Yara Shahidi

Yara Sayeh Shahidi (born February 10, 2000)[2] is an American actress, model, and activist. She gained recognition for her starring role as the oldest daughter Zoey Johnson on the sitcom Black-ish (2014–present) and its spin-off series Grown-ish (2018–present).[3] Her film credits include Imagine That (2009), Smallfoot (2018), and the lead role in The Sun Is Also a Star (2019). Time included her on "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016" list.[4]

Yara Shahidi
Shahidi in 2018
Born (2000-02-10) February 10, 2000
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationHarvard University[1]
OccupationActress and model
Years active2007–present
Relatives
Websiteyarashahidi.com

Early life and education
Shahidi at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival“

Yara Sayeh Shahidi was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Keri Salter Shahidi and Afshin Shahidi,[5][6] a photographer.[3][7] Her mother, Keri Salter, is of mixed African American and Native Choctaw heritage, and her father, Afshin, is Iranian.[8][9][10] The family moved to California for Afshin's work when Yara was 4 years old. She is the older sister of child actor and model Sayeed Shahidi and they have a younger brother, Ehsan.[5] The rapper Nas is their cousin.[11]

Keri Shahidi states the name Yara means in Persian "Someone who is close to your heart", the name Sayeed means "Blessing", and Ehsan means "To act as though God is watching".[5]

Shahidi graduated in 2017 from Dwight Global Online School.[12][13][14] Starting in 2018, Shahidi began college at Harvard University with a plan to major in Interdisciplinary Sociology and African American Studies.[12][15]

Career

She began her career when she was 6 years old,[16] appearing in television commercials and print advertisements for companies such as McDonald's, Ralph Lauren, Target, GapKids, Disney, Guess Kids and The Children's Place. She frequently worked with her mother and younger brother in various print and broadcast campaigns.

Shahidi made her cinematic debut in 2009, starring opposite Eddie Murphy in Paramount Pictures' Imagine That,[3] for which she received a Young Artist Award nomination for the best performance in a feature film category.[17] She also appeared in the Angelina Jolie action film Salt in 2010 as a next door neighbor. In 2012, she played Chloe Johnson, the daughter of President William Johnson, in the TV series The First Family.

In September 2014, Shahidi starred in ABC's prime-time comedy Black-ish as 14-year-old Zoey Johnson.[18] In December 2014 she won an NAACP Image Award in the category of 'Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy'.[19]

In 2016, she signed to model with New York's Women Management modeling agency, in hopes of providing a platform to see more women of color in diverse roles.[18]

ABC announced in 2017 that Shahidi would be headlining a Black-ish spinoff, titled Grown-ish, on its sister network Freeform. The series premiered on January 3, 2018.[20]

She was ranked one of the best dressed women in 2018 by fashion website Net-a-Porter.[21]

She was one of fifteen women selected to appear on the cover of the September 2019 issue of British Vogue, by guest editor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.[22]

In 2020, Shahidi and her business partner (her mother) launched their production company 7th Sun and signed a deal with ABC Studios to produce shows.[23] She was recently cast as Tinker Bell in the upcoming Peter Pan remake Peter Pan & Wendy.[24]

Activism

Shahidi founded Eighteen x 18 with social news publisher NowThis,[25] which "will be a platform to encourage [her] peers to vote for the very first time in our upcoming midterm elections." Her other organizations include Yara's Club a partnership with Young Women's Leadership Network (YWLN) of New York, which provides online mentorship in hopes to end poverty through education.[26][27]

Shahidi's activism was noticed by former first lady Michelle Obama, who wrote her a letter of recommendation to Harvard University.[28][29] She was also given the opportunity by Teen Vogue to interview Hillary Clinton in 2017.[30][31]

Shahidi has publicly supported Jussie Smollett after reports that Smollett faked a hate crime for personal and monetary gain.[32] In April 2019, at the NAACP Image Awards, Shahidi stated, "I stand with Jussie" after Chris Rock made jokes at Smollett's expense.[33]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Imagine ThatOlivia Danielson
2010SaltSalt's Young Neighbor
UnthinkableKatie
2011ButterDestiny
2012Alex CrossJanelle Cross
2018SmallfootBrendaVoice
2019The Sun Is Also a StarNatasha KingsleyNominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Movie Actress (2019)[34]
2020FearlessMelanieVoice
2021PAW Patrol: The MovieTBAVoice
TBAPeter Pan & WendyTinker BellLive action

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2007EntourageKandace WestEpisode: "No Cannes Do"
Robotboy Lola MBola
2009In the MotherhoodEsther5 episodes
Cold CaseMeesha Sullivan '91Episode: "Read Between the Lines"
Wizards of Waverly PlaceOliveEpisode: "Doll House"
2010Lie to MeOliviaEpisode: "Teacher and Pupils"
$h*! My Dad SaysGirl ScoutEpisode: "Pilot"
2011The CapeLaylaEpisode: "Endgame"
Family GuyLittle Girl (voice)Episode: "Episode VI: It's a Trap"
Rip CityMontanaTelevision movie
2012The FinderAdinaEpisode: "The Conversation"
2012–2013The First FamilyChloe Johnson23 episodes
2013ScandalYoung Olivia Pope2 episodes
2014Bad TeacherJalissaEpisode: "Pilot"
The FostersMaddie2 episodes
2014–presentBlack-ishZoey JohnsonMain role (seasons 1–3), Recurring role (season 4–5), Guest role (season 6-present; 79 episodes
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2015)
BET Award for YoungStar (2017)
Nominated – BET Award for YoungStar (2016)
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Comedy TV Actress (2017, 2019)[34]
2016–2018TrollhuntersDarci Scott (voice)10 episodes
2018–presentGrown-ishZoey JohnsonLead role
Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer TV Actress (2019)[34]
2018–20193BelowDarci Scott (voice)8 episodes

See also

References
  1. Weaver, Hilary. "Yara Shahidi Will Join Malia Obama at Harvard in 2018". Vanity Fair.
  2. "Yara Shahidi Actor". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016.
  3. "All about Yara". June 1, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  4. "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016". Time. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  5. J., C. (January 24, 2015). "C.J.: Mother of Minneapolis-born "Black-ish" star is having a good day when there's no eye twitch". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016.
  6. "Yara Shahidi, [Prominent Iranian-Americans]". Virtual embassy of the United States, Tehran.Iran (in Persian). U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  7. Brother Troy R. Gibson II "Yara Shahidi: A Star On The Rise". Drfunkenberry.com. October 22, 2010.
  8. Shams, Alex (2016-06-03). "Yara Shahidi, the Iranian-American Star of 'Black-ish,' Is Breaking Stereotypes On & Off Screen". Muftah.org. Archived from the original on June 7, 2016. Zoey, the Johnson's eldest daughter, is played by a sixteen-year-old, Iranian-American actress. Born to an Iranian father, Afshin Shahidi, and a mother of mixed African-American and Native Choctaw heritage, Keri Salter, Yara Shahidi lived in Minneapolis before moving to California at a young age.
  9. Stern, Claire (2015-04-23). "7 Things You May Not Know About Black-ish Star Yara Shahidi". InStyle.
  10. Guglielmo, Connie (August 21, 2018). "Why Yara Shahidi thinks the internet can still help make the world a better place". CNET. Retrieved 2020-09-14. Shahidi, the child of a mom who's African-American and Choctaw and an Iranian-American dad.
  11. Shahidi on the Fuse TV series White Guy Talk Show, transcribed by "Yara Shahidi Gives the Inside Story on Her Life as Nas' Cousin". BCKOnline. April 10, 2015 – via BCKOnline.com (Black Celebrity Kids, Inc.).
  12. Weaver, Hilary. "Yara Shahidi Will Join Malia Obama at Harvard in 2018". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  13. Weiss, Suzannah (2017). "Here's Why Yara Shahidi WON'T Be Going to Harvard in the Fall". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2020-09-14. Yara, who just finished high school through the New York City Dwight School's online program,
  14. "Yara Shahidi Reflects on Time Passing the Week After Prom and Before High School Graduation". W Magazine | Women's Fashion & Celebrity News. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  15. Peoples, Landon (2019-02-07). "From Couture To Harvard To Activism, Yara Shahidi "Undefines" Success". Refinery29.com. Retrieved 2020-09-14. ...in real life, at Harvard, where she's set to double major in Interdisciplinary Sociology and African American Studies...
  16. "Yara Shahidi". Young Black Stars. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-16 – via www.youngblackstars.com.
  17. "Nominations and Special Awards". 31st Annual Young Artist Awards. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  18. Okwodu, Janelle (2016-04-19). "Black-ish's Yara Shahidi Is a Model With a Cause". Vogue.
  19. "Blackish Nominated for Six NAACP Image Awards". Blackish Fans. December 10, 2014. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014.
  20. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (May 19, 2017). "'Black-ish' Spinoff Starring Yara Shahidi Greenlit at Freeform". Variety.
  21. "Best Dressed 2018". Net a Porter.
  22. "Meghan Markle puts Sinéad Burke on the cover of Vogue's September issue". The Irish Times. Jul 29, 2019.
  23. Petski, Denise (2020-07-20). "'Grown-ish' Star Yara Shahidi Inks Overall Deal With ABC Studios, Launches Production Company". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  24. Nate (2020-09-28). "Yara Shahidi Cast as Tinkerbell in New Live-action 'Peter Pan' Movie". Disney News. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  25. Spangler, Todd (2018-04-18). "'Black-ish Star Yara Shahidi Kicks Off Political-Engagement Campaign With NowThis". Variety.
  26. Seligson, Hannah (2015-11-27). "'Black-ish' Star Yara Shahidi Is a Role Model Off-Screen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  27. Berg, Madeline (November 16, 2017). "Meet Yara Shahidi: The 17-Year-Old Actress And Activist". Forbes.
  28. Rogo, Paula (2017-03-11). "Star Pupil: Michelle Obama Wrote Yara Shahidi A College Recommendation!". Essence.
  29. Bitmead, Charlotte (2020-09-08). "Yara Shahidi On Loving Her Monobrow And Why Family Give The Best Beauty Advice". ELLE. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  30. "Yara Shahidi Just Asked Hillary Clinton About That Very Uncomfortable Trump Debate". Harper's Bazaar. 2017-12-03.
  31. Smith, Krista (February 9, 2018). "Yara Shahidi on Being a Role Model, Attending Harvard, and Continuing Her Activism". Vanity Fair.
  32. Deb, Sopan (February 20, 2019). "Accused of Faking Own Assault, Jussie Smollett Arrested on Felony Charge". The New York Times.
  33. Rogo, Paula (April 1, 2019). "'I Stand With Jussie': Celebrities Who Are Still Rooting For Jussie Smollett". Essence.
  34. Crist, Allison; Nordyke, Kimberly (August 11, 2019). "Teen Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter.
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