Yara Shahidi is a newly minted 23-year-old.
When the multihyphenate dials into our call, its 10 days before her birthday.
“I think I’m going to keep things pretty small,” she says.
I love to travel, and going somewhere with a self-made itinerary is nice.
The most important thing, though, is that I am OOO for my birthday."
Her parents, Afshin and Keri, wouldn’t have it any other way.
Makeup: Dior Beauty
My acting career was never all-consuming as a kid.
Joining the cast ofBlack-ishadmittedly upset Shahidi’s work/life equilibrium a bit.
The Kenya Barriscreated sitcom followed the upper-middle-class Johnson family as they navigated living in a predominantly white California suburb.
Dress: Atelier Biser
As one would imagine, becoming a household name as a teen is a complex experience.
“WhenBlack-ishstarted, that was a lot of attention at a young age,” she shares.
“The good thing about that is people felt like they were our family because they watched us weekly.
The bad thing is sometimes certain boundaries do not exist with people in person.”
Dress: Ferragamo
Navigating her personal feelings surrounding her newfound global fame proved more challenging.
“For a second, I felt like I couldn’t mess up,” Shahidi says.
“This is especially true if you’re the only one in a space.
Granted, the show ushered in an even greater level of notoriety to reckon with.
“I never dealt with this before withBlack-ish.
Makeup: Dior Beauty
I had to learn how to maneuver [through] this experience.
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She filmed the show’s first season in Los Angeles during her year-long break from school.
Getting to star in and produce a massively successful show is a dream come true for any actress.
But it’s also the ultimate juggling act when you’re acting on set in Californiaandstudying in Massachusetts.
My high school experience was a real grind.
I took accelerated classes and spent every day after work and the weekend trying to get through the material.
Top and Pants: Acne Studios
Coming out of that experience, I knew I wanted a better balance.
During these four years, Shahidi says her real-life experiences began to reflect on-screen in unexpected ways.
How do you all accommodate that?'”
Top and Skirt: Sportmax
It didn’t come easy, but I am grateful it happened the way it did.”
Intentionally using her platform is something Shahidi has strived to do since she entered the industry.
However, being labeled an “activist” is something she’s wrestled with internally.
“However, ‘activist’ is a big label to throw on someone at 15 or 16 years old.
“I carried this feeling that if I didn’t post, people would think I didn’t care.
I created this precedent where I’d immediately share my innermost thoughts when something tragic would happen.
Shoes: Sportmax; Bracelet: Cartier
I want to have a grounded perspective and something to offer my supporters.”
Shahidi applies the same level of conscientiousness to her work on-screen.
She’s equally ruminative about the roles she takes on and the impact they’ll have.
Makeup: Dior Beauty
Up next, she’ll be playing Tinker Bell in the Disney revival of Peter Pan.
The live-action film, titledPeter Pan & Wendy, will be released on Disney+ on April 28.
While she describes her role as small, her presence in the movie is significant.
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starred as Belle in the 2022 musical version ofBeauty and the Beast.
In addition toPeter Pan & Wendy,Shahidi is gearing up for the release of two additional projects.
“Without school, I have the flexibility to have different experiences,” she explains.
“I was excited because, as an actor, you’re often the last part of the process.
In comparison, producing allows us an opportunity to be at the beginning.
Outside of her television and film affairs, Shahidi’s resume is brimming with meaningful brand partnerships.
“With fashion, I love thinking about purpose,” she explains.
“I like to use clothing to amplify a message I find important or celebrate someone I admire.
With beauty, I’m all about leaning into the fact that I’m in my 20s.
I like to have fun with my makeup and hair and do things that will make me smile.
I’m not necessarily an extrovert, but I enjoy the energy I get from being around people.
And, as a fellow 23-year-old, I also believe that’s what being a 20-something is all about.
Shahidi’s 20s have been overflowing with abundance thus far.
