How an unknown actress became Hollywood’s new It Girl: Lola Tung had only been in school plays before being cast in The Summer I Turned Pretty, now as show reaches its finale, expert reveals how she’s set to scoop up six-figure deals

It takes most artists decades in the spotlight to accrue fashion deals with famous designers, land breakout TV parts and snag leading Broadway roles.

But 22-year-old Lola Tung has achieved all three barely out of high school, after playing the divisive Isabel ‘Belly’ Conklin, ‘anti-hero’ protagonist of the revered The Summer I Turned Pretty.

The actress, at the heart of everyone’s favourite current TV love triangle, is now also the face of a Coach line dedicated to sustainability, as well as being an American Eagle partner, having carved out a name for herself in the sartorial scene with fun red carpet and street-style looks.

With a background in musical theatre, she was also in the hugely successful musical Hadestown, taking the helm as female lead Eurydice in New York, and has two films lined up before The Summer I Turned Pretty’s finale has even aired. 

But while she’s now basking in the spoils of becoming the next coveted It Girl, just a few years ago she was a teenager at LaGuardia High School in New York – known for championing young talent including the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Timothee Chalamet and Nicki Minaj.

A Long Island native, Lola grew up with a musician father and actress mother – so it is perhaps no wonder her leap to showbiz felt so natural.

‘I was constantly surrounded by art and artists,’ she told Polyester, revealing that she was first taken to a Broadway show at five years old.

‘I think it was either The Lion King or Mary Poppins,’ the star added. ‘One of those incredible spectacles that you immediately are just blown away by.’

But despite loving theatre from a young age, Lola admitted she was a ‘shy child’, and it wasn’t until her teens that she started to consider the spotlight for herself by auditioning for a middle school adaptation of the Wizard of Oz, where she was the Tin Man and ‘loved every second of it’.

‘And from that point on, it was kind of like, “This is this is the thing. This is the thing I’m gonna do”,’ she gushed.

A couple of years later, Lola made it to LaGuardia, which specialises in the performing arts.

There, she was a dedicated student and graduated with a major in drama. During her senior year, she was said to have been spotted by her now-manager, after taking part in a virtual senior acting showcase.

Going from strength to strength, Lola then got into the prestigious Carnegie Mellon School of Drama – but barely a year into her studies came the role of a lifetime, 21st-century romcom darling Belly, a gig Lola got despite having only acted in high school plays at the time.

She took a leave of absence from college to film in North Carolina in 2021, before the hugely popular show, based on a series of novels by Jenny Han, landed on Amazon a year later.

‘I knew it would be special, but I think nothing can ever prepare you,’ she told The New York Times.

‘There’s no way to know how it’s going to be received and how your life will change after.’

And change it did. 

Lola has spoken about feeling the honour of having ‘grown up’ alongside Belly, whose antics on the show (which include everything from marrying someone despite being in love with their sibling to forgiving her cheating fiance) have been divisive for everyone from tween audiences to their fathers, roped into streaming the show alongside them.

Hundreds of TikToks show parents in their 50s and 60s glued to the TV, deeply locked into the tale of a young girl forced to choose between two brothers, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad (Christopher Briney).

The show’s popularity has had a dark side too, and the cast has been candid about the backlash they faced from both the ardent #TeamJere and #TeamConrad camps. 

Recently, the series’ social media accounts were forced to make a statement after some of the stars were reportedly receiving death threats.

‘The show isn’t real but the people playing the characters are,’ it read, accompanied by a clip spelling out: ‘The summer we started acting normal online.’

‘I think we see with a lot of these love-triangle stories, people want the leading girl to end up with someone,’ Lola told Teen Vogue.

‘When people have an attachment to the characters, they want to see it come together at the end. I’m so grateful that they care so much, but people get a little scary about it.

‘Please don’t threaten to kill someone if something doesn’t go your way  – I promise you, it’s not that serious. Jenny Han is so smart and she cares so much about the story and making it the best story that it can be. It will be okay.’

Despite the challenges that have come with fame, Lola – who has also become beloved by young viewers, who enjoy her excitable press persona and love for Taylor Swift’s music – has continued to accrue certified cool girl credentials.

As well as having her acting chops at the ready (she is set to star in two horror flicks in 2026, Forbidden Fruits and The Young People, the former of which features Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti and Gabrielle Union) the actress has also been dubbed a ‘Gen Z style icon’ and ‘the coolest fashion girl next door’ after working with stylist Britt McCamey.

Her Instagram is full of trendy ensembles, and her public appearances have had people obsessed with the fun details she features in her looks – from ballerina-inspired shoes to lace headwear and colourful tights. 

Chic brands including Coach, Vivaia, Gentle Monster and 404 Studio are all on her roster.

And throughout her rapid success, Lola hasn’t forgotten her roots in musical theatre, and got thunderous applause during her Broadway stint last year.

‘I want to dip my toe into everything,’ she told Vogue of the experience in 2024. ‘I’d love to keep exploring different worlds. I don’t know exactly what that looks like next, but I’m excited to see.’

With The Summer I Turned Pretty finale set to air next week on September 17, the world is wide open for Lola, who admits she learned ‘a lot’ from Belly.

‘I think she has a confidence and an impulsiveness and spontaneity that I sometimes lack. I will overthink a lot about things that I want to say but feel like I shouldn’t, and she sometimes will just say the hard thing even if it may cause some tension,’ she told Cero Magazine.

‘Sometimes things need to be said to move forward and hash out relationships. I think I’ve gotten a little bit tougher and maybe a little more impulsive. Not in a dangerous way, but in a necessary way, which I do appreciate.’

Speaking to the outlet about her next project, Forbidden Fruits (an adaptation based off Lily Houghton’s play Of the Women Came the Beginning of Sin, and Through Her We All Die), Lola said: ‘It’s so different from The Summer I Turned Pretty.’

She continued: ‘So it’s always fun when people want you for a certain part, even when what you’ve done is so different, because they just see something. It was so cool that they even wanted me to be part of it. I had such a blast filming that, and it was my first experience doing a whole film, start to finish.

‘The director, Meredith, is incredible, and the cast was incredible. I was working with all these women who’ve been doing this a lot longer than I have, and have so much wisdom and taught me so much, and are so talented and funny. It was such a blast.’ 

Speaking to the Daily Mail, PR expert Chad Teixeira said that Lola Tung is ‘very much the embodiment of Hollywood’s “next big thing”‘.

‘She has all the right ingredients to secure long-term success with her undeniable talent, on-screen charisma, and the kind of relatability that makes audiences feel like they know her personally,’ he shared.

‘What’s particularly exciting about Lola is that she’s not just breaking through because of one role, she’s doing so in a way that feels organic and sustainable, which is rare in an industry that often looks for quick wins.

‘Her work on The Summer I Turned Pretty has positioned her as a Gen Z icon, but her range and potential clearly extend beyond teen drama. With new projects already lined up, Lola is poised to become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand young stars and we’ve watched the success of others soar like this too.’

He compared her trajectory to Zendaya’s, saying there are similarities between ‘the momentum, talent, and cultural resonance to transition from breakout TV fame to long-term, A-list success’.

‘In Lola, we’re already seeing the markers of someone about to soar with her rapidly growing social media influence, a loyal fan base and a level of visibility that naturally attracts major brands and high-profile directors alike,’ Chad continued.

‘From a business perspective, it wouldn’t be surprising to see her enter six-figure territory with her next wave of roles.

‘The industry is always hungry for a new “It girl”, but Lola stands out because she pairs commercial appeal with a genuine sense of artistry. That combination makes her not only a bankable actor but also Hollywood’s hottest new property.

‘If Lola continues to align with the right scripts, diversify her portfolio, and leverage her growing influence with authenticity, she’s set to enjoy a career trajectory similar to some of today’s most successful leading women.’

He cautioned that one of the only concerns for Lola is how to navigate the ‘intense spotlight that comes with rapid fame’.

‘Like many young stars, maintaining boundaries and choosing roles that showcase depth beyond her breakout series will be key to avoiding typecasting and ensuring her career has real longevity and that she doesn’t blend into the background once her show ends,’ the pro concluded.