Early Life and Background

Kelsey Asbille Chow was born on September 9, 1991, in Columbia, South Carolina. Her father is of Chinese descent, and her mother has English and Cherokee ancestry. Despite her heritage, Kelsey has stated publicly that she does not speak Mandarin fluently. She is the eldest of three siblings, with a younger brother and a younger sister. While originally from South Carolina, Kelsey currently resides in New York City, though she has also spent time in Los Angeles for work purposes.

Education and Performing Arts Interests

Kelsey attended Hammond School in Columbia, where she became actively involved in the performing arts. She developed an interest in dance at an early age and participated in numerous school productions. Her passion for performance led her to community theater, where she gained valuable acting experience. Kelsey was later selected to join the Hammond Select Ensemble, a group that performed nationally and internationally, including in Italy. Her early exposure to acting played a crucial role in her landing her first television role at the age of 13.

Career Beginnings and Breakthrough Role in One Tree Hill

Kelsey began her acting career in community theater before making her television debut in 2005 as Gigi Silveri in the teen drama series One Tree Hill. Her role on the show, which she held until 2009, garnered attention and opened doors for future opportunities. She then appeared in guest roles on popular shows such as The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Disney Channel’s Den Brother.

Key Roles in Pair of Kings and Other Television Series

From 2010 to 2013, Kelsey starred as Mikayla Makoola in the Disney XD series Pair of Kings, a role that became one of her most recognized performances. Her television portfolio also includes appearances on shows like Punk’d, Baby Daddy, and later, MTV’s Teen Wolf, where she played the character Tracy Stewart in season five.