Meet Leilani Dowding from Bournemouth who moved to LA 8 years ago…to pursue ‘anything rather than modeling’.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
I wanted to get out of England, for a fresh start. The weather here is incredible, it’s English speaking, plus I had a lot of friends here already.
What one thing do you miss from home?
Roast Dinners, especially Yorkshire pudding
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus Bournemouth?
Well aside from the sun and being able to sit at the beach happily in February, there isn’t much difference for me as I have so many British friends here. However, I think that when you aren’t around the fellow Brits the sense of humor and banter is the biggest difference.
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
I love Vinotech on Melrose. Its wine and tapas and is delicious. I also LOVE Larchmont Village. The locals know it, but it’s not somewhere that newbies often go to, everyone knows about Melrose, Robertson and Rodeo. It reminds me of Hampstead, with its unique boutiques and restaurants. There aren’t any huge chains on the street, which I love.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
I’d say do it! But keep focused. The weather and outdoor living becomes distracting. But if you can stay focused you can literally achieve anything. You should also hit me up if you are looking to buy a house out here, or even to rent, as I’m in real estate and can answer all your questions.
If your your life was a TV show what would be the theme tune?
Walking on Sunshine.
Lastly, how can we find out more about you ? Are you on the Internet?
My real estate website is www.thedowdinggroup.com
