Ajiona Alexus

Ajiona Alexus Brown (born March 16, 1996) is an American actress and singer. She began her career starring in the TV One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show (2012–2014), and later played Teenage Cookie Lyon in the Fox musical drama series Empire (2016–2019). She starred in the Netflix teen drama series 13 Reasons Why (2017–2018), the Hulu supernatural thriller Light as a Feather (2018–2019), and the Starz crime drama BMF. Alexus also starred in films Something Like Summer (2017), Acrimony (2018), Breaking In (2018), Mary J. Blige's Real Love and Mary J. Blige's Strength of a Woman (2023).

Early life Alexus was born on March 16, 1996, in Tuskegee, Alabama. She studied Theater Arts at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She recited her first monologue on stage at age 8.

Career From 2012 to 2014, Alexus was a regular cast member in the TV One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show. In 2015 she made guest starring appearances in Grey's Anatomy and Code Black. She made her film debut appearing opposite Robin Givens in the 2014 drama Unspoken Words, and later had roles in My First Love (2015), Bad Girl (2016) and Something Like Summer (2017). From 2016 to 2019, Alexus played Teenage Cookie Lyon (played by Taraji P. Henson) in the Fox musical drama series, Empire. In 2018, she played Young Melinda Moore in the psychological thriller film, Acrimony also starring Taraji P. Henson. Also in 2018, Alexus starred in the horror film Family Blood, and the action thriller film Breaking In opposite Gabrielle Union.

From 2017 to 2018, Alexus starred as Sheri Holland in the Netflix teen drama series, 13 Reasons Why. In 2018 she was regular cast member in the Hulu supernatural thriller, Light as a Feather. In 2021, she starred in the first season of the Starz crime drama series, BMF. In 2023, Alexus went to star with her BMF co-star Da'Vinchi in Real Love and Strength of a Woman, the two Lifetime movies that were inspired by two of Mary J. Blige's songs.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2014 Unspoken Words Tyra 2015 Sons 2: The Grave Shawna Wilson My First Love Noelle Video 2016 Bad Girl Ruth Quinn Robinson 2017 Something Like Summer Alison Cross 2018 Family Blood Meegan Acrimony Young Melinda Moore Breaking In Jasmine Russell 2023 Mary J Blige’s Real Love Kendra Evans 2023 Mary J Blige’s Strength Of A Woman Kendra Evans 2025 Mary J Blige's Family Affair Kendra EvansAlso executive producer

Television Year Title Role Notes 2012–14 The Rickey Smiley Show De’Anna Main cast 2013 Chelsea's Way Chelsea Mason TV mini series 2015 Grey's Anatomy Marissa McKay Episode: "Crazy Love" Code Black Keesha Platt Episode: "Sometimes It's a Zebra" 2016–19 Empire Teenage Cookie Lyon Recurring cast: Season 3, guest: Season 5-6 2017–18 13 Reasons Why Sheri Holland Recurring cast: season 1-2 2018 Runaways Livvie Recurring cast: season 2 2018–19 Light as a Feather Candace Preston Main cast: season 1, guest: season 2 2021 Black Mafia Family Kato Main cast: season 1 2022 Tales Kato Main cast: season 3, Episode 8, "Murder She Wrote"

Discography Mixtapes + List of mixtapes, with selected details Title Mixtape details Radio Ready Released: June 30, 2012 Formats: Digital download Label: Earn B Management Dream Big Released: June 29, 2017 Formats: Digital download Label: Earn B Management

Singles Title Year Album "Body"(with Jessame) 2020 "Same Mistakes" 2021

Promotional singles Title Year Album "Dream Big" 2013 Dream Big "Best Friends" 2015

Music videos Title Year Director "Best Friends" 2015 Mr_23 "Body" (with Jessame) 2020 "Give Love On Christmas Day" Cameron Dean "Same Mistakes" 2021 Derek Blanks