HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS: G.K BOWES

Gina Keali'inohomoku Bowes

VOICE ACTRESS

Tahiti/ Tonga/Hawai'i

Talofa! My name is Gina Keali'inohomoku Bowes. I am a voice actress based in Los Angeles. My Pasifika heritage hails from Tahiti, Tonga, and Hawai'i.

After earning my degree from UCLA in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics in 2002, I worked as a Microbiologist and Molecular Geneticist for about a year. After my first son was born, I took a voice over class and fell in love with the art! I then decided to hang up my lab coat, trade my microscope for a microphone, and went after a voice over career.

One of my favourite voice over roles has been the voice of Barbie for Mattel! It was a dream come true to voice such an iconic character. Currently, one of my favourite roles is voicing sports promos for the Pac-12 Networks. I was a Pac-12 athlete at UCLA, so getting to work with the Pac-12 Networks holds an incredible amount of meaning for me!

Voice of Kiyal in "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann" (2007)

Voice of Kunoichi in "Warriors Orochi" video game series

When I first began working towards a voice over career, I was simultaneously pursuing on-camera work. I almost immediately became disenchanted with the on-camera world due to casting directors constantly mistaking my ethnicity. People don't often look at me and think Polynesian.

I would often get cast as Latina or African American. It really bothered me. I wanted to represent who I truly was. However, I found focusing on voice over work to be incredibly freeing. I also enjoyed it so much more!

Since I have chosen to focus on voice over work, my experience in the industry has been much more enjoyable and fulfilling. Not only have I been cast as Pasifika, I recently was cast by Disney to narrate the Moana audiobook!

I have always been inspired by women of colour in the voice over world! There aren't very many, unfortunately. Cree Summer has been one of my biggest inspirations. In addition to being a huge fan of hers, I am also lucky enough to consider her a dear friend. Her career has given me and continues to give me encouragement in this industry.