Who Is Lala Kent? The Vanderpump Rules Cast Member Is Always Herself
She's a mom, an author, a singer, a former SUR hostess, a podcast host, and a big personality.
If you can count on Vanderpump Rules cast member Lala Kent to be one thing, it's herself.
Since being on the show for the past six seasons, Lala has not been afraid to show the cameras who she really is. She's a loyal friend, a fierce advocate against bullies, and a talented multi-hyphenate hostess-actress-singer-podcast-host-author-and-mom. And if you can count on her for anything, it's to speak her mind.
Lala often finds herself involved the some drama with her friends and Vanderpump cast members, so it's hard to keep track of who she is friends with, who she is dating, and what entrepreneurial endeavor she might be up to now.
But do not fret, this is everything you need to know about Lala Kent — from the origin of her unique name, to her ideal upbringing, to what she's doing right now.
What is Lala Kent's real name?
Lala's real name is Lauren Elyse Burningham, which she revealed in her 2021 book, Give Them Lala. She changed the spelling of her name to Lauryn in her teens to make it more memorable while auditioning for roles in Los Angeles.
After she moved to L.A., she started introducing herself as "Lala", which was her childhood nickname. Her new last name is her father's first name — Kent Burningham — because she's always been a "daddy's girl."
"Lala comes out when a camera turns on and it is still me," she wrote in Give Them Lala. "But it's almost this version where I can protect myself a bit — and it may be in my head, but I don't care — because I feel protected by Lala. She's super bad ass."
Lala credits this alter ego for her success. "If Lala hadn't existed, then Lauryn might have existed a few seasons on Vanderpump before going back to Utah, traumatized, to settle down with a local boy, but that wasn't in the cards," she noted in Give Them Lala.
Lala Kent's Parents, Kent and Lisa Burningham
Lala is the daughter of Kent and Lisa Burningham.
Despite living in Utah, Kent left the Mormon church in his early 20's, according to Give Them Lala, and didn't raised Lala in the faith thereafter.
Lala's father, Kent, sadly passed away in the spring of 2018, which was documented in Season 7 of Vanderpump Rules. Lala has since credited her brother, Easton, in helping her heal in the wake of their dad's death.
"He's a really incredible person," she said during an episode of the Vanderpump Rules Season 7 After Show. "To see him grow up as the man of the house and just take care of my mom, he's just like a pretty epic person."
Lala and her mom remain close, and she often shares pics of them together on Instagram for Mother's Day.
Where is Lala Kent from?
Lala and her brother Easton were born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah by her parents, but they were not members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints. Because of this, Lala has said she had problems finding things in common with her classmates, which meant she found new ways to fit in. That's how she discovered her love of the arts, which she turned into her career.
"I gravitated towards the people that were in theater class and choir," she shared with The Daily Dish in 2017. "And the arts were usually for people who weren't religious in any way just because we have to say things that are in scripts and so those are the people I gravitated towards."
She eventually moved Lala to L.A. to pursue acting and modeling.
In spite of ditching her home state for the City of Angels, Lala has no ill will towards Utah, she wrote in Give Them Lala. "Utah is my heart, it's where I learned my values, and where my family taught me to have a high sense of self, high enough to shoot for the stars," she wrote.
Lala Kent's Brothers, Easton and Brandon Burningham
Lala has a brother, Easton Burningham, who is a co-host of their podcast also titled Give Them Lala. Easton is a devoted uncle to Lala's daughter, Ocean, of whom he posts photos to his Instagram account.
Lala also has a half brother, Brandon Burningham, but he keeps a much lower profile than his siblings.
When did Lala Kent join Vanderpump Rules?
Lala made her Vanderpump Rules debut in Season 4, Episode 2 — which aired in 2015 — as a hostess at SUR. But finding her footing with the rest of the established cast wasn't easy for her. She struggled with fitting in with her fellow SURvers, including Katie Maloney and Scheana Shay, who questioned her work ethic and what she did in her social life. But Lala was able to hit it off with DJ James Kennedy, who has since become her best friend and "soul mate".
In Give Them Lala, she revealed that she first visited SUR at 18 and even got a job there when she was 23 years old, but left shortly after getting hired. Several years later, a chance encounter with SUR boss, Lisa Vanderpump, led her to being offered a hostess job at SUR with the possibility of appearing on the show. "Never had I aspired to the unscripted life, cameras following me around, broadcasting my most intimate moments, hell no," Lala wrote in her book.
However, after being in Los Angeles full time for two years and having only booked a car commercial and a few indie films, Lala figured that a season of reality TV could get her name out in the industry. And, although hostessing and managing her friendships with the cast wasn't easy at first, Lala was able to find her rhythm, make friends, and has been a mainstay on the show ever since.
It was also at SUR where she met her now-former fiancé and father of her daughter, Ocean.
Is Lala Kent sober?
Yes, Lala is sober. She has been honest about her relationship with alcohol prior to her sobriety, and how it has been a struggle for her ever since her first sip of booze during the summer before her senior year of high school.
Lala's relationship with alcohol resulted in "unforgettable TV," according to her memoir. But, drinking was something that she struggled with, especially in the wake of her dad's death in 2018, she said in an interview with Cosmopolitan. "Drinking for me was medication instead of celebration," she told the magazine. "Instead of going and talking to somebody about losing someone extremely important to you, we turn to things to medicate."
Since opting for sobriety in 2018, Lala has continued to be outspoken about her relationship with alcohol and her sober journey. "It's the proudest thing I've ever done, aside from becoming a mother," Lala said in 2021. "My first priority is always my sobriety. It comes before everything because, without it, I am of no use."
Recently, Lala celebrated her fifth year of being sober in October 2023 with her friends. "I will continue to work hard for my sobriety, and take a moment of silence for the alcoholic who still suffers," she wrote in the caption of an Instagram post celebrating this milestone. "I see you — I love you."
Lala Kent's Movies and TV Shows
Lala has wanted to be an actress since she was 7 years old, she revealed in Give Them Lala, and has certainly achieved her dream.
She has appeared in 14 movies, according to IMDB including roles: in the slasher flick, The Row; alongside Al Pacino in American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally; and most recently in Out of Death with Bruce Willis. She also appeared in a music video in 2013 and in a guest role in the TV show Ex-Housewife in 2019. (Many of her early roles are credited as Lauryn Kent.)
Lala Kent's Other Career Highlights
In addition to acting and appearing on Vanderpump Rules, Lala has also made forays into music and the beauty industry.
Lala is the founder of Give Them Lala Beauty, her cosmetics line, which she sells online.
And of course, she has her music career, which has been long documented on Vanderpump. Over the years, she has collaborated with her BFF DJ James Kennedy on songs like "Playboy Bunny" and "Feelin' You."
Lala also became a published author in 2021 with the debut of her first book, the memoir Give Them Lala.
Lala also has her own podcast, also titled Give Them Lala, which she hosts alongside her brother Easton and their friend, Jessica Walter. In the weekly episodes, Lala delves into her personal life, talks about things going on in pop culture, and of course, her favorite Bravo shows.
What is Lala Kent doing now?
Lala, who turned 33 years old in September 2023, is also busy being a mom to Ocean, going to Disneyland each month with her, and doing fun activities together like giving her her first manicure.
In addition to raising her daughter, Lala has kept up with her philanthropic efforts by hosting the Brent Shapiro Foundation spectacular for drug prevention and advocating for animal rights, more specifically, against cosmetic testing on animals.
Finally, she will be returning for Vanderpump Rules Season 11, which airs in January 2024.
"I have no complaints," she wrote in an October 2023 Instagram post.
How tall is Lala Kent?
Lala is 5 foot 6 inches, according to her memoir. "Because of my height I only do print work," Lala explained to Heavy in 2015 about her modeling career.
