Get to Know 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Star Lola Tung
From starring in a critically acclaimed television adaptation to brand campaigns and fashion week appearances, Lola Tung is a rising star to watch.
You might know Lola Tung for her lead role as Isabel "Belly" Conklin in The Summer I Turned Pretty, the shy yet ambitious teen who navigates adolescence and love, especially being caught up in a heated love triangle with two brothers. Or, if you're a drama geek, maybe you've seen one of her theater performances, perhaps as Eurydice in Hadestown, a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that retells the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in an apocalyptic, Great Depression-era America. But, the actress is so much more than just a character on screen (and on stage). Tung is also a singer, model, and most recently, a sustainability advocate. From her early beginnings to her breakout role, L'OFFICIEL runs down everything you need to know about the rising star.
She graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
Born and raised in New York City, Lola Tung's journey into the spotlight began with performances in middle school productions like Little Shop of Horrors and The Wizard of Oz. Then, she graduated from LaGuardia in 2020 as a drama major and later began an undergraduate program at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama. But, soon after completing her first year of college, Tung was casted in The Summer I Turned Pretty, so she took some time off school indefinitely.
She's a Broadway star.
Lola Tung has certainly come a long way from her humble beginnings as a drama major at LaGuardia. Last year, Tung took on the role as Trina in Set Me Free and Penny Lane in Almost Famous, a musical based on a book written by Cameron Crowe. But, earlier this year, Tung made her Broadway debut in the musical, Hadestown, where she stars as Eurydice, an ancient Greek mythology character attempting to survive poverty. She stars opposite Jordan Fisher, who plays Orpheus.
She has attended New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.
Only 21 years old, Lola Tung effortlessly exudes a chic fashion sense that has caught the attention of industry elites. So, her presence at prestigious runway shows speaks volumes about her influence and style prowess at such a young age. During the Spring/Summer 2024 season alone, Lola Tung appeared at the shows at esteemed fashion houses like Coach and Christian Dior.
She attended her first CFDA Awards in 2023.
For her first CFDA Awards attendance, Lola Tung donned a crystal-embellished dress by Balmain and sported a clean slicked-back bun. It was perhaps her most elegant, sophisticated look yet. Dare we say she's a style icon to watch?
She's been featured in a Coach campaign.
Just last year, Lola Tung was among the Gen Z sustainability advocates featured in Coach's Coachtopia campaign. When asked about her sudden interest in sustainable fashion, Tung told L'OFFICIEL USA that she had "always felt strongly about protecting the planet and strive to live a more sustainable lifestyle each day." "I have done things in my own life on a smaller scale to move towards a more sustainable and less wasteful lifestyle like thrifting, but it is really cool to witness what such a big and influential brand like Coach is doing on a larger scale," Tung added.
She has been an American Eagle partner since 2022.
With the instant success of the first season of The Summer I Turned Pretty in 2022, it didn't take long for Lola Tung to become an American Eagle partner alongside her co-stars Gavin Casalegno and Christopher Briney. Since then, Tung has been a part of multiple campaigns with the brand.
