Today we’d like to introduce you to Lana Klein.
Hi Lana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I was very young, I have always been very interested in being in front of the camera. There’s just one photo of me from Halloween I was dressed up as Dorothy and I’m just posing with my whole heart. I’d like to think that’s where the story starts!
I grew up in poway from elementary age on and when I got into about seventh grade, I really started diving deep into this love for modeling, up until that point modeling wasn’t really on my mind. It wasn’t something that was as present as it is in today’s society, we are right at the start of social media so all of Instagram and stuff was just coming out and we were getting flooded with a lot more content and models and agencies and reach then there was possible. All I knew is I had a love for what I was doing, and that modeling brought me peace. It started out with shooting with local photographers, local friends, and models all of us in our ripe young ages ready to take on the world and make a name for our ourselves.
Around the age 15 I was beginning a new private charter school outside of the pallet unified school district… fusion Academy, which is one-on-one learning and a fabulous education and around that time I got scouted off of Instagram and my surprise woke up with a DM asking me if I would like to come to Los Angeles and meet with STATE MGMT to discuss getting into the modeling industry, professionally and signing my first contract.
I went to work with Louis Vuitton, H Lorenzo, The Weekend, Bad Bunny, Gladys Tamez Millerny, Y-jack, Vince Camuto, Fruit of the loom and soooo much more ( more jobs and notable achievements on the next page)
There’s a lot more to the story, but I will just skip to the end about a year ago I had this whole coming to self where I realize that I have been told since age 15 that my only value I carried with my looks and at age 20 I was ready to truly discover who I was without the makeup the high fashion the camera the glitz and the glam I wanted to know who I was besides the girl that I had always known since I started modeling who was I when I wasn’t Lana Klein the model? Who was I when I lost every sense of my ego took a step back and searched for my true identity through all the chatter that is the modeling industry
So I took a break and started studying on film/camera acting Meisner technique at the acting studio SD and this is where I unlocked my true self thank you to the help of Connie Chiarelli and Brooke Mccormick and Irene smitham and all of my acting classmates and sceen partner through acting I was able to discover who I was when I wasn’t wearing all my masks and who I was when I could be completely vulnerable. Having unlocked too I truly was and gravitating back towards what I was truly in pursuit of which was always the pursuit of happiness. I I booked some amazing roles local in San Diego and in LA. Working for local directors, and roles led me into a whole section of the industry reality TV and after casting with the casting director and everyone who helped me in the audition process along the way I was placed on the game show the floor on Fox network with a chance to win $250,000 where I competed for 10 episodes before finally being sent home with no 250,000 but I did come home with a whole new family around the nation who competed alongside with me on the show!!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road there has definitely been struggle along the way, starting out in the modeling industry did have its struggles for along time i had no idea who i was and was coping with life in unhealthy ways…..However, I was young and I was still just trying to figure out life, so I think that everything I went through prepared me for this version of myself I am today. Through my entire time modeling from age 16 to 20 I was in an abusive relationship and was being taken advantage of but all while that was happening I was still succeeding in my career Finally I managed to get out of that relationship, and after finding who I really was under all the masks that I had worn for essentially the entirety of my life…… through beginning my journey into studying Meisner technique, acting, self discovery , hypnotherapy I’m also an incredible advocate for the one therapy that saved my life ketamine therapy, which really helps PTSD I get this done at a local San Diego clinic daydream MD by Dr. Azam, who is an incredible advocate for this medicine and how much it is really changing people’s lives and I am a testament to that
After going through all that healing and working on myself and really discovering who I was back at my core, God opened up my avenue to modeling again this time, not scouted off Instagram, but in the back of an uber, I say “ God likes to show up for me in the most random places” I am now proud to say my Mother Agency is Galaxy Model Management by J. Shields. Follow along on my instagram @lanakleinoffical to see my successful comeback to the Modeling Industry after discovering my true self beneath my looks!
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?
Modeling some of my clients Louis Vuitton, altuzzara, the Weeknd lead role in “Sacrifice” music, video, fruit of the loom, Bad Bunny, H Lorenzo Los Angeles, Tilly’s, I’ve been in four magazines including industry magazine twice for my modeling, Picton 2020 cover Model and QP magazine, my desert campaign with Bec Doyle and Glenn Nutley, hair campaign for pureology, gladys Tamez Millerny and soooo much more
on a billboard for dockside restaurant at the Mission Bay Hotel photos included
Acting nominated at the San Diego acting festival for best actress and supporting role
For my portrayal of Detective Quinn the supporting lead in strange anomalies
Many vertical shorts from Halogen supporting roles
Contestant on the fox network season five the floor with Rob Lowe
My next big project coming out is my book I am currently writing …because of a lot of the unique circumstances I went through in my life. I want to share more of my story my journey and my road through healing and how I came back to myself and hopefully help and inspire other people to come back to their true self and to live their best life free of fear and limitations! I’m on a mission to inspire others to know they can find joy again after the darkness because without darkness there is no light
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Yes, some books that have greatly shaped my path Gabrielle Bernstein. “The universe always has your back”is a book that was gifted to me by my mother when I was going through an extremely hard period of my life, and that helped me so much to get through that dark time and to come back to Joy
For apps, I love the NoMo app for sobriety
Podcasts THE HAPPINESS LAB, The StoryBrand podcast
And blogs Summer with a very positive. Happy blog. Here is the link she always brings me such inspiration to do better and keep growing and learning.
https://tr.ee/N0rwZvdZx_
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanakleinofficial/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lanakleinofficial
