Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson is an American actress who rose to prominence as a child performer and has since become a multitalented influencer, author, and television personality. Born on April 8, 2002 in the Staten Island borough of New York City, she began her career modeling for national commercials such as Band‑Aid, Coca‑Cola, Pepsi and Old Navy before landing her first major acting role in the independent film Liberty Kid (2007). Over the next few years she appeared in guest spots on Rescue Me, Team Umizoomi, Royal Pains and Boardwalk Empire, as well as cameo roles in The Rebound (2009) and The Smurfs (2011). Her breakthrough came when Disney Channel cast her as Zuri Ross in the sitcom Jessie (2011‑2015), a performance that earned her a NAACP Image Award nomination and later carried over to the spin‑off series Bunk’d (2015‑2018). In addition to live‑action work, Jackson voiced characters in the Marvel Rising franchise (2018‑2019) and lent her voice to Summer in the Netflix animated series DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders (2019‑2022). She expanded her public profile by publishing the memoir Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback in 2019 and competing on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars, where she reached the semi‑finals. Recognized by Time magazine as one of the “Most Influential Teens” in 2016 and nominated for a Shorty Award in 2017, she continues to influence youth culture through social media and brand partnerships, becoming the ambassador for Cantu Beauty in 2024. In recent years Jackson made her first feature‑film appearance in Sheroes (2023) and announced the birth of her son in January 2025, marking a new chapter in her personal and professional life.