Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kim Loan Duong of Los Angeles

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kim Loan Duong. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Kim Loan, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values, and what you’re currently working on. Let’s start with an icebreaker: What’s something outside of work that’s been bringing you joy lately?

My two-year-old son, Leo. He’s my little boss baby — he runs my schedule now, and honestly, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Watching him discover the world is pure magic.

Whether we’re reading the same book over and over or chasing him around the house, he reminds me to slow down and be fully present. Those are the moments I live for.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?

I’m Kim Loan Duong, founder and CEO of Prestigious Models and Image Powerhouse Agency — one of the first SAG-AFTRA franchised agencies built with a primary focus on Asian representation across film, television, and commercial work. We also have an experiential division, Prestigious Powerhouse, that partners with global luxury brands in the Asian market.

What makes us different is that it’s never just been about booking talent. It’s about creating real access, earning trust in the industry, and opening doors that weren’t always there before.

Thanks for sharing that. We’d love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?

I still remember being a kid and getting outcast for standing up to a group that was bullying others. That moment stayed with me.

Years later, I was working with a young commercial actor who wanted to break into film and television but didn’t know how. He told me he’d left home after being told to get a “real job,” and it instantly brought me back to my own childhood — to what it feels like to stand alone for something you believe in.

In that moment, I knew I had to step into film and TV representation. I wanted to be the person who could open that door for him.

He became my purpose — and the blueprint for every artist I represent today.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?

I stopped hiding it when I got clear on why I started representing talent in the first place. It came from the younger version of me — the one who was excluded, who used to daydream about leading a group that moved with purpose and intention.

That clarity is my power. It keeps me grounded in integrity, loyalty, and accountability — and reminds me that when we stay resilient and keep moving forward, the pain becomes the foundation for who we’re becoming.

A lot of these questions go deep, but if you’re open to it, we’ve got a few more we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?

I’m committed to continuously growing this agency. Twenty years ago, when I said my mission was to build the top Asian agency in the nation, people laughed. They questioned whether it was even possible or sustainable.

I kept building anyway — because I’ve always believed the issue wasn’t a lack of talent. It was a lack of opportunity in the rooms where decisions get made. Real change in this industry has to start behind the camera, with more Asian writers, directors, and producers shaping stories from the ground up.

That’s the work I’m committed to, however long it takes. The opportunity was always there. It just needed someone to build it.

Let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What’s the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?

I hope people remember me as someone who made them feel seen, valued, and believed in — someone who saw their potential before they saw it in themselves. I hope that belief inspired them to dream bigger and accomplish things they never thought were possible.

I hope people can say we built something meaningful together, shared in each other’s success, and opened doors for those who came after us.

That’s the legacy I’m working to leave behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.prestigiouspowerhouse.com
• Instagram: @kimloanpowerhouse @prestigiouspowerhouse
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimloan
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrestigiousPowerhouse

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