Background
Chandra was born Melanie Kannokada to Malayali Indian parents in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
Chandra was born Melanie Kannokada to Malayali Indian parents in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
Stanford University.
Chandra is a 2nd degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and a two-time bronze medalist in the Pan American games, where she represented the United States in sparring as part of the United States Junior National Karate Team in São Paulo Paulo in 2000, Caracas in 2001, and Orlando in 2002. After high school, Chandra earned a Mechnical Engineering degree from Stanford University. Upon graduation, Chandra initially began working at consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which she left to concentrate on her interest in modeling and acting.
She stated that she found the management job "intellectually fascinating" but not something she wanted to do "getting up every morning".
Chandra worked as a model and commercial actress in national and international campaigns for Nescafe, Verizon, Glamour Magazine, P&G, Crocs, Acura, Herbal Essences, LG, and Clinique. In fall 2011, she was selected as one of the five faces of Bare Escentuals international "Be A Force of Beauty" campaign.
In fall 2012, she was selected to model in a five-page editorial spread for Vogue India Magazine. Within a week of moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, Chandra successfully auditioned for guest star role in the Columbia Broadcasting System hit sitcom Rules of Engagement opposite comedian David Spade.
She has also guest starred in American Broadcasting Company Family"s The Nine Lives of Chloe King, National Broadcasting Company"s Parenthood and Columbia Broadcasting System"s NCIS: Los Los Angeles
She also had a recurring role on Home Box Office"s The Brink and stars in the Columbia Broadcasting System show Code Black.