Lezona Sakabe interview: Lezona Sakabe (坂部佩莎), a model and emerging performer of mixed Chinese and Japanese heritage who was born in the United States and raised in Hong Kong, talks about training, identity and why she returned to Hong Kong to pursue show business.
Z: ZTYLEZ
L: Lezona Sakabe
Z: As someone of Japanese and Chinese background who was born in the United States and raised in Hong Kong, have you ever felt conflicted about where you belong?
L: I have not felt lost about that. I moved back to Hong Kong as a child, went to school there, and made friends there. My performing arts dreams were built up in Hong Kong, so even after I returned to the United States to finish high school I chose to come back to Hong Kong to pursue them. Hong Kong is my comfort zone. I think my mixed background gives me a blend of qualities: a Japanese sense of aesthetics, an American casualness and openness to compliment others, and the perseverance Hong Kong people are known for.
Z: People often first notice you as a tall, pretty mixed-race model, and that can make it easy to overlook how much work you have put in. What do you most want audiences to remember about you beyond your appearance?
L: I want audiences to remember my surprise contrast when they see me on variety shows. I am straightforward and I like to be funny, but my print work can give off a distant image. People who know me understand I am silly and carefree. I also want to show my stage charisma because I love performing.
Why Lezona Sakabe returned to Hong Kong
Z: You trained in dance, voice acting, stunts, acting, emceeing, and modeling. How did that early training shape you?
L: Training gave me a stronger heart. I learned earlier than most how to handle pressure and how to take criticism and praise in stride. I also learned that the glamour on screen is only part of the job; who you are off camera matters more. That grounding helps me approach every job with focus and humility.
Z: You appeared on King Maker IV, and you said that experience helped you find a deeper passion for performing. How did the show change your outlook?
L: King Maker IV exposed me to the realities of entertainment and made me more certain that I want to perform. The show let me show my personality to a wider audience and reminded me that the path in this industry will not always be smooth. The ups and downs taught me resilience.
Stage ambition and action cinema
Z: You said your ultimate dream is to break into film. Are there specific types of roles you want to try first?
L: As a newcomer I would take any role, but I am most eager to try action parts. I am not naturally a fighter, but I trained for a while with the Hong Kong stunt performers association and learned stunts like high drops, rolling down stairs, and breaking glass. I hope one day to test those skills on film.
Z: You studied journalism and communication. Has that training changed the way you handle media attention now that you are on camera yourself?
L: It made me more mindful of my words and actions. I take care of how I behave off camera because I represent my company, my family, and my friends. I want to make them proud.
On being Gen Z and learning to make mistakes
Z: If you could give your pre-25 self one assignment, what would it be? As a Gen Z artist, what kind of signature work do you want to deliver before your next life chapter?
L: My assignment is a mindset shift: allow myself to make mistakes and to look imperfect and immature sometimes. Gen Z can be uncertain and experimental, and not every step must be perfectly graceful. At 25 I want to learn to love myself more and to let go of the fear of being wrong, so my work and my presence on camera can be freer.
Photographer: Kin Wai
Art direction: Kin Wai and Mimi Kong
Styling: Mimi Kong
Videography and edit: Alvin Kong
Makeup and hair: Wendy Lee
Wardrobe: Tory Burch, Fendi, Valentino Garavani
Eyewear: Gentle Monster
Notable facts: Lezona Sakabe interview highlights a performer who trained across disciplines and returned to Hong Kong to pursue acting and modeling, including an appearance on King Maker IV. She says the experience deepened her commitment to performance and taught her resilience.
