This story comes courtesy of Refinery29
By Brenna Egan and Elizabeth Parks Kibbey
Most likely to…become a millionaire, have five kids, go to the Olympics…’member these? Ah yes, the beauty of the senior yearbook, capstone to all awkwardness of adolescence, it bestowed in print (of all things!) a so-called predictor of future success. Have any of us actually turned out to be anything we thought we’d be? We’d put our money on the fact that most of you have taken a roller-coaster ride to become much more than anyone could have ever dreamed. Case in point: The amazing twentysomethings who fill our first-annual L.A. 30 Under 30 list. These talented youngsters are experts in breaking the molds that society (and that high-school yearbook editor) set for them, and are whistling to their own tune, along this wild road of life.
While it was excruciating for us to whittle down our nominees — especially knowing how many worthy candidates reside from the nooks of Venice Beach to the crannies of Culver City — our interviews with this fierce group of ingenues inspired us beyond measure. Our stellar (and may we add, stunning) subjects talked collaboration, communication, and cooperation in ways that made us feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy inside. Maybe it’s the hot sun here, or maybe it’s just true: Tinseltown's an incubator for all kinds of talent, and the spotlight's never been brighter. So, without further ado, click through for a knock-your-socks-off slideshow of 30 L.A. folks you need to know now! We suggest you start lining up for autographs, stat!
For the full list of Refinery29's "30 Under 30 Los Angeles," click here.
Check out some of our favorites below...
LA's 30 Under 30: The City's Rising Stars
The Painter: Rosson Crow(01 of06)
From her slightly askew pixie cut to her surrealist-style Yazbukey accessories, this doe-eyed bombshell embodies "artiste" at first glance. Aesthetically challenged, Rosson Crow is certainly not. She's designed textiles for Zac Posen and counts Jeremy Scott as a BFF, but armed with an MFA from Yale, this history-obsessed bibliophile lends way more than style to her larger-than-life canvases. Equal parts irreverent chaos and intelligent references, each painting is a perfect storm of poppy-hued punk. Explaining her process, she says, "I get very involved with a certain subject, spend lots of time in the library, then map out ideas. Then I just go at it, with the actual painting not taking as long as the research. I want my paintings to have a sense of immediacy, become immersive environments for the viewer, and still be unfussy."The Dallas native is currently neck-deep in preparation for her spring '13 show for Paris' Galerie Nathalie Obadia, and sealing the deal on her commitment to L.A. by house-hunting for the first time (it's no easy task finding studio space large enough to shelter that enormous art!). "Maybe it's the wide, open spaces, or the idea of the 'West,' but anything seems possible." Indeed, girlfriend! Up next on the overachiever's bucket list? She'd love to design sets for the Met Opera, write a novel, work with Cormac McCarthy, and live in Rome. "I think I may need to jump out of a plane at some point, too, to get over my intense fear of flying." Exactly the kind of moxie-filled move you'd expect to find behind the brushstrokes of such in-your-face imagery. --Brenna Egan For the complete list of LA's 30 Under 30, click over to Refinery29Hair by Jacquie Fetch, makeup by Mayera Abeita and Ali Magee. (credit:Clarke Tolton)
The Filmmaker: Lee Toland Krieger (02 of06)
You may recognize this "Celeste and Jesse Forever" director from our Most Eligible Bachelors Of L.A. story. And our desire to play matchmaker for the heartthrob is also a signal for the respect we have for his hard work! It all started when the graduate of USC's illustrious School of Cinematic Arts was invited to visit the set of "Executive Decision" at 13, and he became smitten with the entire process of film production. "I spent the next few years shooting shorts with a video camera the size of a Prius. They were terrible," he says, chuckling. Later, Krieger worked as an intern for power playwright Neil LaBute, who became a sounding board for him when the now-29-year-old made his first film, "The Vicious Kind." When the ish hit the fan and the flick almost lost funding at the last minute, Krieger called his mentor in panic mode. He remembers, "When I asked him for advice, I was hoping he'd say something to the effect of 'I know this guy with a ton of money...' Instead, he replied, 'Art is hard.' And that's it. He hung up. I was on my own." Well, before his actors even showed up, he righted the ship and eventually earned himself a nom for Best Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards. But despite that major coup, Krieger's most rewarding moment thus far comes straight from the heart. "I was able to thank my parents in front of over a 1,000 people when I introduced "Celeste and Jesse Forever" at Sundance this year. I feel grateful for them every day, but it's rare that I share it, so it was really gratifying," he says. Come August 3rd, expect us at the front of the line for that film, starring Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones. --Brenna Egan For the complete list of LA's 30 Under 30, click over to Refinery29Hair by Jacquie Fetch, makeup by Mayera Abeita and Ali Magee. (credit:Clarke Tolton)
The Illustrator: Langley Fox Hemingway(03 of06)
Langley Fox Hemingway makes no secret of her infatuation with Tim Burton -- she already has a drawing inked up of what fantastic things she'd gift him if when the encounter comes to pass. And we have no doubt that the like-minded filmmaker would be impressed with what this wildly talented sketch-ess would bestow! What began as tender-aged doodle pages of "star people" has launched a firing-on-all-cylinders career in illustration -- collabs with Alice + Olivia, LF Stores, and Made Her Think pepper the boho's portfolio (she's also got a thing for camping, vintage, and rock 'n' roll).With Ernest Hemingway as her great-grandfather, actress Mariel as mom, and mega-model Dree as a big sis, that power-packed last name has surely come with some privilege. But when we asked the grateful gal about her goals for the next decade, she humbly replied, "I'd like to take both of my parents on a vacation when I can afford it, and start paying them back for being so supportive and generous with me. I was always taught to be appreciative of our life, however it may play out."The beautiful brunette's dreamy work is surely a product of her utopian, nature-fueled childhood, split between the slopes of Sun Valley, Idaho, and the beaches of SoCal. Although these days, Hemingway prefers to unleash her imagination between coffee shops and her Silver Lake living room. Depending on how many projects she's whipping up at once, many of her sketches take 48 hours plus ("Not all in one sitting, my hand and bum would give up on me!"). In any rare free time she finds, she'll happily moonlight as a model (good looks obviously run in the family), and she's superstitiously pleading the fifth on other exciting commissions in the works. How much do you want to bet those aforementioned doodles will be worth a pretty penny someday?--Brenna Egan For the complete list of LA's 30 Under 30, click over to Refinery29Hair by Jacquie Fetch, makeup by Mayera Abeita and Ali Magee. (credit:Clarke Tolton)
The Politician: Suzy Jack(04 of06)
We're elated to have Suzy Jack, Legislative Director and LGBTQ Liaison for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, on this list. Of her work in the public sector, the all-around superstar discloses, "It's the hardest, most-rewarding work you can find. For those young people up to the challenge, get an internship, get your foot in the door, and work your ass off. If all the good, smart people turn their backs on public service, what kind of people are we left with?" While our political system can seem daunting, she says, "it's a lot less partisan at the local level and more about providing services that affect people's daily lives, so I think it's much easier to reach people and actually get something done." By grounding herself in her beliefs and working tirelessly ("I cannot rest," she says), Jack has gotten a whole hell of a lot done. In 2010, under the public servant's watch and through her initiation, the California State Legislature declared May 22 (Harvey Milk's birthday) a holiday that the Mayor commemorates with an annual day of service. And last year, for the first time in the city's history, Villaraigosa proclaimed June to be LGBT Heritage Month (there are only four other such months, celebrating the contributions of the Latino, Native American, Asian Pacific Islander, and African American communities). These events are opportunities for leaders to partner with school and community organizations to recognize the progress that we've made, and also look forward to the work that has yet to be done. "Talking to the youth is an absolute inspiration, because while many face daunting obstacles to just live their lives freely, those I've met are strong, extremely intelligent, resilient, amazing, and are ready to take on the world," says Jack. We already know Angelenos are a radically diverse group with many talented citizens to tout, but knowing that this power player is hard at work in the Mayor's office gives us a serious case of city pride.--Elizabeth Parks Kibbey For the complete list of LA's 30 Under 30, click over to Refinery29Hair by Jacquie Fetch, makeup by Mayera Abeita and Ali Magee. (credit:Clarke Tolton)
The Gallerista: Amanda Hunt (05 of06)
"Bananas" is the current state of this LAXART curator's buzzy, upward-climbing career! The mantra of constant "trials and exploration" is what revs her up, and since 17, she's done her fair share of both in just about every aspect of the art industry. When a professor gave a lecture with the bold statement "curators have all the fun," she latched onto her life's vocation, and is now settled in at the Culver City non-profit space. Between "interfacing with artists, fielding queries from the public, managing press relationships, managing exhibition production, and conducting studio visits," Hunt's been happily running circles around this sprawling town.The Philly native may have only moved here a short year ago from NYC, but is already a true-blue Cali girl. She says, "It's been incredible to witness this mass exodus of artists and art professionals from the East to the West. I think there's a romantic allure of light, space, and color here that people really do seek and are inspired by." She even recently contributed her keen eye to the city's first biennial, Made In L.A. 2012, which was an "education in itself." And because she's obviously all about paying it forward, the gallerista offered up some collection suggestions from artists who eat, breathe, and create sweet L.A. dreams. So, take a tip from this mover and shaker and snatch up works by Noam Rappaport, Lisa Williamson, and David Gilbert.--Brenna Egan For the complete list of LA's 30 Under 30, click over to Refinery29Hair by Jacquie Fetch, makeup by Mayera Abeita and Ali Magee. (credit:Clarke Tolton)
The Chef: Kris Yembaroong (06 of06)
Warning: This culinary champ's quotes are NSFW, as is his fare. (Not. Suitable. For. Wussies.) After holding a four-year apprenticeship with photog Richard Kern, Kris Yembamroong realized that "New York needed another dude shooting naked chicks like it needed more models or rats." So, he ditched the lens for a wok, and went back to his best coast roots to take over his family's 25-year-old Thai restaurant. The space next door opened up, and not wanting new neighbors, he quickly "cock-blocked" an Irish pub from moving in by signing a fresh lease. The empty room has since morphed into "a blank slate with zero expectation, a casual idea bordering on an experiment," he explains. A year and a half later, Night + Market has earned the young chef a James Beard nomination, glowing reviews from Jonathan Gold, and visits from both David Chang and René Redzepi (basically, it's a BFD in the foodie world). But don't be fooled, it hasn't been all sweet coconut rice. "At the heart of it all, it's just me cooking for my customers in a tiny room. I'm the one at the fish market early in the morning, in line at the bodega buying the bread I use for my ice-cream sandwiches, and staying up until 3 a.m. making pork rinds because my customers love 'em," Yembamroong says.The snarky chef's schooling may have come from "not having a babysitter," and consequently spending many a late night in the commercial kitchen munching on staff meals -- Cordon Bleu, schmordon goo, right? "Formal training gives you technique, which is great, but it can never give you a palate. That's why seasoning is one of the toughest things to learn," he says. And eccentric flavors are definitely never lacking at N+M (think super-duper spicy Moo Sadoon, which means "startled pig," with basil, lemongrass, fish sauce, lime, and bird-eye chile). Oh, and Yembamroong happens to be looking for a solid partner for N+M 2.0, should you feel so inclined! --Brenna Egan For the complete list of LA's 30 Under 30, click over to Refinery29Hair by Jacquie Fetch, makeup by Mayera Abeita and Ali Magee. (credit:Clarke Tolton)
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.