# Kinley Cunningham
**Kinley Cunningham** (born McKinley Rae Cunningham in 2010) is an American actress, dancer, and singer known for playing Kombucha on the [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) comedy series *The Thundermans: Undercover* and for winning a spot in the tween pop group XOMG Pop! on the competition show *Siwa's Dance Pop Revolution*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/) • [2](https://actoragecheck.com/actor/Kinley-Cunningham/5117867).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | McKinley "Kinley" Rae Cunningham, born in 2010 in Los Angeles, California[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/) • [2](https://actoragecheck.com/actor/Kinley-Cunningham/5117867) |
| Breakout role | Kombucha in *The Thundermans: Undercover*, a Nickelodeon spin-off that premiered on January 22, 2025; 26 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/) • [3](https://kiddancers.wiki/index.php?title=Kinley_Cunningham) |
| Music group | Won a place in the tween girl group XOMG Pop! on *Siwa's Dance Pop Revolution* (2021), leaving the group in 2023[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/) • [3](https://kiddancers.wiki/index.php?title=Kinley_Cunningham) |
| Other screen credits | Dancing Elf in Disney+'s *The Santa Clauses* (2022 to 2023, 4 episodes); Paisley May Michaels in the short film *Bliss Talent* (2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/) • [4](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/07/23/kinley-cunningham/) |
| Music | Debut solo single "Heart Beats" with a music video, released under the artist name Kinley[4](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/07/23/kinley-cunningham/) |
| Dance honors | First two national titles in the summer of 2020 at age 9; Tremaine Junior Dancer of the Year and Radix Nationals 1st Overall Mini Soloist (2020)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/) • [3](https://kiddancers.wiki/index.php?title=Kinley_Cunningham) |
| Union membership | SAG-AFTRA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/) |
## Early life and dance training
Cunningham was born in Los Angeles and moved to [Austin, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/austin-texas) at age 3, where she trained in gymnastics and dance[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/). She began competing in dance at age 5, and around the same time started training in acting and musical theater while booking regional commercial and modeling jobs[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/). Her father, who works in visual effects and animation, moved back to the Los Angeles area for work; IMDb dates this to 2018[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/), while HealthyCeleb dates the family's relocation back to Los Angeles to May 2019[5](https://healthyceleb.com/kinley-cunningham/). In California she trained at a well-known dance studio in Orange County, signed with a talent agent, and began going on auditions[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/). In April 2019 she received an Honored Dancer Nominee Scholarship at the Revive Dance Convention[5](https://healthyceleb.com/kinley-cunningham/).
Her first break combined dance and theater: a role in the chorus and as Shy Dwarf in the Lythgoe Family Panto production *A Snow White Christmas*, produced and directed by Bonnie Lythgoe and starring Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, Olivia Sanabia, Garret Clayton, and [Neil Patrick Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/neil-patrick-harris)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/). Cunningham has said the experience convinced her she wanted to act and sing as well as dance[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/).
## Viral dancing and XOMG Pop!
**Social media attention.** During the Covid-19 pandemic, when classes moved online, Cunningham's parents began posting her dance combos on Instagram, and she posted a new dance every day for months[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/). Her high-energy videos went viral and caught the attention of Jessalynn Siwa, who cast her in [JoJo Siwa](https://www.edgepedia.org/jojo-siwa)'s *D.R.E.A.M. The Slumber Party* music video (2020)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/). She appeared on the unscripted talent competition show *Siwa's Dance Pop Revolution*, which depicted eleven girls competing for a spot in the pop group XOMG Pop!, and won a place in the group[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/) • [3](https://kiddancers.wiki/index.php?title=Kinley_Cunningham). She left XOMG Pop! in 2023 to refocus on her own music, her dance training, and acting, a shift that brought representation by Paradigm Talent Agency[3](https://kiddancers.wiki/index.php?title=Kinley_Cunningham).
Her Instagram account, @kinleyfullout, has grown into a verified profile with about 239,500 followers[6](https://jolygram.com/en/profile/kinleyfullout/7359873789).
## Screen acting
Cunningham's screen work spans dance-only appearances, guest spots, and a starring series role:
- *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* (2021, 1 episode), as Karen Doll[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/).
- *This Is Us* (2022, 1 episode), as an uncredited dancer[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/).
- *The Santa Clauses* (2022 to 2023, 4 episodes), as an uncredited Dancing Elf; she filmed both series of the Disney+ show and has described watching [Tim Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-allen) work on set[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/) • [4](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/07/23/kinley-cunningham/).
- *Bliss Talent* (2025), playing Paisley May Michaels in a mockumentary-style short film, in a part that let her sing, including "Tomorrow" from *Annie*[4](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/07/23/kinley-cunningham/).
- *The Thundermans: Undercover* (2025, 26 episodes), as Kombucha[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/).
**The Thundermans: Undercover.** In the Nickelodeon spin-off, Cunningham plays Kombucha alongside Nathan Broxton as Jinx and returning cast members Maya Le Clark (Chloe), [Kira Kosarin](https://www.edgepedia.org/kira-kosarin) (Phoebe), and [Jack Griffo](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-griffo) (Max). The series premiered in January 2025, and the show won Favorite Kids TV Show at the [Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards)[4](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/07/23/kinley-cunningham/). In a 2025 interview Cunningham described the show's premise, with Chloe Thunderman going undercover in a new city where she befriends Kombucha and Jinx while hiding that she is a superhero[4](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/07/23/kinley-cunningham/).
## Music
Working with her vocal coach and manager [Alisan Porter](https://www.edgepedia.org/alisan-porter), Cunningham recorded her first solo single, "Heart Beats", released under the artist name Kinley together with a music video that her father directed[4](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/07/23/kinley-cunningham/). She has said the recording and video process took about three months from start to finish and that she choreographed the dancing in the video[4](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/07/23/kinley-cunningham/).
## References
1. [Kinley Cunningham, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11994192/)
2. [Kinley Cunningham Acting Credits, ActorAgeCheck](https://actoragecheck.com/actor/Kinley-Cunningham/5117867)
3. [Kinley Cunningham, Kid Dancers Wiki](https://kiddancers.wiki/index.php?title=Kinley_Cunningham)
4. [Kinley Cunningham interview, TresA Magazine (July 23, 2025)](https://tresamagazine.com/2025/07/23/kinley-cunningham/)
5. [Kinley Cunningham Height, Biography, Facts, HealthyCeleb](https://healthyceleb.com/kinley-cunningham/)
6. [Kinley Cunningham Instagram profile analysis, Jolygram](https://jolygram.com/en/profile/kinleyfullout/7359873789)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Child and youth screen performers › Child performers born 2001 to 2010 › Performers born 2006 to 2010*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license