You’ve Got A Friend in Chandler Kinney
Photography & words by Dio Anthony
There’s always that girl in class who speaks to everyone–without judgment or pre-conceptions, without malice or hidden agendas. She’s genuinely interested, warm, and helpful. She’s welcoming, benevolent, tender, and kind-hearted. That girl often goes on to live her life in the very same manner. She protects those qualities and lugs them throughout her journey, withstanding the experiences that threaten to take them from her. That girl, in my opinion, is Chandler Kinney. A born and raised California Girl, today she is 24 years old–if you can call that old. She’s the upgrade to the girl next door. The RA, as in your university’s residential advisor. Responsible, with a “good head on her shoulders,” someone you can trust to get the job done–with honors and flying colors. An overachiever, the positive voice on your shoulder. A friend when you’re in need.
This summer I hung out with Kinney in the San Fernando Valley–an area of Los Angeles I was familiar with, having spent most of my early twenties living there. It felt like the perfect setting for a photo shoot with an individual like Chandler, a seemingly ordinary girl doing extraordinary things. A young person who was brave in her life. An absolute example of the All-American Girl. Enduring the insecurities that come with a changing industry, Kinney’s talent speaks for itself. But it is my opinion that her personality is what will take her everywhere she intends to go. Months after our initial meeting, we gather over Zoom, where I get a bigger picture of who she is, as she connects from her home in Simi Valley, about 40 minutes outside of LA. I had suspicions about the kind of human being I assumed her to be, but it is during our conversation that I caught a glimpse of how special she really was.
Dio Anthony: When we met in LA, we talked about traditional schooling, and the idea of you having left that to work professionally as an actress. Higher education can be so great, but there are things that schools can’t teach us. What are some of those things for you?
“there’s so much passion for our job, and, I think there’s so much identity wrapped up in that passion.”
Chandler Kinney: That's a great question. I spot We're Not Really Strangers behind you, and I feel like this is a We're Not Really Strangers coded question.
Dio Anthony: [Laughs], I agree. I feel like it is!
Chandler Kinney: And I love it. I'm a big fan. Well, one of the first things that pops into my mind, and we might've even spoken a little bit about it that day when we were shooting is how to separate who you are from what you do. That's a tough lesson, and it is of the utmost importance, which I've learned. I think a lot of us have to go through that lesson, specifically moving through the pandemic because we all still had to live. We all still had to find purpose and fulfillment and happiness… Maybe not happiness, but, you know, we had to find identity in a time when none of us could fully pursue our endeavors or the things that we do. Often, I think especially, and maybe this is lan American capitalist society thing, but I've noticed that we tie our values so intrinsically to our employment or our job titles.
Dio Anthony: Yeah, I think it’s really interesting, this tendency as humans to do that.
Chandler Kinney: It’s especially hard for creatives, I would say. I think for anyone, but especially creatives because I think we're so lucky to be able to get to do what we love to do. So there's so much passion for our job, and, I think there's so much identity wrapped up in that passion. But I think the lesson really came when I was struggling to feel confident in my job. I was feeling really run down creatively or run dry, I guess. And as an actor, that's the worst possible thing you can imagine because you're portraying real-life emotions. And if I'm feeling nothing or feeling numb, how do I even fathom getting to that place of recreating a real emotion? So it was a really big, quarter-life identity crisis for me. [Laughs] Because I felt bad at my job, and then that reflected on me as a person, and It was like—whoa, okay, there needs to be some separation here. And the cure was fostering a better life because your life fuels your art, you know? So it's kind of a weird time in my life, which I can talk about more, but I think it’s a big thing. There’s a lot of elements to it.
Dio Anthony: Well, yeah, that's interesting. I’m naturally curious if you’ve found a balance. Like, what do my days look like when I’m deciding that I am not just what I do? What does that look like for you? When you’re having those days where you feel like you do get it.
Chandler Kinney: That was the question that terrified me the most because I didn't have the answer to that question. And I still don't have a clear answer. I think a lot of that is because I've been fortunate enough to grow up in this industry. I started acting when I was nine years old. I think it's just a weird thing for a child actor. It's a very specific experience because you know what you do before you know who you are. Those things match up really early on. So today, when I have free time, which is very rare, often I find myself making lists. I'm like, okay, get ready [laughs], eat breakfast. That’s where I started. I had to work through the day and create a schedule for myself. Cause I’m so used to being on a schedule. I know that’s not always healthy [laughs]. So, today, it still looks like just me trying to get things done that often get put on the back burner while I’m at work. But I’m working on it [laughs].
Dio Anthony: Totally love that. As we all are, right? We're all working on things.
Chandler Kinney: Constantly work in progress.
Dio Anthony: Is there anything that you're looking forward to doing professionally or even personally this fall? Now that the world is ramping up again after the summer season?
Chandler Kinney: I think in theme with everything I have been saying, really focusing on obtaining work-life balance, But I think that can be applied to anyone with any experience, and I think it should be. Your life outside of whatever your main pursuit is so important. I think it makes those endeavors and the pursuit of those endeavors sustainable. I'm a very type-A, goal-oriented person. I love to be busy. But I know there is such a thing as an extreme or going too far. So I think what that may look like for me in tangible terms is taking time for myself to read or, I don't know, sitting outside to just breathe. Very simple things.
Dio Anthony: Going back to the basics, I think.
Chandler Kinney: Yes. Love that. Going back to the basics, that's my goal for fall. That's maybe the title of this chapter for me. [Laughs].
Dio Anthony: That's so cool. You’re so cool. I’m wondering, in your opinion, what is one thing that we don't talk about enough? Or something you're super into that you feel like a lot of other people aren't paying enough attention to? Or perhaps niche conversations you’re having in your circle of friends.For example, I have this thing where I believe in mermaids.
“Your life outside of whatever your main pursuit is so important.”
Chandler Kinney: Wait, I want to hear about this! What?
Dio Anthony: Well, I don’t think they’re like Disney-style Ariel mermaids. But I think there is a potential that their existence can be a thing. That’s one niche conversation I could potentially have with someone. Is there anything prevalent in your life lately that you’ve been talking about with other people? A topic that has come up recently?
Chandler Kinney: Let me think, 'cause I have one that I'd be happy to talk about. I'm just wondering if there are any others.
Dio Anthony: I understand that My mermaid thing is crazy, but, you know...[laughs].
Chandler Kinney: I want to talk more about that because I really am curious. But, here’s my thing, I’ll just say, very quickly on that. I think we are but tiny specks on this giant rock in this even more unfathomably expansive universe. Like, who are we to assert that we know everything? How naive of us, really. We are infinitesimally small, I love that word, but, we are literally a quarter of an atom. It's unreal how tiny we are. So why are we like—yeah, we have the answers of the universe?
Dio Anthony: Right!
Chandler Kinney: Anyway, so your mermaid thing, that’s entirely a possibility. Another thing that I think people don't talk about enough, and I talk about this with my friends often, is that [laughs], I'm a big fan of a walkable neighborhood, and I think we need more. I could deep dive into this and how it correlates to the mental health epidemic that our country is currently facing and has been for so long. I think that's what is so beautiful about school and then college, is that you are put in literal walkable neighborhoods where you eat, and where you work and it’s all in one little pocket. You walk everywhere, so you’re getting vitamin D, you’re getting exercise, you’re fostering community. Those things happen really naturally and are very accessible. Whereas, then you get out into the real world and suddenly, at least for me–it’s a drive to see all my friends. At least 30 minutes away. And there’s gas and there’s traffic.
Dio Anthony: And in LA, there’s parking to deal with…
Chandler Kinney: Oh my gosh. I just read a statistic last night that Angelinos, everyone who lives in LA will spend on average, 85 hours per year looking for parking. That’s insane.
Dio Anthony: That's certified terrible.
Chandler Kinney: That's awful. [Laughs]. And so think about it over a lifetime. Anyway, that was one topic that I think that people should talk a lot more about, because I think if we had these pockets of community, I think it would be a much better world that we are living in.
Dio Anthony: That's a really good point and a great comparison to a college campus.
Chandler Kinney: I love it. You don't have to seek them out. You don't have to pay for these experiences–it’s literally all on campus.
Dio Anthony: In any neighborhood you live in. You take enough trips to the store and begin seeing the same people.
Chandler Kinney: Exactly. You're connected with your neighbors.
Dio Anthony: What's something that feels so Chandler? Something that those close to you would agree with.
Chandler Kinney: Well, other than chocolate milk? [laughs], Everyone knows that I drink an absurd amount of chocolate milk. It's like my coffee.
Dio Anthony: Just regular milk, right? As in dairy?
Chandler Kinney: Oh, yes!
Dio Anthony: I feel like that's something we aren’t talking about enough. The amount of people that are still consuming dairy, outside of an ice cream or something. It feels like everyone is an almond or oat milk person now. But maybe that’s just the bubble that I’m living in.
Chandler Kinney: [Laughs]. No, absolutely. Also what's not talked about enough is the fact that most people are actually, on some level, lactose intolerant, but like you take it anyway, [laughs]. But yeah, what’s very me?
Dio Anthony: On the day of the shoot, you brought coffee with you. That was coffee, yeah?
Chandler Kinney: No. So, you were bamboozled. I brought hot chocolate with me, [laughs].
Dio Anthony: Oh, wow! Okay!
Chandler Kinney: No, no, I'm serious. I never drink coffee. You'll never see me with a coffee, which is insane considering the hours that I sometimes work. I get my caffeine from chocolate! I guess that's probably the best answer. I love chocolate. I will have almost some form of chocolate every day, [laughs]. I’ll always drink hot chocolate or chocolate milk–that’s my go-to. One time for Christmas, my mom bought me as many hot chocolate mixes that she could find so that I could experiment and find the best one. So, I had everything from Hershey's to Lindt, to Ghirardelli to Godiva.
Dio Anthony: Amazing. That’s great. I’m curious if there’s something that you do daily that you absolutely can’t miss–but I feel like it’s having some form of chocolate.
Chandler Kinney: It is [laughs]. It's actually awful. I try to carry water with me because I'm poorly hydrated. So I'm really puffy this morning. 'Cause I have horrible salt retention.
Dio Anthony: Same! But my body reacts to sugar instead. I devoured some ice cream last night and my face instantly reacted, you know?
Chandler Kinney: Oh my gosh. Yeah.
Dio Anthony: There are these little things I've been using.. What are they called…
Chandler Kinney: Gua Sha!!
Dio Anthony: Yes!
Chandler Kinney: I just started [Laughs].
Dio Anthony: It's fun to do, and feels good. So if it works even better.
Chandler Kinney: Right. Exactly.
Dio Anthony: So, Chandler, I’m wondering–can you tell me about someone who’s been a great teacher in your life?
“I think celebrating is something that people need to do more of too. Even the small little victories,”
Chandler Kinney: The first person that comes to my mind is my mom. I spend so much time with her. She is not only my mom but also my best friend, my partner in crime, and sometimes my sister. Sometimes we banter like we're siblings, [laughs]. She's just been an incredible teacher. So many things on what to do and how to move through life and some things on what not to do. I think that's a beautiful thing about generations. You get to take things that you love and admire about people that came before you. My mother, she will work herself into the ground, and I already see those trends in myself–and so I'm trying to curb that [laughs]. Now she's in a stage of her life where she's trying to also put down the notebook and slow down to open the book or open the whatever and just chill. It’s so beautiful to get to see her move and have that relationship with her. She's also just taught me how to always say shoot for the moon and if you fall short, you'll land among the stars. That's one of my favorite quotes. I think she's the total embodiment of that. She's always going for the absolute top and the thing beyond the limits of imagination. She's always setting herself up for success because even if what some people say is an unreasonable goal, if she's putting 110% into what she’s going after, then she's always going to be set. I love that and I think that's my favorite thing that I've taken away from her.
“shoot for the moon and if you fall short, you’ll land among the stars. ”
Dio Anthony: It's so beautiful. I have a similar relationship with my mom, so I love to hear that. That's great.
Chandler Kinney: Oh yeah. It's a beautiful gift.
Dio Anthony: Yes! Moms are great! Okay, my last question is, I think birthdays are so special, right? They're these magical days. I know it’s been a few months since you’ve had one. But I can’t help but feel like you’ve had some introspective thoughts leading up to it, or since then. Something inspiring that you might like to share?
Chandler Kinney: I am laughing because I feel the same way about birthdays. I think a lot of my friends would say it's very Leo of me. Like, I love to celebrate, I love to make people feel special, and to give that to other people and create moments. And so, when it's your moment, It's a really beautiful thing. Because I think celebrating is something that people need to do more of too. Even the small little victories, so I was really looking forward to my day and I woke up and had a total mental break. I think it really was just the reflection on the passage of time and what was versus what is. I think even if it's a positive thing, which in this case I'm grateful to say that in a lot of ways it was a positive reflection. I think birthdays are kind of like honoring yourself and your history as a person. And I think the last couple of years have been really heavy for me and I feel like I'm just coming out of that period. And so, I don't know, I think honoring that is to acknowledge everything that you've been through and it just kind of felt like a heavy reflection which ultimately pushed me over the edge. But then I went and had a giant pancake with sprinkles and I felt better [laughs]. But no, I think there could be a lot of takeaways, and one of the things I took away was to be grateful and have gratitude. Gratitude for all the things you have been through, even if they didn't feel so good in the moment. 'Cause You do get little pearls of wisdom that you get to pocket in your journey and maybe pull out later. And I think those are gifts.
Dio Anthony: I love that so much. Thank you so much for talking. You really are the coolest girl.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
WORDS + PHOTOGRAPHY: DIO ANTHONY, PHOTOGRAPHY: STYLING: TABITHA SANCHEZ, MAKEUP: GRACE PHILLIPS, HAIR: LUCY GEDJEYAN