Page 12 - MidWeek - April 27, 2022

12 MIDWEEK APRIL 27, 2022
Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Kaua‘i-born Sydney Agudong often experiences those visceral “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore” mo- ments. 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.
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 people couldn’t get through the courses.”
get a whole lot of nos before you get your first yes.
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). Lat- er, she entered the world of pageantry, theater (she was
in productions of Peter Pan, Mulan and Shrek, to name a few) and other avenues that prepared her for stardom.
relinquish her remorse. The angsty, pencil-written lyrics became her slightly unofficial debut single, which amounted to the highest regard the Gar- den Island can offer: air time on Kaua‘i’s KONG Radio.
produce it. That was the first time that I thought, ‘Wow, this is possible.’”
“I profusely always have to be so grateful for my parents who did this for us because it was such a sacrifice in so many ways — financially, emotionally and physical- ly. Sometimes, they could
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
As a member of Gen Z, Agudong hints that her child- hood somewhat reflected that of Hannah Montana, where she was a part-time regu- lar teen, playing sports and hanging out with friends, and part-time aspiring star. She and younger sister Sienna (featured in MidWeek’s Oct. 28, 2020, issue for her own accomplishments) would fre- quently fly to LA, hoping the return trip would be accom- panied with good news. But, as a lot of household-name celebrities would admit, you
“There was the stress of trying to be good at every- thing all at once,” the Island School graduate recalls. “When you travel back and forth for auditions, 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.
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When it came to her mu- sic, though, Agudong kept those cards close to her heart. Until one day, she got into a tiff with her mom, Karen, and penned an entire song during math class as a way to
“It was called I’ m So Sor- ry,” the now 21-year-old says with a sheepish laugh. “Band- wagon Studios had helped me
Another first Agudong fondly looks back on is the epiphany that she wanted to be on television, too.
“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
MIDWEEK COVER STORY
Things are looking up for actress and musician Sydney Agudong, who nearly gave up on her dreams of a life in Tinseltown before she decided to flip the script.