Skai Jackson on Finding Her Own Voice & Empowering Others
Actress and activist, Skai Jackson has grown-up over the years in front of the camera. Since landing her first acting job at the age of nine as Zuri Ross on the hit Disney Channel series, followed by the spin-off Bunk’d, Skai has come into her own. Her latest role is newly minted author of the book Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback, where she shares with her devoted fans her journey from growing up in the Bronx and moving to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of acting. The book is an honest and inspiring tale about coming of age in front of the camera, taking chances and raising your voice to causes that are meaningful. We met Skai in New York, where she was busy promoting her book, and talked with her about her incredible journey.
On What Inspired Her to Write the Book
Over a year ago, my stylist and I were talking and he told me how my mom and I have a story to tell and we should tell it. I got on it right away and it just started forming. In the next week, we were talking to so many people and now it’s here! I thought that a book was a good idea especially because of the generation that we are in now; I felt like it’s really important and I know my fans would love it. I read everything on my phone, so it is nice to have a hard copy to read in your hands, because at least if your phone dies you have your book!
On The Writing Process
I started writing the book over a year ago. It went by really fast, but it was a lot, a long process and a great journey. I learned so many things from it. It took a couple months to write it because you have to go back into your thoughts and write an outline. My team helped me—I would have died if I was all alone in it. The pictures took longer than the writing, because we needed over 100 pictures.
On Being a Role Model at a young age
It’s a lot of pressure but it felt good. I never took it too seriously, I was just me. I still think of myself as a regular person, so that people can look up to—I don’t feel any more special than anyone else. It was crazy that at such a young age, people would ask for my picture and tell me I was their role model. I would say to them, ‘I’m only nine!’.
On Pinch Me Moments
Michelle Obama guest starred on Jessie, she actually requested to because her daughters were fans of the show. She came and she was really down to earth and super chill, her whole team was there. The day she filmed, there were snipers on the roof, it was an extreme thing. If you were a set deck, you had to ask permission to go do your job. Then a couple of months later, we all went to the White House for the Easter Egg Roll and got to meet Barack, the best President.
“It’s important to surround yourself with great people, like family, and remembering that God made you who you are for a reason. You are beautiful no matter what. ”
“People think that they can’t make a difference because maybe they don’t have a platform but anything you do really helps—even if it’s a dollar donation or volunteering.”
On Being Authentic & Advice to others
It takes time, you can’t force someone to accept themselves. People tell me that too and they say you are beautiful but it doesn’t matter because you have to believe it. It’s important to surround yourself with great people, like family, and remembering that God made you who you are for a reason. You are beautiful no matter what. I am now learning and accepting that because everyone goes through their little things in life when they don’t feel confident, whether you are a boy or a girl. You have to do it on your own.
On Her Support System
My mom is really special. She gave up a lot for me at a young age and I am really grateful for it because otherwise I wouldn’t be where I am today. She fought because she knew that I had a gift and that I would make it far in life. She didn’t want to push me, she just made sure that I was where I needed to be in life. She told me that if I didn’t want to act that it was fine, but it has always been something that I loved to do.
On Entreprenurial endeavors
My partnership with Macy’s was really the first step. It was really awesome to get my foot in the door and see how everything works behind the scenes, like the design. I think if I were to do something again, it would be on my own and not be attached to something else so that I have much more creative control—I like to be my own boss. I don’t like people telling me what to do (laughs). Also, whatever I am putting out there, it has to be something authentic and what I love, but my main focus right now is acting. I think that if I were to do something it would be in the next three years, probably fashion, but I also love beauty. I want to do everything I can.
On Not Saying ‘No’ To Opportunities and Rising Beyond Fear
You have to just do it, even though it will be hard. I am rather shy in a sense, so my biggest fear was always speaking and reading in front of people. It was always an insecurity of mine. I realized one day that I had to do it. There was one instance where I had to write and give a twenty minute speech about Martin Luther King Jr. in front of hundreds of people. I was nervous, but after that I knew that I could do anything, now, these two minute speeches are nothing to me. I am glad I did that speech—it really opened me up.
On Doing Good and giving back
I love giving back and for me its important and something that I genuinely love doing. I also like showing people that it’s not just about putting on fancy clothes—you need to give back to your community. I love sitting down with kids within the organizations I’ve worked with (editor’s note: Skai has done work with No Kid Hungry, Red Nose Day and DoSomething.org’s Treat Yo Friends anti-bullying campaign). I like using my voice and telling my fans what I am doing so that they can also get involved. People think that they can’t make a difference because maybe they don’t have a platform but anything you do really helps—even if it’s a dollar donation or volunteering.
- As Told to Alison Engstrom
Pick Up Your Copy of ‘Reach for the Skai’ in Bookstores Now
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Skai was photographed at the Moxy Time Square by Alison Engstrom