA, it feels more like Australia here.

I moved back to Sydney last year during the SAG Aftra union strikes and only after 3 months quickly realized LA is my true home and it was calling me. I moved back to the United States with my citizenship mid January this year and haven’t looked back.

I signed with a new manager and have hit the ground running.
I’m now repped as a model and actress in LA, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Chicago, Colorado and Hawaii.

I love the travel aspect of my job and all the interesting people I get to meet on sets.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This year has been the most challenging but rewarding time of my entire life.

I moved back over at the start of the year with less than $100 in my bank account- it was impossible for me to find work back in Australia, another sign that I wasn’t meant to be there.

I survived on a small grant from the Actors Fund, and quickly started booking work after signing with my new agents.

I’ve moved so many times, hit rock bottom and constantly questioned myself and my career choices, but underneath it all I had to dive deep into really believing in myself for the first time in my life.

I had sold my side hustle beauty business last year and had no income from that.

I never knew I could model and act full time.
I’m so thankful for the new people I met on set who introduced me to other people, and eventually I managed to start rebuilding my life here again.

I’m so proud of myself that I didn’t give up on my dreams and I hope this inspires others to strive and never give up on theirs.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m most proud of finally picking up the American accent for acting jobs, and has taken me years to perfect.
Perfecting this has now given me more confidence in auditions, as the last thing you want is for your accent to drop on set.

I’ve been lucky enough to work in Hawaii for Disney’s Doogie Kamaloha MD and on Hulu’s Welcome to Chippendales.
I recently played Melania Trump for a couple of skits on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and I was pinned for the film NYAD, however the role got cut prior to filming- bummer!

My dream roles would be a good sci-fi, rom com, drama or anthing on HBO, I want to play it all.

As for modelling, some fun campaigns that I booked this year that I’m most proud of have been IT Cosmetics and Ulta campaigns in New York, plus a tonne of fun travel jobs for resorts and casinos. Travel jobs are my fav.

I think what sets me apart is that I have lived a full life, I love my job, I work hard- 7 days a week!
Also the Australian accent sometimes helps 🙂

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
*Always have a back up plan, I did not and I didn’t pivot.
*Put money away and have a side eye fund – I now know to do this.
* Always think outside the box
* No regrets, it all happened the way it did and life is a big learning curve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.outlawartistmanagement.com/
• Instagram: @kyna__lee

Image Credits
Matt Kalish