Rayna Vallandingham, a 21-year-old Taekwondo prodigy, is a fourth-degree black belt and a 13-time world champion in martial arts. With 3.7 million followers on Instagram, Rayna attributes her martial arts success to a unique blend of heritage, with a Dutch-origin father and an Indian mother. She began practicing Taekwondo at the age of two, encouraged by her grandfather, and by the time she was eight, she had earned her first American Taekwondo Association World Championship title.
Rayna’s accomplishments include 13 world titles in traditional combat and weapons, such as bo staff and nunchucks. Notably, at just 9 years old, she set a world record by winning six world titles in a single year, earning a “triple crown” by dominating all three Taekwondo categories: traditional forms, traditional weapons, and sparring.
Though initially shy, Rayna was encouraged to take up martial arts to build confidence. She spent long hours training with her grandfather, balancing her academic life with rigorous martial arts practice.
In her acting debut, Rayna plays Zara Malik, an Indian character in the upcoming season of Cobra Kai. Embracing her mixed heritage, she worked hard to adopt an Indian accent for the role, reflecting her experiences with her grandparents’ speech.
Rayna also advocates for strong women in sports, challenging the stereotype that strength and beauty cannot coexist, and dreams of one day combining her passion for martial arts with high-end fashion.
