Meet Jessica Lee | Model, Actress, Self-Improvement Coach and Humanitarian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
My name is Jessica Lee, and I am an adopted Korean American actress and model, most widely known as Deal Or No Deal’s briefcase #16 aka Sweet 16. I pursued acting and modeling as it has been my passion and love since childhood. Ever since I was a kid, I loved putting on shows and doing photoshoots. I thrived on the creative process of character development and being a part of an overall vision. I love every aspect of the creative process and hope to continue being a link that helps share or express a story.

Three key habits that have helped me succeed are Perseverance, Resiliency, and operating from a place of Gratitude and Appreciation. As an actress and model, it is crucial to maintain a strong work ethic and continually keep yourself ready, prepared, and motivated.

Persevering through the tough times, lost jobs, and rejection is critical. You can’t give up and throw in the towel if you don’t book one audition. I can tell you firsthand that it will pay off if you keep showing up and putting in the work. Always be prepared and ready for those moments when opportunity strikes. There is a decent amount of rejection in this business, as you will not book every audition, and you will not always be what they are looking for. Much of these decisions have more to do with other aspects of the shoot than who you are. Remember, it’s a business and not necessarily a personal attack on you.

Keep reminding yourself that you are there to help create a vision as an actor or model, and if you don’t fit that project’s particular vision, it is ok. Being resilient through the times of rejection can really help. Keep persevering and being resilient through the ups and downs. Resiliency is key. Find things that bring you joy.

Operating from a place of gratitude often helps keep everything in perspective. I am always so grateful for auditions, shoots, and bookings. I give thanks daily, keeping a gratitude journal, as reminding ourselves what we are thankful for always helps make the ups and downs more doable. An attitude of gratitude is a key to living a happy, fulfilling life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Hi, I am Jessica Lee, aka “J Lee” or Sweet 16 from the new “Deal Or No Deal” hosted by Howie Mandel. I am a model and actress, self-improvement coach, and humanitarian based in Los Angeles. As an Asian-American adoptee, adopted from South Korea and raised in Colorado, my life started in an orphanage and has been nothing short of a perfectly imperfect journey. I am grateful for every twist and turn. At a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a performer. I spent countless hours as a child making up songs and dances and putting on shows. I would create my own photoshoots with my toys and friends and have always had an imagination that served as my light during some very dark times. By the time I was in second grade, I had signed with my first agent and spent my elementary through high school years acting in local theatre productions, working on local photo shoots, commercials, films, and even live touring performances. It was the best, and I still think fondly of some of my first jobs like the AT&T, State Farm, and Celestial Seasonings commercials, and time as a Safety Brat with the touring group, Mr Safety and the Safety Bratz.

I always knew I would come to LA to pursue my childhood dreams. I even had a map of Los Angeles pinned on my bedroom wall, right next to my bed. My dreams of coming to Los Angeles often kept me going. It’s as if my dreams were the fuel that pushed me to continue, shining onward through some very dark and challenging times. Since coming to LA, I have had some great experiences and the privilege of working on some amazing projects!

The shows have included Deal Or No Deal, General Hospital, Syfy’s Faceoff, Hit the Floor, How I Met Your Mother, and working with Malcolm McDowell on Franklin and Bash. I’ve been in numerous music videos such as Jason Derulo’s ‘If It Ain’t Love’, Nickelback’s ‘She Keeps Me Up’, Missy Elliott’s ‘WTF’, Kendrick Lamar’s ‘These Walls’ and Logic & Marshmello’s ‘Everyday.’ And worked in films alongside some of Hollywood’s stars including a cameo in ‘Bad Ass’ alongside Danny Trejo, and French Stewart in ‘30 Nights of Paranormal Activity With the Devil Inside the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’, as well as the 2012 ‘Total Recall’ with Colin Farrell.

I have been in several significant commercial campaigns, including a global ad and billboard campaign for United Airlines, Asics Yoga, Chevy, Ford, Lexus, OnStar, Reebok, Axe Hair, Morningstar Farms, BABA Elaichi with Akshay Kumar, a promotion with Howie Mandel on America’s Got Talent, and a Nespresso commercial with George Clooney and Danny DeVito. And I am also a content creator/influencer working with several brands and PR companies, including Chocolove, Suja, Nouveau Communications, Mashup LA, Canyon Country LA, and TinySponsor.

Having an attitude of gratitude has been one of the best and biggest saving graces in my life. The simple act of reflecting, writing down, saying out loud, or showing in action, what you are grateful for, is incredibly powerful. It can transform your life. Changing your mindset and how you perceive and receive things will change your words and, therefore, change your actions. When we were filming Deal Or No Deal, right before stepping out on stage for our big entrance, I would pause, look up at the stage lights and say, thank you, thank you, thank you. It was my special little moment to reflect and give thanks every single day, multiple times a day.

Another thing that helped keep me going was no matter how bad or difficult things seemed, I never stopped hoping or helping, continually and actively trying to be of service to others. I have spent my life volunteering, and my volunteer work is something that I hold dear to my heart. There is so much healing in helping. I know it might seem a bit odd, but I swear, whenever you’re feeling down or disheartened, find a way to help.

I genuinely believe that the brightest lights come from the darkest places. Keep trying, keep having hope, and never stop dreaming or seeking out the light in the dark. Be true to yourself, and listen to your heart and intuition, your gut. Work hard, persevere, be consistent. Actively pursue your dreams, building and transforming your dreams into your reality, one brick, one step, at a time. Sure, it’s a perfectly imperfect journey, but that’s where the fun, value, and often the beauty lies within those imperfections and challenges.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had one of my best friends from childhood visiting me for a weekend in LA, I would be sure to take them hiking in Griffith Park and stop by the Griffith Observatory. The views of the city are amazing, and the observatory is iconic. We would then catch dinner at Uovo, dining on their delicious handmade pasta, my favorites being Cream di Parmigiano and Cacio e Pepe. After dinner, I would take my friend for drinks and jazz night at the Houston Brothers, swanky speakeasy, Black Rabbit Rose, to see the incredibly talented drummer and friend, Tyler Hammond.

The next day could be a beach day spanning from the Venice canals, up PCH, to Malibu. The following day we would grab an early dinner at Yamashiro, a Hollywood gem with yummy food and incredible views, followed by a show at the Hollywood Bowl, LA’s world-famous outdoor amphitheater, hopefully catching Gustavo Dudamel, conducting the LA Phil or a special guest artist. For a chill Sunday, I would go downtown to the Grand Central Market and pick up some of my favorite artisanal pb&j’s from PBJ LA. They have delicious homemade nut butters and nut milks. I would then check out Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall and pop by Grand Park.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a huge shoutout to Darienne Arnold, my incredible skin guru and model mentor, Russ Nash, my business advisor and mentor, and Jenny Brill, one of my all-time favorite yoga teachers and mentors.

These three beautiful souls have helped me navigate so much of my career, life, and well-being. They have so much wisdom, understanding, and insight. Finding and working with mentors is crucial as it’s always good to get feedback and have people you can learn from and lean on for support and advice. Find mentors who are kind, knowledgeable, helpful, and believe in you. I have many mentors in my life, and I am grateful to each and every one of them.

Website: http://www.thejessicalee.com/

Instagram: @the_jessica_lee

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/thejessicalee16/

Twitter: @the_jessica_lee

Image Credits
Emily Snell, Paul Archuleta (Getty Images), Erik Almas/Quigley Simpson, CNBC, Deal Or No Deal, Mary Russell