Kiana Tom
Encyclopedia
Kiana Tom is a television host
, fitness expert, author, actress, and businesswoman.
Kiana Tom is part Hawaiian, Chinese and Irish. Her name in Hawaiian means “calm water” or "moon goddess".
She was the star and founder of the fitness series, Kiana's Flex Appeal on ESPN
, author of Kiana's Body Sculpting book (St. Martin's Press, NY) and recipient of the United States Sports Academy
Award. She was interviewed on behalf of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
, Emcee to the Governor's Ball at the inaugural X Games
in Newport RI, Ms. Shape Magazine
. She was also a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders
.
In 1995, Tom created, hosted and co-produced her fitness series, Kiana's Flex Appeal, a lifestyle, health and fitness program on ESPN. Tom wrote numerous exercise routines and created the segments: home gym, pro gym, target training, aqua flex training. The show ended in 2001.
Due to Kiana Tom's Flex Appeal's initial high ratings, ESPN chose to develop other shows around Kiana Tom, including Kiana's Too Fit 2 Quit, Summer Sizzle with Kiana & Hot Summer Nights with Kiana.
She posed nude for May 2002 edition of Playboy magazine. According to one interview, she was such a perfectionist that she had to wait until the right time in her career where she felt her body was in the best shape it's ever been.
She had also started getting threatening letters, due to her celebrity status and was forced to call in the FBI. She further elaborates by stating that she never answers the door, never gives her address and uses a different name when checking into a hotel.
Since that time, Tom has hosted ABC Super Bowl
Nightlife, Host and Reporter for the Extreme Sports
shows, X Games, Extreme Energy, Fitness America Pageant Series, Blade Warriors, King of the Mountain, news anchor
for Turner Broadcasting, made guest appearances on the Drew Carey Show
, Family Law
and in Eminem's Grammy Award
winning Music Video
of the Year "Without Me
". Kiana co-starred in her first movie, Universal Soldier: The Return
with Jean Claude Van Damme, Sony/Columbia Tristar Pictures
. According to the New York Times review, dated August 1999, the presence of the fitness guru compounded the physicality of the film.
In 2009, Kiana Tom, now the mother of two children, was working on a new show, FitMomTV.
, was an actor who played various children (including Charlie Chan Jr.) in Charlie Chan
films and was the Asian Boy Ranger in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
.
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, fitness expert, author, actress, and businesswoman.
Kiana Tom is part Hawaiian, Chinese and Irish. Her name in Hawaiian means “calm water” or "moon goddess".
She was the star and founder of the fitness series, Kiana's Flex Appeal on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, author of Kiana's Body Sculpting book (St. Martin's Press, NY) and recipient of the United States Sports Academy
United States Sports Academy
The United States Sports Academy is an accredited, sport-specific institution located in Daphne, Alabama. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs as well as certificate programs. Founded in 1972, the Academy has provided its sports programs to more than 60 countries around the...
Award. She was interviewed on behalf of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
The President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition , is an American government organization that aims to "promote, encourage and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sport"...
, Emcee to the Governor's Ball at the inaugural X Games
X Games
The X Games is a commercial annual sports event, controlled and arranged by US sports broadcaster ESPN, which focuses on action sports. The inaugural X Games was held in the summer of 1995 in Rhode Island....
in Newport RI, Ms. Shape Magazine
Shape Magazine
Shape Magazine is a monthly English language fitness magazine started by Weider Publications in 1981, founded by Christine MacIntyre and became the #1 women's fitness magazine...
. She was also a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
In 1995, Tom created, hosted and co-produced her fitness series, Kiana's Flex Appeal, a lifestyle, health and fitness program on ESPN. Tom wrote numerous exercise routines and created the segments: home gym, pro gym, target training, aqua flex training. The show ended in 2001.
Due to Kiana Tom's Flex Appeal's initial high ratings, ESPN chose to develop other shows around Kiana Tom, including Kiana's Too Fit 2 Quit, Summer Sizzle with Kiana & Hot Summer Nights with Kiana.
She posed nude for May 2002 edition of Playboy magazine. According to one interview, she was such a perfectionist that she had to wait until the right time in her career where she felt her body was in the best shape it's ever been.
She had also started getting threatening letters, due to her celebrity status and was forced to call in the FBI. She further elaborates by stating that she never answers the door, never gives her address and uses a different name when checking into a hotel.
Since that time, Tom has hosted ABC Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
Nightlife, Host and Reporter for the Extreme Sports
Extreme sport
An extreme sport is a popular term for certain activities perceived as having a high level of inherent danger...
shows, X Games, Extreme Energy, Fitness America Pageant Series, Blade Warriors, King of the Mountain, news anchor
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
for Turner Broadcasting, made guest appearances on the Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
, Family Law
Family Law (TV series)
Family Law is a television drama starring Kathleen Quinlan as divorced lawyer Lynn Holt, who attempted to start her own law firm after her lawyer husband took all their old clients...
and in Eminem's Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning Music Video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
of the Year "Without Me
Without Me
"Without Me" is a rap song by American rapper Eminem. It was released as the lead single from his fourth studio album titled The Eminem Show in 2002, and re-released on his greatest-hits compilation album Curtain Call: The Hits in 2005....
". Kiana co-starred in her first movie, Universal Soldier: The Return
Universal Soldier: The Return
Universal Soldier: The Return is a 1999 American science fiction action film directed by Mic Rodgers and starred Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michael Jai White, professional wrestler Bill Goldberg, Heidi Schanz, Kiana Tom and Xander Berkeley as Doctor Dylan Cotner...
with Jean Claude Van Damme, Sony/Columbia Tristar Pictures
TriStar Pictures
TriStar Pictures, Inc. is an American film production/distribution studio and subsidiary of Columbia Pictures, itself a subdivision of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, which is owned by Sony Pictures...
. According to the New York Times review, dated August 1999, the presence of the fitness guru compounded the physicality of the film.
In 2009, Kiana Tom, now the mother of two children, was working on a new show, FitMomTV.
Family
Tom, was married in March 2002. Her husband is a fire department captain. She has two daughters. Her father, Layne Tom Jr.Layne Tom Jr.
Layne Tom Jr. is an American actor. He holds the sole distinction of playing three different Charlie Chan sons: as Charlie Chan Jr...
, was an actor who played various children (including Charlie Chan Jr.) in Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1919. Loosely based on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu...
films and was the Asian Boy Ranger in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American drama film starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart about one man's effect on American politics. It was directed by Frank Capra and written by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Foster's unpublished story. Mr...
.