by Maisy Nichols
What do gamechangers do after reinventing the game? Tackle the next one. PENG PENG spent years dominating gymnastics, and is now steering her unstoppable momentum to the music industry in the form of her Gold Over America Tour. THE REAL sat down with the outstanding talent after a sparkling year of debut tours and striking new singles, to chat about the influence of role models, the shedding of comfort zones and the leap of faith from gymnastics to music.
Congratulations on your new single Money On Me! The titular lyric is a clear allusion to the number of people that have banked on your performances throughout the years, from music to gymnastics – what led you to create a song about this? Has that level of pressure been more positive or negative?
I was going through a tough time emotionally after retiring from gymnastics. In gymnastics, I was extremely confident and would say that it was my comfort zone. But once I retired and entered a new space, I slowly lost my confidence. I felt like I was starting all over again in a field that I was unfamiliar with, but I knew that was what I wanted, and I was going to go after it. I wrote that song to honestly boost my confidence, and I hoped that when others listened to it, they also felt inspired that they could make something special out of nothing. When I wrote this song, it was to prove to others that they can count on me in the new field that I am in and that I can make my new dreams come true. I think that mindset honestly came from gymnastics because your coaches and teammates often want to hear that “You got this” and are accountable for hitting your routines. The level of pressure has been positive; I think I have learned to turn negative situations into positive ones. It doesn’t mean I disregard the negative, but I’ve learned to be more grateful and appreciative of what I can control and have.
How have music and gymnastics reacted as separate passions throughout your life? Did it ever seem that the two were at odds with each other, or were they mutually inspirational?
Both gymnastics and music have always been a passion of mine, and they have always helped to balance each other out. I loved singing and music before I found a love for gymnastics, but when I was a competitive gymnast, I had so much fun. I always knew I was going to pursue a career in acting and music after I retired; I just had to wait until I was done with the sport. Whenever I was stressed in the gym or school, I would host jam sessions where a bunch of my peers would come over and bring instruments, and we would have a fun session singing our favourite songs. I was able to express myself emotionally a lot in the gym as well because we were taught that showing emotions was a sign of weakness, so I turned to writing songs as my form of therapy and release.
What was your go-to anthem when you were training as a gymnast? How does it feel that the empowering, upbeat sound of your music leads to it ending up on so many women’s workout playlists?
Honestly, I can’t name one; I had so many, but I loved anything rap in college. It feels absolutely unreal that my song ended up on so many women’s workout playlists because I definitely wanted to convey the high-energy element and inspirational factor of the song.
Dress: Corii Burns
Jewellery and socks: Stylist’s own
With such a huge number of followers, how important has TikTok been for you to share your music with a wider audience? How do you feel about the app’s ability to highlight independent artists’ work, which might otherwise go unnoticed?
TikTok has been extremely important, but sharing it across my other platforms has also been so much fun. It’s cool when TikTok can recognize the work put into content and songs from new artists and I’m happy I can share on there. With Money On Me, though, it has been so special for me to be able to share the song live and in person at the Gold Over America Tour. When a little kid would come up to me and say that they love my song, it melted my heart, and it would literally make my night.
You’ve said previously that you preferred your Chinese name PENG PENG for competition because it made you feel “like someone completely different”; is this also why you choose to use this name for your music career?
I’ve been using Peng Peng in competitions since I was 10, and I definitely felt like a different person competing. It was almost like my Hannah Montana moment! As I’ve gotten older, I felt like Peng has become more of my identity, but it felt natural to use it for my music career to be able to bring my gymnastics fans with me. I know I share a lot, but I definitely like protecting my privacy, and for some reason, being able to use Peng Peng allows me to do that.
Dress: Corii Burns
Jewellery and Socks: Stylist’s Own
You’ve faced some immense pressure over the years, from captaining Olympic teams to releasing your first single this July; what are your most important habits/rituals to maintain a positive mental attitude in such high-pressure situations?
Family and friends. My support group has been there for me through every hurdle, and I always lean on them during hardships. There are definitely moments when I doubt myself, feel out of place, and get into schlumps, but my family and friends inspire me to get back on my feet and give me new perspectives to look at difficult situations. Something that has really helped me to get my mind off things is singing and video games. Anything I can do to get off my phone and just immerse into a different world for a bit.
In 2018, you were awarded the Honda Sports Award and instantly became a role model for collegiate gymnasts across America. Can you name a woman who inspires you?
I feel like I’m surrounded by so many inspiring women on a daily basis but definitely my mom is my biggest female inspiration. She has taught me most of my life skills growing up and I’m so appreciative to have her by my side. She’s literally my best friend!
Shorts and top: Monaco + Colombia
Belt: Streets Ahead USA
Shoes: 1XBlue
Jewellery: Stylist’s own
You’re an incredibly multi-faceted person with myriad talents – are there any more creative paths that you see yourself going down in the future? What can we be excited for?
I am open to exploring many things, and I think a lot of my interest in trying new things came from when I was younger. My parents put both my brother and me in almost every single camp you can think of. I am always open to trying new creative paths, and I can’t wait to see what else there is out there!
How do you prepare for a tour?
Since this was my first one, I didn’t really know what to expect from my first tour. But I knew that I was going to be dancing a lot, so I honestly got back into a workout regime a week before. I wanted to take care of my body, especially my knee, to ensure I was physically strong. Another thing I did as well was a lot of vocal strengthening since I knew I was going to be on a mic hyping up the crowd and doing interviews. Since I sing, it was nice having a vocal warm-up and routine to do as well.
Top: Monaco + Colombia
Jewellery: Stylist’s own
How important is fashion to you?
Fashion is important to me because it allows me to show my personality and character. I love picking unique pieces, but I also love dressing up sweats and comfy clothes. Lately, I’ve been having a lot of fun with different shapes, like bubble skirts, because I have a more athletic build, so I want to play that up instead of hide it.
Have you collaborated with a designer for your tour outfits?
I have not, but I would absolutely love to in the future!
Which designers or fashion brands are your go-to for everyday wear?
I love Aritzia. They have super comfy clothes that are great for basics, but I’ve also been loving 13 De Marzo and Akira for elevated streetwear.
Shorts and top: Monaco + Colombia
Belt: Streets Ahead USA
Shoes: 1XBlue
Jewellery: Stylist’s own
Are there any particular accessories you like to collect?
Yes! I love animals on jewellery. I found a dragon ring from a flea market and am obsessed. I also have different variations of snakes, such as earrings or rings and a panther on my earrings. For some reason, I always gravitate towards animal accessories before anything else. But I also love earrings that go above and below the lobe.
PENG PENG’S latest single Money on Me is available to stream now on music platforms.
Follow PENG PENG on Tik Tok and Instagram @pengpenglee
Team credits
Photographer: @jayrivphoto
Stylist: @parkerblainee
MUA: @christophermilesmakeup
Hair: @michellegriesi_hmua
