Page 4 - MidWeek Kauai - May 4, 2022

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,
Like Dorothy
in The Wizard
of Oz, Kaua‘i-born Sydney Agudong often expe- riences those visceral “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore” moments. Whether she’s on the set of a Netflix show or in the studio recording her debut album, that rush of emotion can hit her at any given time to remind her just how far she’s come from her quaint island home.
one day, she got into a tiff with her mom, Karen, and penned an entire song during math class as a way to relin- quish her remorse. The angsty, pencil-written lyrics became her slightly unofficial debut single, which amounted to the highest regard the Garden Island can offer: air time on
As if one’s teenage years aren’t already turbulent times, Agudong felt nothing but de- feated, discouraged and dis- appointed, and so she put her Hollywood dreams on the back burner and had her heart set on going to college in Colorado instead. But with a sudden burst of optimism, Agudong decided to give it one more try, packed her suitcases and headed straight for Tinseltown. With that spark in her back pocket, she began booking roles. She starred in a low-bud- get film called West Michigan, which is about a 17-year-old girl who struggles to find her place in the world.
Kaua‘i’s KONG Radio.
“It was called I’ m So Sor- ry,” the now 21-year-old says with a sheepish laugh. “Band- wagon Studios had helped me produce it. That was the first time that I thought, ‘Wow, this
Sydney Agudong discovered her love for the spotlight by performing in local pageants and theater performances, and was always supported by family members, including mom Karen (pictured at left). PHOTOS COURTESY SYDNEY AGUDONG
was such a sacrifice in so many ways — financially, emotional- ly and physically. Sometimes, they could afford for us to go uptoLAforamonthortwoat a time, which was a big chunk of time, but it was helpful be- cause the longer you’re there, the more chances you have for auditions and booking something,” Agudong says, adding that she was trying out for everything from com- mercials to Disney and Nick- elodeon series. “Sometimes, we could only afford the time, energy and finances for a week. Whenever we got that chance to make it happen, we would.”
Having dreamt about Hol- lywood’s glitz and glamor for as long as she can remember, Agudong is no stranger to the stage. Her first experience under the dazzling lights was at Kaua‘i County Farm Bu- reau’s Healthy Baby Contest (she got second place). Later, she entered the world of pag- eantry, theater (she was in pro- ductions of Peter Pan, Mulan and Shrek, to name a few) and other avenues that prepared her for stardom.
people couldn’t get through the courses.”
lot of nos before you get your first yes.
When it came to her music, though, Agudong kept those cards close to her heart. Until
“I had the typical moment when you’re with your mom and you’re like, ‘I want to be up there,’ but the funny thing was, I wanted to be on TV to do the game shows,” she says, laughing. “I wanted to do Wipeout because I was so into gymnastics at the time that I didn’t understand why
“I profusely always have to be so grateful for my parents who did this for us because it
“(The experience) was so cool. I mean, it was low bud- get, so filming was quicker and there were some adjustments to
is possible.’”
Another first Agudong fond-
As a member of Gen Z, Agudong hints that her child- hood somewhat reflected that of Hannah Montana, where she was a part-time regular teen, playing sports and hang- ing out with friends, and part- time aspiring star. She and younger sister Sienna (featured in MidWeek’s Oct. 28, 2020, issue for her own accomplish- ments) would frequently fly to LA, hoping the return trip would be accompanied with good news. But, as a lot of household-name celebrities would admit, you get a whole
“There was the stress of try- ing to be good at everything all at once,” the Island School graduate recalls. “When you travel back and forth for au- ditions, it’s such a sacrifice because you’ re away from family and friends and school, and you’re putting it all on the line. I think I got to a point where I was getting so many nos that I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right or even enjoyed it anymore.
ly looks back on is the epiph- any that she wanted to be on television, too.
“I was excited because I got to play somebody who was kind of mean,” Agudong says. “It was fun to experiment and be free and go outside of my comfort zone.
SEE PAGE 5
KAUA‘I MIDWEEK COVER STORY
Things are looking up for actress and musician Sydney Agudong, the Kaua‘i native who nearly gave up on her dreams of a life in Tinseltown before she decided to flip the script.