Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine
Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine

Editor / Stylist – Justin Howard @Jthnomad

Talent – Chandler Kinney @chandlerlkinney

Writer – River Callaway @rivthekid

Photographer –  Jeffrey Moustache @JMoustache

Photo Editor – Tyson Lee Smyer @tysonleephoto

Beauty – Jennifer Wright @Jennmua83

Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine
Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine

“Decide what you want. Believe you can have it. Don’t let anything get in your way.” – Heidi Schulz

Hard-working, passionate and inspiring are just a few words to describe actress Chandler Kinney, who at age 17 is already making waves in Hollywood as Riana Murtaugh on Fox’s hit series Lethal Weapon. The Sacramento-born actress has appeared on such shows like  K.C. Undercover, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, and Girl Meets World just to name a few. Yet Chandler didn’t start out wanting to be an actress, she started out with the dream of being a professional dancer. Her ‘official’ dance career began at age 3, when she won’t stop dancing around the house till her mom finally got the hint and enrolled her in dance classes. Chandler is making it her personal mission to inspire other young women, by staying authentic while starring on a hit tv series alongside the incredibly talented Damon Wayans. When she isn’t onset, she can be found applying for colleges with the idea to study psychology as she is constantly seeking to expand her mind. It was my pleasure to sit down with Chandler Kinney to talk #GirlPower and what it is like being a minority actress in Hollywood for Black Chalk Magazine!

Chandler Kinney, Girl Power

Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine
Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine

River Callaway for Black Chalk : Can you tell us about your start? Did you always want to be an actor?

Chandler Kinney : I knew from a very young age that I wanted to performer, I started dancing at 3 years old. My mom actually put me in a local dance studio because I wouldn’t stop dancing around the house. So she thought “Oh she probably needs some lessons if this is what she wants to do.” Probably around the moment I started,  I was 100% sure I was going to be a professional dancer with a company one day and that’s so obviously not what happened!


 

I started at a competition studio, then I moved to Debbie Allen Dance Academy where I studied so many different styles from ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, flamenco-and I absolutely loved it. At my peak I was dancing about 30 hours a week and would do more classes if I could as I ABSOLUTELY LOVED it! Around the age of 9, I had the opportunity to audition for a GAP commercial. An opportunity presented through Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and was fortunate enough to have booked the commercial.  It was through that experience I realized I really wanted to work in front of the camera. Through that crazy experience I signed by a commercial agent, so you could say  I fell into it by accident. Once I got with a commercial agent I started taking acting classes regularly and that’s when I was ‘first’ introduced into acting and fell in love with it!

Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine
Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine

BC : What would you say you’ve learned from being on several successful shows at such a young age?

CK : I’ve learned a lot, and that’s a huge understatement. Working in the entertainment industry has really helped me identify who I am. I’m an entertainer and performer at heart, and I knew that from a very young age. I’ve always wanted to make people feel, or laugh or smile through some form of art. Being on Lethal Weapon, the first ‘adult’ series that I’ve worked on as provided me with a lot of parental figures onset as I am the youngest member of the cast. Everyone is looking out for me all the time. One of the greatest things about Lethal Weapon is being able to see such iconic talents like Damon Wayans in action and getting to learn from these amazing individuals as we interact during our scenes.

Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine
Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine

BC : You mentioned that your mom really pushed you and aided you in launching your career? Tell me about that!

CK : My mom is definitely a huge part of my life, we’re literally together 24/7 so we’re like mom and daughter, sisters, best friends, and everything in between! I’ve been very fortunate to have strong-willed females in my life, from my dance instructors to my school teachers I definitely think they’ve helped me become the young woman I am today.

BC : Awesome! #GirlPower! Do you mind sharing with us what it’s like to be a minority in Hollywood?

CK : Hollywood has changed a lot over the years, and I guess I feel quite fortunate to be in the position I am in today. Because so much has changed, I’m entering the industry at a time where it’s not so uncommon to see a young African American girl on tv. But at the same time, I feel really lucky to be in the position I am in today because it’s not that prevalent to have a minority in a starring role in a major series. I feel really grateful that I’m someone that can inspire young women, where they can turn on the tv and see someone who looks like them. I know growing up myself, I didn’t have that as much. I can only really think of a couple people that I was able to look up to that actually looked like me. Now it’s really great that the industry is working on diversifying itself, and overall just becoming a more inclusive environment that everyone can feel represented and included!

Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine
Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine

BC : What would you say to the young girls or boys out there, who want to get into acting?

CK : I would say, honestly if you truly love it never let anything stop you! At a young impressionable age I was told that I would inevitably have to play a stereotype on tv, and at that time I was mortified. I realized that’s one of the reasons I do what I do today, to help change that perception that you have to fit into a box to be successful. I would tell anyone that wants to join the industry or get into acting not to let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. A lot of times this industry can really tear you down, so you definitely have to have thick skin but stay in it! Be strong, and have a very good support system.

Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine
Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine

BC : What is one piece of advice that you would give to your younger self – that girl who was auditioning and dancing every day?

CK : I would say “be confident!” I’m not an outwardly super confident person, and that’s something I have to work on to this day. So if I could go back in time and give my younger self a pep talk, I’d say be confident.  

Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine
Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine

BC : What does the future hold for Chandler Kinney?

CK : I actually just wrapped on season 2 of the show, which I’m really excited about! Other than that… I can’t really say anything else. Outside of the industry I currently am in the process of making a decision about what college I want to go to. So a lot of my time and energy is going toward that, I am looking at doing a major either in psychology or film studies. In a perfect world I would double major but that wouldn’t work with my acting schedule! Anyway, I’m excited and can’t wait see what the future holds for me!

Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine
Chandler Kinney, Girl Power / Black Chalk Magazine

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