Interview with Lisa Kim Fleming

Lisa Kim Fleming, International model.

This name will be easily recognizable for anyone who is involved with or follows the import tuning/automotive scene. Lisa has become one of the most well known models to grace the import tuning scene over the last few years. She can be found on the covers and within many magazines (both car and others) and is a featured model at car shows worldwide. She has done work for many companies such as Spike TV, E! Entertainment TV, FHM, Maxim, Super Street, Axe and Hite beer, to name a few.

After becoming one of the most recognizable models in the industry, she has also started to diversify and get involved with other facets of the industry with her marketing and advertising company, iUNITE Media group. This group includes many different elements such as Jtuned.com (auto online magazine) and City of Angels (events team).

In fact, she is currently preparing for one of the biggest shows of the year, Hot Import Nights in Anaheim, California on 3/14/2009.

Lisa was gracious enough to allow HalfKorean.com to interview her and take a look at her personal and professional life.

Please note that HalfKorean.com comments/questions are in BOLD.

Background: The Basics on Lisa

Where and when were you born?
I was born April 26, 1985 in North Dakota (military brat). I was only born there because my Dad was stationed there at the time and have never been there since. haha

Where have you lived and been raised?
I was raised in Sacramento, California most of my life. I lived in Korea when I was smaller for a few years.

Where do you currently reside?
Now I reside in the lovely Orange County, California 🙂

How did your parents meet?
Haha It’s your typical story; my Dad was stationed in Pusan, Korea… I don’t know exactly how they met but, yeah, they met in Korea when my Dad was stationed there.

Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?
I have one older sister.

Are you fluent in Korean?
Haha, no way… I suck at my Korean. 🙁 But, I will not die until I speak it fluently. I actually plan to move to Korea for a year to get up to speed with speaking it. I can read and write pretty well though since I took a class in college. 🙂

Did you grow up around other half/mixed Koreans (or people of mixed heritage)?
I did… Well, in Sacramento there’s many mixed kids. I had Filipino/White, Korean/White, all kinds. All my Korean/White friends were my Mom’s friend’s kids. haha

You use “Kim” as your middle name (“Lisa Kim Fleming”); is that your Mother’s maiden name?
Yes, Kim is actually my Mother’s maiden name. That’s why it’s funny when Koreans read my tat and are like, “it should be Kim Lisa”, and I’m like no my middle name is Kim! haha

That is what I figured; hey, my Mom’s maiden name is Kim as well!

Yeah, speaking of which, I’ve seen that tattoo on your right shoulder blade in Hangul that you mentioned in some of your pictures. When did you get that?
This tattoo is actually a funny story. I was 18 when I got it. I randomly asked my Mom how to write Lisa Kim in Korean and she wrote it; who knows if she just scribbled it. I tore it out and took it to an American tattoo artist in Sacramento and told him to copy it. haha I really didn’t do research or care who the artist was and didn’t even know if the writing was neat. LOL that’s me though… I’m random and not picky… it is what it is 🙂 hate it or love it is what I tell others.

No hate here! It looks clean and at least the artist didn’t mess it up and good thing your Mom actually wrote out “Lisa Kim” in Hangul instead of something else! haha

Did you ever experience any racism/prejudice growing up as a person of mixed heritage and/or were there any identity issues while growing up that you had to deal with?
Haha all the time. When I hang out with the Caucasians they would call me Chinese… Then the Asians would say I’m white… I’m like WTF! I don’t belong anywhere 🙁 haha But I’ve grown to love the fact that I can be two different races. In the modeling world… shoot, they categorize me in all races almost… If you’ve seen some pix in my portfolio, I can look straight Korean, White, Latina, Chinese, Indian haha you name it.

That is great though that you have that versatility to have the “look” of multiple ethnic groups; I’m sure it opens up more opportunities for you.
So, in general, what do you think most people who meet/see you think you are (ethnicity)?
The most common race I get is either Vietnamese or Filipino. haha So opposite, right? Yeah, I dunno, nobody ever knows I’m half Korean, which is why I’m more than happy to write for this website. Let it be known that I am half KOREAN! haha

Yeah, I hear you on that (nobody knowing that I’m Korean)! That’s a pretty common theme for quite a few of us half Koreans. haha

Modeling & Professional Career:

How did you first get involved in the modeling industry? Was it something you always wanted to do or just kind of happened?
I’ve always wanted to be a model. Like, when you’re small and they ask “what do u want to be when u grow up?” I would say “I want to be a model!” haha I got into the scene; well I started with a modeling agency in Sacramento, but being in Sac you don’t get many jobs. So, after I did a little reality show on E! entertainment, I met some people that helped me to get started if I moved to LA. So, my sis already lived in LA since she was a USC student at the time so I picked up my things and left. Started with agencies, but it was harder to get jobs being half Asian and only 5’5″, so my first friends I met in So Cal just happened to be in the import scene. I was always into the whole “rice rocket” stuff before but wasn’t really trying to be an import model, but since those jobs kind of just came to me and it was easy fast cash I kind of just fell into it. And now I’m here. haha But I never regret being in the import scene as it has done me well… I got to meet the greatest people and traveled the world and have great fans from it! 🙂

What did your parents think when you first got involved in the industry?
Well, my Mom is just like “You crazy I don’t know you!” in her Korean accent. haha… Then, I just say, “Don’t worry Mom, I’m going to buy you a house”, and then she smiles like “Whatever, I’ll believe it when I see it.” My Dad, on the other hand, being Caucasian… he differs. He’s also a priest! haha So, his first reaction was like, “No… Don’t do it… you better not take off your clothes.” But, now he supports me all the way… Shoot, if anything, they promote me to their friends! It’s funny! My Mom didn’t think it was anything until I did a cover for the biggest Nor Cal casino, Cache Creek. She likes to gamble sometimes so they send her mail. So, one day she calls, “Lisa-ya, I check the mail today… and your face is in there!” haha I was like, OMG Mom you’re funny. So, it was cool she got to see first hand what I do.

How did the Cache Creek casino job come about and was it your first non-automotive related modeling job?
The Cache Creek gig came from the Sacramento agency I was with. It wasn’t the first non-automotive gig; I have done many non-automotive gigs but mostly have done automotive 🙂

Within the modeling industry, do you think that being mixed-Korean has any affect on your career?
Oh, I think it affects it a lot. Definitely there is a demand for “exotic” looking girls but I still don’t feel the HALF ASIAN market is there yet in the US. But in Asia, man, there is high demand! Singapore, Thailand, Korea and Japan… all using half Asians… Yeah, I know, what am I still doing here? Well, that’s why I travel so much to Asia.

Have you met or worked with any other half/mixed Korean models?
Umm… Yes, there was one which I won’t name because we bumped heads a few times. But, she didn’t really get anywhere anyways and I think she was just intimidated. It seems if you’re one of the only few in the industry they feel like its competition. Not me. I don’t care. haha You have to be confident in what you do and keep moving. Don’t let anybody distract you. 😛 But, I think I’m the only Korean/White in this industry right now… yeah!

That is a great attitude to have. As someone from the outside looking in, I would think that there might be a lot of competitiveness between models especially if they have a similar “look” or background.

Within the modeling industry, is there anybody that you respect or that have influenced you?
Umm, oh that reminds me… haha scratch that, there is another halfer like me and I respect her; her name is Ursula Mayes. She is also Korean/White and pretty much the one I respect being she always went out of her way to come to me and introduce herself and is very nice. I’m all about the way you approach yourself to others. She actually did a lot in Korea and became a spokesmodel for some beauty product out there. She is also an import model.

Have you had any modeling opportunities in Korea yet?
I have not; which is why I’m so jealous Ursula got to make her break there. Korea seems to be very much in their own circle about things. All the other Asian countries have migrated their network out here to bring girls their way but not Korea. I have a wide range of network but none in Korea! haha Well, the only thing I’ve done for anything related to Korea is an ad for Hite beer which was in many mags and I hosted some events with Se7en, the Korean pop star. Haha Oh, and I’ve worked with Hankook tires but that’s still in the auto industry. 😛

Out of all of the jobs you have done, which have you enjoyed the most?
Probably the overseas gigs 🙂 I love to travel and being able to learn all the other cultures from other countries is amazing and trying their food 🙂 Like in the Philippines, Thailand or Indonesia. I love to travel and meet people from all over the world. I even joined a charity in the Philippines to help those that live in the province areas.

Now, I’ve read that you’ve started to get involved with other forms of media within the industry. How did you get involved with iUNITE Media Group?
Well, a friend approached me that wanted to start a company and he was just getting out of a job from a magazine company to start this and asked me to be his partner. When we went over all the things we could do with him, my other partner and I we knew we’d kill it. So we created iUNITE Media Group. Just to break it down a bit; under that we also own Jtuned.com (a pretty well know online auto magazine), Anit-media (ad agency), City of Angels (our event coordinating side) and Inspired Models by lisakimfleming (which will be up and running soon).

That is awesome; it looks as though you are really getting all the bases covered and diversifying yourself within the industry (outside of just modeling). Are there any special projects happening now or coming soon (modeling or other)?
Well, for me, I just have been busy keeping these companies up and running. I will be at Hot Import Nights LA and Hot Import Nights San Mateo. I do plan to go back to Singapore soon to shoot some more modeling stuff out there (hehe surprise) and have some gigs lined up in the Philippines and Thailand. I think my Toki Doki commercial should be up and running but it’s in Asia. haha I am going to Korea in April, but for family reasons. But, yeah, that’s about it for now. 🙂

How about your future career plans/goals? Do you plan to branch off into any other entertainment fields eventually?
I think I kind of explained it in the other question about my company. I do plan to make this modeling agency open a lot of doors for other females trying to come up. I also hope to do more hosting on TV shows; hopefully here but, if not, I have a few opportunities to take on television in Asia.

Would acting be something you might be considering in the future?
No. I’ve been there tried it and came to the conclusion it’s not for me. I’m too real to act like something I’m not. No offense to actors and actresses, but I just can’t act like someone else.

Random & Personal info on Lisa:

Are you single, in a relationship, married and any children?
haha no kids! I am single. 🙂

Do you have any hobbies or interests that you do to relax?
Hobbies… hmm not really; I’m a pretty laid back kind of girl. Since my life is pretty hectic as is, I love to just go to a spa on my downtime or kick it with friends and catch up on things. I do like making funny YouTube videos. hehe

Anybody you specifically respect/look up to?
My mother; the strongest and most independent female I know with the biggest heart in the world.

I know that you have traveled extensively during your career so far; do you have a favorite location/destination?
Out of all the countries, Japan is my fav! The fashion and culture is just amazing. From anime commercials on TV and how all the girls act like cartoons haha. How everyone walks with their head down and doesn’t talk to anyone… It is just so interesting to me.

Do you think that the Korean & Korean-American communities are accepting of Koreans of mixed heritage?
LOL good question… you know, I think it’s hit or miss. Either they think it’s cute that you don’t know much Korean and they’ll give you a little leeway on not knowing when to bow or who’s ajima or who’s whatever. haha Umm, or I feel that sometimes they look at you like, “Oh, they’re not really Korean.”

Have you had any bad experiences from the Korean & Asian-American communities?
Not really. I have learned that you are better off just not bowing and trying to speak Korean because, if you do, then they expect it ALL! Meaning, they will expect you to know all the polite sayings or whatever. haha And, I don’t know much so if you just act like you are straight Americanized they won’t expect much from you. haha So, until I know it ALL, I don’t want to give it half.

That makes sense!
So, you are going to Korea this April; when was the last time you have been to Korea?
I am going to Korea this April. The last time I was there was two years ago with friends after the Tokyo auto salon. I didn’t see my family at that time because, well, they don’t speak English so without my Mom I wouldn’t be able to communicate with them. This time is to see family and that’s been about 6 years since I have seen them, so I’m pretty excited.

Do you get recognized (outside of work)?
Umm, sometimes. It matters where I’m at; but mostly at clubs, I guess. In Hawaii is probably where I get recognized the most. Like one time I was just walking to my car with a friend in a parking garage and this little girl with her whole Japanese family starts screaming, “Are u Lisa Fleming?” and she tells her family in Japanese who I am… They have no idea but they push their 5 yr old son to take a picture with me. haha

So, it seems you must have a pretty big following in Hawaii? haha

Do you drink soju?
haha Do, I drink soju? Lets just say I drink so much soju that one time I woke up and looked at my X-mas tree and had soju caps hanging all over my tree like ornaments and I’m like, “What… how did that get there?” Yeah, we had a Korean BBQ night at my house with like 10 bottles of soju. 🙂 Lisa loves her soju.

Wow, that must have been a fun night. I’m sure the tree looked real pretty with all those soju caps! haha

Have you had any personal preferences while dating?
Umm, I usually date Asians. It’s funny; I’m more Asian-washed and my sis is white-washed. I have only dated Koreans or Vietnamese and a Filipino so far. haha I’m so international (as my mom says). But, I kind of hope to end up with a Korean since I’m not so educated in my culture as much as I would like to be and I would want my kids to be. But, I will say I spoke Korean fluently when I lived in Korea. When we moved back to the US my parents divorced and my mom was trying to learn English so much that I forgot my Korean. But, for the record, I can make good Korean food 🙂 Dduk guk, kimchi bokumbap, miyuk guk, galbi… what u want? haha

That’s awesome that you can cook Korean foods! Did you learn from your mom or on your own?
I learned a bit from my mom but mostly on my own. It’s not that hard. When I moved out from my mom’s place of course I still wanted Korean food so I learned and cooked for my sis and me. I just learned dden jang jiggae the other day 🙂 It was so good! 🙂

Do you get on the Internet often?
I am always online. Being that most of my work is online, I spend most of my time online and keeping my own website up to date.

So what are some of your favorite websites that you go to?
haha Facebook! Twitter… MySpace… Oh, and my website lisakimfleming.com or jtuned.com hehe (I know, I’m sorry… shameless plugs haha) Umm, that’s about it…

Hey! What about HalfKorean.com?! haha

So, how did you find out about HalfKorean.com and what did you think about HalfKorean.com when you first checked it out?
You are actually the first to let me know about it. I love the idea! I support it all the way. I’m all about supporting anything Korean. haha Like I said, I’m Asian-washed and my sis is White-washed. I was actually thinking of creating a magazine all about half Asian, half White people. I’m letting the secret out because who knows if I’ll ever have time to do it. But I think it’s awesome. When I went to the site, I got to see the interviews of those I never even knew were half Korean. I think it’s a great way to let others know who is half Korean too! haha Maybe Korea doesn’t even know that I’M HALF KOREAN. haha Who knows. but I love it!

Any words that you would like to pass on to the HalfKorean.com community?
Just that I’m glad to be a part of HalfKorean.com and please support me at www.lisakimfleming.com or if you like Japanese tuned cars, go to jtuned.com 😉

I want to personally thank Lisa for her time and hopefully we can catch back up with her in the future as well. I want to also wish her continued success and we’ll look forward to possibly seeing her do modeling work in Korea somewhere down the line!

Be sure to check out her websites as mentioned within the interview; LisaKimFleming.com and Jtuned.com. You can also find her on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Interview by: David Lee Sanders

Posted: 3/12/2009