Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson (born April 8, 2002) is an American actress. With such accolades as a Shorty Award and a nomination for an NAACP Image Award, she was featured in Time's list of the most influential teens in 2016. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she was raised primarily by her mother. She is of Afro-Honduran and African-American descent. Jackson began her career as a child model, appearing in numerous national commercials, including for Band-Aid, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Old Navy.

Career

Jackson's first major acting role was in the 2007 independent film Liberty Kid, which was followed by a guest appearance in a 2008 episode of Rescue Me. In 2009, Jackson made a cameo in the film The Rebound, and was cast as Little Fish in the Nickelodeon pre-school animated series Bubble Guppies. She followed this with minor roles in the television series Team Umizoomi, Royal Pains and Boardwalk Empire, and the 2011 films Arthur and The Smurfs.

In 2011, Jackson was cast as Zuri Ross in the Disney Channel sitcom Jessie, which aired for four seasons and ended in 2015. For the role, she received an NAACP Image Award nomination. In 2013, she appeared as Joetta Watson in the Hallmark Channel television film The Watsons Go To Birmingham. In 2014, she guest-starred in an episode of Disney XD's animated series Ultimate Spider-Man. From 2015 to 2018, she reprised the role of Zuri in the series Bunk'd. She was included on Time magazine's list of "Most Influential Teens" in 2016, and was nominated for Best Influencer at the Shorty Awards in 2017. Jackson stated she would like to play Ironheart in a live-action adaptation. She auditioned for an unnamed role in the 2018 Marvel film Black Panther. Marvel eventually cast Dominique Thorne as Ironheart for the second Black Panther film and the subsequent MCU projects.

In 2018, Jackson made a guest appearance in Marvel Rising: Initiation as Glory Grant, a role she reprised in Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts, and Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands. In 2019, she appeared in the music video for Lil Nas X's "Panini", which went viral and spawned several memes due to her character being unable to escape the rapper.

In 2019, Jackson made her writing debut with the book Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback, and began voicing Summer on the Netflix animated series DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders, which ended in 2020.

In 2020, Jackson was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars with Alan Bersten. The pair made it to the semi-finals, and finished at 10th. In 2023, Jackson appeared in the action film Sheroes, her first feature film role in 10 years. Also in 2023, Jackson received scrutiny for hosting a $5 raffle with a MacBook as a prize through CashApp, and was accused of scamming her followers in order to gain money. Jackson said in response: "It is not that serious, for a damn $5. It is called a raffle."

In March 2024, Jackson became the brand ambassador for Cantu Beauty.

Personal life

In March 2020, Jackson filed court papers for a restraining order against rapper Bhad Bhabie claiming that she had harassed her. The petition was temporarily granted, and later dropped by Jackson. On August 8, 2024, Jackson was arrested at Universal Studios Hollywood on suspicion of domestic battery. In September, the office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney declined to file charges against Jackson. She gave birth to their son in January 2025. In May 2025, she requested a restraining order against Burgin, accusing him of assault and battery.

Jackson has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role

2006 Sesame Street Herself

Team Umizoomi Kayla Voice role; episode: "The Rolling Toy Parade" Royal Pains Maddie Phillips Episode: "Big Whoop" 2010–2012 Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil Madison Recurring voice role 2011 Boardwalk Empire Aneisha Episode: "What Does the Bee Do?" 2011–2013 Bubble Guppies Little Fish Main voice role 2011–2015 Jessie

Main role 2012 Austin & Ally Episode: "Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year" 2012–2014 Dora the Explorer Isa the Iguana Recurring voice role

Good Luck Charlie Zuri Ross Episode: "Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas" The Watsons Go to Birmingham Joetta Watson Television film 2014 Ultimate Spider-Man

Voice role; episode: "Halloween Night at the Museum" 2015–2018 Bunk'd Main role 2015 K.C. Undercover Episode: "All Howl's Eve"

Culture Clash Aisha Television film Marvel Rising: Initiation

Voice role; 2 episodes

Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts

Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands 2019–2022 DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders Summer 2019 Marvel Rising: Operation Shuri Glory Grant 2020 Dancing with the Stars Herself Contestant with Alan Bersten; eliminated 10th

A Black Lady Sketch Show Ceecee Episode: "If I'm Paying These Chili's Prices, You Cannot Taste My Steak!"