Actress, music producer, and model Kat David has pose potency. The ambitious feline is irresistibly photogenic and possesses a pretty gift for drawing you in to her exciting and authentic world. The exotically graceful Guam-native and all of her 98lbs relocated to Hollywood from Hagåtña in 2011 to pursue her acting and music careers. Modeling was really just a sexy side-hustle, at least at first, but in a short time several bands and brands had witnessed Kat’s relocation. She has already worked with the likes of Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Avril Lavigne, Six Reasons, and Jessi Malay, adding her signature splash of sassy kickass to each of their music videos.
The boldly provocative Pacific Islander is also quite the spokes-model having endorsed such labels as Beats by Dre, Nino Gambino, Pretty Glam, Color Super, Miss Hamptons, Iron Fist, and EXBTN. Never one to spend an entire day living just one dream, Kat also produces EDM tracks for emerging artists who make partying a priority. The outspoken sex kitten – with the most enthralling eyes ever – kicked it beachside with executive editor ToneSwep for this young, fly and affluent Pure DOPE “model behavior” exclusive.
Written by Tone Swep
Images by Ed Pulella
Read the Full Length Interview
(Tone Swep: TS) You grew up in Guam. Share a little about your upbringing with us.
(Kat David: Kat) Growing up in Guam is awesome. It’s so small that everyone treats everyone the same. Even if you are a stranger, they will treat you well. It’s like a tiny island paradise in the middle of nowhere. And everywhere you go looks like a postcard. Personally, I grew up as an only child. I attended a dance company for 13 years during my youth. I had a few close friends, but didn’t really have many friends overall, so I would stay home and make music and hang out with mostly my Dad.
(TS) Do you speak Chamorro? Are you familiar with Chamorro culture?
(Kat) I’m quite familiar with the culture. I don’t speak the language. My mom does and she speaks it fluently. I know a few words, though. My mom is very Chamorro (Laughs!). I did participate in the fiestas and some of the rituals, however. For example, for a two week period after someone close to you or someone in your family dies, people in the community have prayer meetings. They also party, so to speak, to honor the dead. Sometimes when you are young you don’t realize how beautiful that is. But it is really such a beautiful goodbye.
(TS) What prompted the move to Los Angeles? How has your transition from the Micronesian islands to Hollywood been?
(Kat) I’ve always wanted to act, and I couldn’t do that in Guam. It’s really small, a small island community. No way to break into commercials and television there (Laughs!). I actually tried England first, right after high school. I did London for a year and went to school there and then came to Hollywood. My dad tells me that ever since I was five-years-old I’ve wanted to live and work in Hollywood. I used to say that as a girl. I’ve been able to do incredible things I never thought I could do since the move to LA, but at the same time it’s hard. Because you give up so much love. All of my friends and family are back home or in Europe.
(TS) When did you begin modeling? Who were your early modeling influences and inspirations?
(Kat) I started modeling six years ago in Guam. At first my inspirations were my friends, because every girl there is gorgeous. I had two or three older friends who were absolutely beautiful and they were modeling. They encouraged me to do it and I enjoyed it. Kate Moss and Megan Fox are my favorites. They are both beautiful and rep different styles. No single influence, really. I just feel I always knew what a beautiful woman looked like, and how to display that by just being outrageously confident.
(TS) You project a range of emotions in your images. Is conveying feeling – being an emotional model – your signature?
(Kat) I guess that would be it. I think a lot of it comes from the fact that I act. I’m an actress first. Modeling and acting are similar in many ways. I never want to leave a shoot without leaving the photographer with a story to tell.
(TS) You present yourself as a very sexually liberated young woman. Many of your poses are flirtatiously daring and sensual. What is the message in your modeling?
(Kat) Usually it’s very natural for me. When I’m in that mood I am imagining the person I am currently dating. It’s not projected to the public, even though it is for public viewing. My inspiration is coming from my relationships with people I am dating, people I am close to, people I love, people I feel.
(TS) One consistent look in your eyes is an aura of confidence. You seem fearless. Are you?
(Kat) I think I’m just a normal person when it comes down to it, but I have lived a lot of life. So I am capable of handling anything that comes my way. But that doesn’t make new situations any easier or any less challenging. They aren’t any easier. I am just good at getting back up after being knocked down. I know who I am. And I know from life experience that I am capable of handling almost anything.
(TS) You have endorsed a number of couture collections, street wear lines, and bikini brands, and you’ve also been featured in quite a few music videos. But what is the overall career goal for you in the modeling industry, because you are an actress and track producer first.
(Kat) Honestly, modeling isn’t really a goal for me at all. It’s just a way to supplement my income and it works within the industry. Acting and producing are my primary focus. But I do love to model. It’s part of me. It’s one of my careers. One of the hats I wear. I just don’t wear it as often (Laughs!).
(TS) You produce EDM tracks? Are you pursuing that seriously? Do you also record music vocally?
(Kat) I’m pretty serious about it. I’ve been approached by a few people who want to represent me, but I’m not sure just yet. I do rap and make beats. Am I good at rap? Um, I don’t know (Laughs!). I wouldn’t consider myself the next Iggy. And I don’t consider myself a vocalist, really. I have a best friend in England named Grace who is an amazing vocalist and also plays piano. So she’s been lacing my EDM tracks with keys and it comes out DOPE.
(TS) Who do we need to hear on a Kat David track?
(Kat) Jhene Aiko would be DOPE. She’s a smoking hot Asian girl with a lovely voice. We could totally work well together. A dream collab would be Snoop Dogg. I would have to work especially hard. But I would do that for Snoop. I like Hip Hop as well. I like jazz. So I try to incorporate both of those into my sound, but it’s mostly EDM.
(TS) I know acting is your primary focus. You recently finished a short film, correct?
(Kat) A few months ago we completed a trailer for a short horror film. I’m not sure if it’s going to be extended into a full length film, or if it’s going to remain a short.
(TS) What would be the ideal role for you in film and on television? A period drama? An action flick?
(Kat) Anything physical with tons of action. Anything you wouldn’t normally do in your day-to-day life. I like comedy ok, but drama to me is more meaningful work. It comes from a deeper place. I can laugh on my own (Laughs!). When the audience is paying their hard earned money, I would like to move them rather than make them laugh. On television, a Nikita-like action show. Two bad bitches getting down (Laughs!). Being bosses. Fit and physical. And great writing. A show like Breaking Bad, something along those lines of a crime drama or a thriller. Anything with a cult following. I’d do it for the challenge.
(TS) Are you on the party scene in LA?
(Kat) I don’t party that hard. I don’t drink alcohol, I just smoke weed. But I do like to go to big festivals like Coachella. LA’s party scene goes hard. And I don’t party because I did way too much already (Laughs!).
(TS) What is one thing no one could possibly guess about you? Something a person would have to know you closely to know about you?
(Kat) Like a fun secret, or…?
(TS) … Right, just anything.
(Kat) Cool (Laughs!). Oh! Here’s one. I like to date the nice guy. I like mama’s boys. I like good boys. Not necessarily overly religious, but just a good person. I don’t go for the bad boy who’s hanging out of the car screaming, “Hey, you wanna be my next baby mama!?!” (Laughs!). That’s so tasteless.
(TS) Who must he be? What must he say? In order to take Kat David off the market and replace her last name with his?
(Kat) He’d have to be his own person. And by that I mean independent. No too reliant on anyone but himself. And not too reliant on me. And honestly, the person that I’m going to end up being with is the person that didn’t try to be with me at all. See, by the time I’ve had my first conversation with you? I’ve already made a decision. Just try and be my friend and let me chase you. Don’t ask me if I want to be your next baby mama. Just be amazing. Then walk away. Let me find you.
(TS) Who is your celebrity crush and why?
(Kat) Cara Delevingne. She has amazing eyebrows. She’s gorgeous. Jackie Chan is another. And not because of how I think he is attractive-wise. But because he’s such a nice guy and good person off screen. And then my third would be Diplo. Just because he’s so rad. I’d kill to work with him.
(TS) Looking ahead five years from now, finish this statement: Hi, I’m Kat David and I…
(Kat) … thank you so much for this Oscar Award! (Laughs!). No, that’s really cocky of me… but it’s true. I want to win.
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