At the age of 17, Kenin and her mother moved to Los Angeles after her mother divorced John Ryan. Kenin attended Beverly Hills High School while also maintaining her acting career. In 1979, she was cast in the CBS sitcom Co-Ed Fever. The series was canceled after one episode. The following year, she co-starred in the teen comedy Little Darlings, starring Kristy MacNichol and Tatum O'Neal.