WE GOT NEXT: KAMARI BONDS 👋

At Culture Kings we’ve always been at the forefront of sports, music, art, and culture, with a strong, buzzing community built at the center of it all. With that comes the privilege of having a platform.

Today, we are excited to introduce the 2nd installment of  WE GOT NEXT!: Culture Kings' initiative to highlight upcoming talent, creatives, artists, visionaries, and pioneers across various industries through an interview + content series with the goal of showcasing + amplifying their voices. Basically, we’ve got our ears to the streets and will be letting you know who not to sleep on.

Kamari Bonds is an up and coming actress, who recently starred in the Netflix Original Twentysomethings! 

Check out Kamrai's Q&A below and stay tuned to see who else we’ll feature on WE GOT NEXT!

Tell us about yourself and why you got next? 

Born and raised in North Carolina by two self employed parents, I’ve never imagined anything other than being my own boss. I’ve always had big dreams, the type where people look at me and ask how I think I could accomplish it all. I don't believe in “luck” but I do think that something great can happen when preparation and opportunity meet. That’s where I am at this moment and that's why I got next.

Being on a Netflix show like Twentysomethings: Austin is a pretty big deal. How did you get into that and how has your life changed since?

Staring in a Netflix show has undoubtedly changed the trajectory of my life. Still, the craziest part is that I never went looking for the show, the opportunity found me. I was fortunate enough to be contacted by a casting director and asked to go through the interview process. Fortunately for me I didn't have to do anything but be myself and the rest is history. Since the show has dropped the biggest change in my life has been the amount of eyes on me. My Instagram following has grown tremendously, and I have a platform to share important and meaningful dialogue. There's this big question mark around who I am and I'm excited to show the world.

You’re originally from Greensboro. North Carolina. What was it like growing up there and how was the experience moving across the country to Austin, Texas?

Growing up in Greensboro has definitely shaped the man I am today.  Being raised with my family and extended family around and having them there to help guide me through such important years made all the difference. Greensboro is a big city with a small town feel, everyone knows one another and the city has a lot of talented people. We're all aiming to make it out of here so it’s this unspoken hustler’s spirit that drives the Boro. Not to mention NC in itself is beautiful, we have everything from beaches to mountains. Moving to Austin, Texas was a big jump! Besides college it was my first time stepping out and taking on the world by myself. I'll always have a special place in my heart for Austin, especially since I moved there during such a pivotal transition period. I understand why it’s one of the fastest growing cities in America. The city is beautiful, the people are amazing, the business sector is booming and to top it all off you’ll eat some of the best food you could imagine. 

How would you describe your personal style? And what are some of your favorite pieces from Culture Kings?

In three words I would describe my personal style as simple, eclectic, and creative. Some of my favorite pieces from Culture Kings are the jackets, which is a staple in my wardrobe. Loiter has some really dope varsity jackets which is one of my favorite styles. The graphic tees from Goat Crew and Rodman are fire too, I had to get my hands on some of those.

You’re a multi-hyphenate: a model, creative entrepreneur, TV personality, influencer, and more. How do you juggle everything and stay on top of it?

I’m 100% one of those people who live and die by their planner, if i don't have it in my calendar it’s hard for me to keep track of it. My morning routine definitely plays a big role in making sure I start my day off on a high note and I'm on top of everything. At times it can definitely be overwhelming seeing everything I have to do but having a plan keeps me at ease. Oh, and of course I can’t forget to mention my secret weapon, my Momager! Not only is she my mom but she is someone I can bounce ideas off of and trust her word. She’s a businesswoman and creative in her own right so it’s unmatched having her in my corner.

Do you have any routines and mantras you live by?

My morning routine is my staple. I wake up at 5:30am and the first thing I do is meditate, journal and then review my task for the day. Next, I'm drinking my green tea as I head to the gym. After the gym I come back, shower, eat and get straight to it. My mantra that I live by is “Superior to none, Beneath no one”. That's the energy I'm carrying around. 

Fill in the blanks:

1. Favorite food: Sushi
2. My fashion icon is: Pharrell Williams, Honorable mention: Dapper Dan, A$AP ROCKY
3. The boldest thing I’ve done is: Move across the country to live in a house with 8 strangers and be filmed around the clock. I’ve never imagined myself on a reality show so it's crazy that I ended up on one. 
4. Things I would put on my photoshoot rider: Alkaline Water, Fresh fruit (Strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, grapes, pineapple) One hot tea set up, a Chef Specialty sushi platter. 
5. Favorite childhood cartoon: Samurai Jack
6. Favorite pair of sneakers: Fragment x Air Jordan 1 High OG
7. One thing I would tell my younger self: Be anxious for nothing and trust your intuition.

TV, modeling, creative directing – you’ve accomplished a lot at a young age. What’s next?

My dream is to continue what I'm doing but on a bigger scale and on a bigger stage, I want to help push the culture. I want to do what I love everyday and that is creating and engaging in meaningful interactions. I’ve never been one to put myself in a box. From modeling, to acting, to fashion design, I want to touch on everything I'm interested in. If I can live out my dreams while inspiring others to do the same, that’s a win for me.

We give every feature an opportunity to nominate someone for WE GOT NEXT! – who do you pick?

Lorenzo Graisè (IG: @zoegraise)