Skai Jackson
Skai Jackson (born April 8, 2002)[1] is an American actress, YouTuber, and author, who was included in Time’s list of Most Influential Teens in 2016.[2] Jackson first began acting at the age of 5, making her debut in the film Liberty Kid (2007). She later came to international prominence for her portrayal of Zuri Ross in the Disney Channel series Jessie (2011–2015), and in the sequel, Bunk'd (2015–2018). She has also voiced Glory Grant across the Marvel Rising series, and voiced Summer in the animated series DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders (2019–2020). In 2019, Jackson released her debut novel, Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback.
Skai Jackson | |
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Born | New York City, New York, U.S. | April 8, 2002
Occupation |
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Years active | 2007–present |
Television | Jessie Bunk'd |
Life and career
Jackson was born on April 8, 2002 in New York City.[3] She began her career as a child model appearing in numerous national commercials, including for Band-Aid bandages, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Old Navy.[3][4][5]
Jackson’s first major acting role was in the independent film Liberty Kid (2007), followed an episode of Rescue Me (2008) and the film The Rebound (2009). In 2009, she was cast as a member of the Nickelodeon pre-school animated series Bubble Guppies playing the role of Little Fish. From 2010 to 2011 she guest-starred in the television series Team Umizoomi, Royal Pains, and Boardwalk Empire. She also had small roles in the 2011 films Arthur and The Smurfs.
In 2011, she was cast as Zuri Ross in the Disney Channel sitcom Jessie, which aired from September 30, 2011 to October 16, 2015.[3][6] In 2013, she was also cast in the role of Joetta Watson in the Hallmark Channel television film The Watsons Go To Birmingham.[5][7] In 2014, she guest-starred in an episode of Disney XD's animated series Ultimate Spider-Man.[8] In 2015, a new Disney Channel series Bunk'd, a spin-off of Jessie, was announced where Jackson reprises her role of Zuri Ross.[9] Bunk'd premiered on July 31, 2015 and Jackson departed from the series after its third season with her final episode airing on September 21, 2018.
Following her success with the shows, Jackson promptly made a guest appearance in K.C. Undercover. In 2018, Jackson made a guest appearance in Marvel Rising: Initiation as Glory Grant, a role she would later reprise in Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts, and Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands.
In 2019, Jackson was cast in the music video for "Panini", a song by Lil Nas X. [10] The video gained worldwide popularity, and spawned a variety of memes due to her character being unable to escape the rapper.[11] In the same year, Jackson announced that she would be publishing and releasing a new book entitled Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback,[12] which was released in October 2019.[13]
Doxing controversy
Jackson is known on Twitter for exposing individuals who appear to be racist, even asking her fans to help her expose them.[14] She's even gone as far as to dox them, leaking their schools, jobs, social accounts, and phone numbers.[15] On June 6, 2020, Jackson faced criticism after doxing a minor for saying "Guacamole nigga penis" on an Instagram comment posted a year ago; she leaked his school and Instagram account on her Twitter page.[16] "Guacamole Nigga Penis" is a non sequitur catchphrase used in various meme communities.[17] Revelations from some fans on Twitter appeared after it was possibly discovered that the subject involved was expelled from school and both of his parents were fired. Jackson responded on Twitter to deny the accusation, she apologized and said she will take responsibility.[18][19][20]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Liberty Kid | Destiny – age 3 | Independent film |
2008 | Rescue Me | Little Girl | Short film |
2009 | The Rebound | Museum Little Girl #1 | |
2011 | Arthur | Little Girl | |
2011 | The Smurfs | Kicking Girl | |
2013 | G.I. Joe: Retaliation | Roadblock's daughter | |
2014 | My Dad's a Soccer Mom | Lacy Casey |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Team Umizoomi | Kayla | Voice role; episode: "The Rolling Toy Parade" |
2010 | Royal Pains | Maddie Phillips | Episode: "Big Whoop" |
2011 | Boardwalk Empire | Aneisha | Episode: "What Does the Bee Do?" |
2011–2013 | Bubble Guppies | Little Fish | Main voice role (seasons 1–2) |
2011–2015 | Jessie | Zuri Ross | Main role |
2012 | Austin & Ally | Zuri Ross | Episode: "Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year" |
2012–2014 | Dora the Explorer | Isa the Iguana | Recurring voice role |
2013 | Good Luck Charlie | Zuri Ross | Episode: "Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas" |
2013 | The Watsons Go to Birmingham | Joetta Watson | Television film (Hallmark) |
2014 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Zuri Ross | Voice role; episode: "Halloween Night at the Museum" |
2015–2018 | Bunk'd | Zuri Ross | Main role (season 1-3) |
2015 | K.C. Undercover | Zuri Ross | Episode: "All Howl's Eve"[21] |
2018 | Marvel Rising: Initiation | Glory Grant | Voice role; Episodes: "Floor Toms and Spider Webs", "Ghost Hunter" |
2019 | Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts | Glory Grant | Voice role |
2019 | Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands | Glory Grant | Voice role |
2019–2020 | DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders | Summer | Voice role |
2019 | Marvel Rising: Operation Shuri | Glory Grant | Voice role |
Bibliography
Books
- Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback (2019)
Awards and nominations
Awards | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. | ||
2016 | Image Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series) | Jessie | Nominated | [23] | ||
2017 | Shorty Awards | Best Influencer and Celebrity | Herself | Nominated | [24] |
References
- Kowalski, Kristine Hope (April 8, 2015). "Happy Birthday: See 13 Pics of Skai Jackson Growing Up on the Red Carpet". Twist. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
The Jessie actress is celebrating her 13th birthday today....
- Staff, TIME. "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016". Time. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- "Show bios - Skai Jackson". Disney Channel Press. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- "Skai Jackson TV Commercials". www.ispot.tv. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- "Skai Jackson". IMDb. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- "Skai Jackson, from Disney's "Jessie", crowned Queen of Lip Sync at Premiere Event". Premiere Event. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham (TV Movie 2013) - IMDb, retrieved August 7, 2019
- Ge, Linda. "'Jessie' Stars Get Animated for 'Ultimate Spider-Man' Crossover (Exclusive Photos)". The Wrap. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- Andreeva, Nellie (February 25, 2015). "Disney Channel's 'Jessie' Ending Run, But Spinoff Series Set With Stars Peyton List, Karan Brar & Skai Jackson". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- "Skai Jackson Can't Escape From Lil Nas X in New Panini Music Video". E! Online. September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- "Complex".
- "SKAI JACKSON 'REACHES FOR THE SKAI' WITH NEW BOOK". BCK Online. November 19, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- "Skai Jackson Writing Book About Life Lessons & Clapping Back". theJasmineBRAND. November 21, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- Elizabeth, De. "Skai Jackson Is Using Her Twitter to Expose Racists "All Day, Everyday"". Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- "Could Skai Jackson Really Get in Trouble for Exposing Racists on Social Media?". Distractify. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- Anders, Dianne (June 17, 2020). "Skai Jackson, 18, uses Twitter to ruin minors' lives for edgy memes". Sausage Roll. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- "Guacamole Nigga Penis". Know Your Meme. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- "Some people want to cancel Skai Jackson after she 'doxed' a 13-year-old". The Daily Dot. June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- "Skai Jackson denies 'false' claim that parents of teen she doxxed on Twitter lost their jobs, sparks outrage". meaww.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- "Skai Jackson Shuts Down Rumors She's Ruining Lives!". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- "All Howl's Eve". Disney Channel Press. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- Lil Nas X - Panini (Official Video), retrieved September 7, 2019
- "Skai Jackson". IMDb. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- "The Shorty Awards - Honoring the best of social media". shortyawards.com. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
External links
- Skai Jackson on IMDb