Skai Jackson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Skai Jackson
Jackson in 2023
Born	(2002-04-08) April 8, 2002 (age 23) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2007–present
Known for	Jessie
Children	1

Skai Jackson (born April 8, 2002) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in popular TV shows and films. Skai gained fame for playing Zuri Ross in the Disney Channel series Jessie and its spin-off Bunk'd. She has also been recognized for her strong presence on social media.

In 2016, Time magazine named her one of the most influential teens. She has received a Shorty Award and was nominated for a NAACP Image Award. Skai has also voiced characters in animated shows and competed on Dancing with the Stars.

Early Life and Beginnings

Skai Jackson was born in Staten Island, a part of New York City. Her parents separated when she was young, and her mother mainly raised her. Skai has Afro-Honduran and African-American heritage.

She started her career very young as a child model. Skai appeared in many national commercials. Some of these were for well-known brands like Band-Aid, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Old Navy.

Acting Career

Skai Jackson's first big acting role was in the 2007 independent film Liberty Kid. After that, she had a guest appearance in the TV show Rescue Me in 2008. In 2009, Skai had a small role in the movie The Rebound. She also became the voice of Little Fish in the Nickelodeon animated series Bubble Guppies.

She continued to get minor roles in TV shows like Team Umizoomi, Royal Pains, and Boardwalk Empire. Skai also appeared in the 2011 films Arthur and The Smurfs.

Becoming a Disney Star

In 2011, Skai Jackson got a main role as Zuri Ross in the Disney Channel sitcom Jessie. The show was very popular and ran for four seasons until 2015. Her performance earned her a nomination for an NAACP Image Award.

In 2013, she played Joetta Watson in the Hallmark Channel TV movie The Watsons Go To Birmingham. The next year, she voiced Zuri Ross in an episode of Disney XD's animated series Ultimate Spider-Man. From 2015 to 2018, Skai continued playing Zuri in the spin-off series Bunk'd.

The cast of Jessie in 2011

Beyond Disney

In 2018, Skai Jackson voiced Glory Grant in Marvel Rising: Initiation. She continued this role in other Marvel Rising animated projects. In 2019, she appeared in the music video for Lil Nas X's song "Panini". This video became very popular and led to many internet memes.

Also in 2019, Skai released her first book, a memoir titled Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback. She also began voicing the character Summer in the Netflix animated series DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders.

In 2020, Skai competed on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars with professional dancer Alan Bersten. They made it to the semi-finals of the competition. In 2023, Skai starred in the action film Sheroes. In March 2024, Skai Jackson became a brand ambassador for Cantu Beauty.

Inspiration for a Marvel Hero

Artist Mike Deodato, who helped create the Marvel comic book character Ironheart / Riri Williams, confirmed that Skai Jackson was his inspiration for the character. Skai has expressed interest in playing Ironheart in a live-action movie. She even auditioned for a role in the 2018 Marvel film Black Panther. However, the role of Ironheart for the second Black Panther film and other Marvel projects was later given to actress Dominique Thorne.

Personal Life

Skai Jackson has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In November 2024, she shared that she was expecting her first child. Her son was born in January 2025.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

• "Panini" (2019), by Lil Nas X

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Skai Jackson para niños