Kim was born in Wakefield Rhode Island, the middle of seven children. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida. What sets Kim apart, is that at a young age, she discovered that she had a passion for the performing arts. This would later blossom into a desire to express herself through a variety of art forms, from the culinary arts to portraiture, and her own brand, of art mixed media encaustic. ​Chesney’s artwork uses a 2000-year-old process called encaustic. Encaustic, meaning “to burn in,” was developed in the first century by the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. Chesney’s pieces use organic beeswax, oil pastels developed by Picasso, and exquisite parchments collected from around the world. The parchments are made using techniques that have been handed down through the millennia. The end result is an extremely unique type of art. Kim has also dedicated herself to raising money and awareness for children's non-profits both locally and internationally. Kim has organized charity events, served as chair and co-chair, donated artworks, and volunteered countless hours all helping to raise over $300,000. ​