Being talented at one thing can be challenging, especially when you're spending so much time on that one thing. What about two? Or three things?
Most people dream of having at least one talent, let alone multiple talents. Yet, there's one person who managed to make themselves a quadruple threat: Kelsey Lynn Cook.
Kelsey has gone viral for her acting, dancing, singing, and modeling by amassing over 826k followers on TikTok and 190k+ followers on Instagram. In this The Teen Magazine x Kelsey Lynn Cook Interview, we had the opportunity to hear Kelsey share her story and give some advice for those striving to get into the entertainment industry.
Image Credit: Kelsey Lynn Cook
Phases of Passion
The love for music and dancing often go hand in hand with most performers, but for Kelsey, it's a different story. When asked about her love for music and dancing, she responded, "I would say that my love for music mostly stemmed from my dance experience. Growing up as a competitive dancer, music was always one of the focal points for choreography which then helped us, as dancers, pull out our emotions and really feel something.
Music is very powerful because no matter what genre we listen to, we can always connect to it somehow. Nowadays, I really enjoy discovering new musical artists and finding songs that resonate with me. My love for acting came from my set experience and also the shows/movies I was watching at the time. Once I got older and really studied the craft of acting, I found the process so intriguing and fell in love with every step of the journey."
People change, grow and go through new phases of life all the time. As Kelsey entered the next phase of her life, she realized that her time as a competitive dancer was coming to an end. "When I was 17, I outgrew my dance competition phase and wanted to try something new which is where acting came along. Throughout those years, I would audition for dance projects that had acting involved so I decided it was time to hone in on those acting skills specifically. "Chicken Girls" was a perfect way to introduce me into that atmosphere and from that point on, I knew I wanted to continue pursuing acting."
Image Credit: Kelsey Lynn Cook
While Kelsey loves dancing and acting, she admits she loves acting more. She voiced, "I love getting to play new characters in every audition and learn so much about myself throughout the process. Although I still dance today and love getting to practice my craft, acting challenges me in a different way. I'm very thankful that I'm able to pursue both and get the opportunity to do what I love every day."
From taking on different acting gigs to premiering in the "Nintendo Switch: Just Dance" trailer, Kelsey has spent plenty of time in the entertainment scene.
"I had such a fun time shooting the "Nintendo Switch: Just Dance" Launch Trailer because it was my first time having a set family. Casting did such a phenomenal job with that as we all blended together so well. This project was also my first dance and acting job combined and getting to do the "Whip and Nae Nae" was an extra perk. It was an amazing stepping stone in my career that I couldn't be more thankful for."
Image Credit: Kelsey Lynn Cook
Captivating the camera
"Fashion is a really big part of my life and I enjoy pulling different pieces from my closet together to create new outfits. Some of my favorite fashion brands that represent me on social media include Windsor, Forever 21, Garage, Edikted, H&M, Princess Polly, Urban Outfitters, and Amazon."
Modeling can be an exciting and challenging industry, and every model's journey is unique. Some find they're calling early on in life, while others discover their passion later on. Regardless, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Kelsey's love for modeling originated when she was younger because she "loved posing in front of the camera."
"My first modeling jobs were tween campaigns including print jobs and some runway as well. I modeled for dance brands and fashion clothing lines which helped me garner an on-camera presence. I think modeling also feeds into the acting industry now as comfortability on camera is very important and I already had experience with that growing up."
Image Credit: Kelsey Lynn Cook Unconventional Wisdom
"My most memorable experience was when I was in Nicky Jam's "El Amante" music video. It was an amazing feat for me to work with such a well known Latin Grammy winner. It was one of my first featured dance projects and I'm beyond grateful to have been apart of such an amazing video."
We asked Kelsey if she could share some words of wisdom with the readers about following your dreams.
"Hey TTM readers, thank you for reading my interview. I think the most valuable advice I have that I apply to myself is to not compare yourself to others. Every journey is so unique, and we all have different paths so be you and try to stay focused on your own craft.
Your time will come and your dreams and aspirations will come true sooner or later. If you stay on track with your goals, be patient because it may take time but don't rush it either. Have fun, sit back and enjoy the process."
Image Credit: Kelsey Lynn Cook
Anticipating Tomorrow
"Some people may not know that I have a dog named S'mores. She is a Morkie which is a Maltese and Yorkie mix. She also has the same birthday as me, so we are 10 years apart."
Currently, Kelsey is focused on her acting career. While she can't share details about any upcoming projects, fans can expect her to bring her A-game to any role she takes on. Other than that, she's "dancing a lot and enjoying posting content on all [her] social media platforms."
10 Quick Questions with Kelsey
1. If you could pick one fictional character to be your best friend, who would it be and why?
I would definitely choose Devi Vishwakumar from "Never Have I Ever." Her character is very iconic and real. Although she has her ups and downs in life, it just makes her more of a well-rounded person. I would love to go through teen life with her because I think it would be fun but also provide learning lessons along the way as we grow into mature adults.
2. What was the most interesting thing you've learned recently, and why did it capture your attention?
The most interesting thing that I learned recently is really focusing more on the outside world in life. As I'm growing up, I'm starting to realize how important nature is and enjoying life outside of our phone screens. I think it captured my attention because sometimes, being on our phones all day is time-consuming, and we can take life for granted. Let's not waste our days being on social media for hours on end and instead, let's focus on life by taking one day at a time and making the most out of it.
3. If you could live in any country for a year, which one would it be and why?
If I could live in any country for a year, it would be Australia. I have some friends that live there, but I would love to visit and see what it's like. I don't know if I would move anywhere for a whole year, but a short vacation might be nice to travel and see the sights. Also, to compare what we have here to Australia would be an awesome experience and I would for sure be trying all the food options and snacks.
4. What is one of the funniest things that ever happened to you, and why was it so memorable?
Every time I get this question, I never know how to answer it because I have more embarrassing or awkward moments than funny ones. I laugh a lot, and I can be a goofball most of the time around my friends, but when it comes to funny experiences only, those include me falling down a mudslide or hugging a guy that made his glasses fall off accidentally. Those memories were both years ago, but they were just teenage moments that make me giggle now.
5. If you were a professional athlete, what sport would you choose to play, and why?
If I were a professional athlete, the sport I would choose to play would be track and field. I played soccer when I was younger just for fun as an extracurricular sport, but I don't think I'd be good at it now. Maybe my dance experience with high jumps and my flexibility could provide me extra leverage for track and field.
6. What is the most unusual food you've ever tried, and did you like it or not?
The most unusual food I've ever tried is frog legs. It wasn't my favorite, so I wouldn't have it again because I'm not very adventurous when it comes to food.
7. If you could go back in time and relive one day of your life, which day would it be and why?
If I could go back in time and relive one day in my life, it would be the day I was going to audition for "SYTYCD: The Next Generation." I actually never got the chance to audition because I fractured my fifth metatarsal due to a trampoline about a week before. The reason I chose this day is because I wonder what my life would've been like and how it would've shaped my career. Would I have chosen to focus on dance for the rest of my life, or would acting be in the picture? I would be curious about the types of opportunities I would've gotten and if it would've catapulted me somewhere different in my career.
8. What is one thing you've always wanted to learn but haven't had the opportunity to do so yet?
One thing I've always wanted to learn but haven't had the opportunity to do so yet is songwriting. I feel like performing in dance helps with emotions and what I'm feeling, but songwriting is on another level in that realm. I love music so much and being able to dance to artists' songs, but I've always thought about songwriting and how fun it would be to put my feelings into lyrics.
9. What would it be and how would you use it if you could have any superpower?
If I could have any superpower, it would be to have all the abilities that "Supergirl" has. She is very powerful and intelligent as well, so being multi-talented in those aspects would be amazing. I would want to save the world and help others as well as communicate with them if they need assistance.
10. What is the most adventurous thing you've ever done, and would you do it again?
The most adventurous thing I've ever done would have to be ziplining. I'm a little bit afraid of heights, so being so far up in the air was scary. It was years ago, but I was [in] tandem with my mom because I wasn't old enough to go on my own. It was definitely freeing, but I'm not sure I would have the guts to go by myself.
Image Credit: Kelsey Lynn Cook
Stay Connected With Kelsey
If you couldn't get enough of Kelsey from this interview and wanna check out more of her content, go check out her TikTok: @kelseylynncook and Instagram: @kelseylynncook!
