In the multi-award-winning ABC comedy series “Black-ish,” young scholar, philanthropist, and actor Yara Shahidi plays popular adolescent “Zoey Johnson,” an ambitious, technologically obsessed high school junior. Since the show’s launch in September 2014, Yara has won a 2016 Gracie Award for Female in a Breakthrough Role, been nominated for a Teen Choice Award, and received […]
In the multi-award-winning ABC comedy series “Black-ish,” young scholar, philanthropist, and actor Yara Shahidi plays popular adolescent “Zoey Johnson,” an ambitious, technologically obsessed high school junior.
Since the show’s launch in September 2014, Yara has won a 2016 Gracie Award for Female in a Breakthrough Role, been nominated for a Teen Choice Award, and received an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Supporting Actress” in a Comedy Series.
Yara Shahidi continues to utilize her platform to inspire and encourage others, making her one of Hollywood’s most lauded young stars. Shahidi, who was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, spent the early years of her youth there when she delighted in yearly trips to the state fair and helped her grandpa run the family’s Persian Rug store.
Her mother is a well-known commercial actress, while her father is a prominent cameraman. Along with her mother, the little celebrity debuted in a number of international print and commercial campaigns. When she was given the chance to try out for the part of “Olivia Danielson” in the Paramount movie “Imagine That,” with Eddie Murphy, that became her first significant picture.
She soon embraced the part of Murphy’s artistic and upbeat daughter, which fueled her passion for acting. With Cheryl Hines and Megan Mullally, Shahidi later had appearances in TV shows including ABC’s “In the Motherhood,” CBS’ “Cold Case,” Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” FOX’s “Lie to Me,” and FOX’s “The Finder,” to mention a few.
In addition, Shahidi continues to play recurring parts as the “young Olivia Pope” on the popular ABC drama “Scandal” and as “Maddie” on the ABC Family drama “The Fosters.” Among Shahidi’s numerous film roles are “Unthinkable” (Sony Pictures), in which she played the son of Samuel L. Jackson, “Salt” (Columbia Pictures), in which she appeared alongside Angelina Jolie, “Alex Cross” (Summit Entertainment), in which she played the daughter of Tyler Perry, and “Butter,” in which she played Jennifer Garner’s co-star. Yara is not only equally dedicated to performing and academics, but she also just established “Yara’s Club,” a collaboration with The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TYWLS) in New York.
A bi-monthly online gathering called Yara’s Club brings together Yara and students to talk about social challenges, personal development, and higher education. Yara also acted as the spokeswoman for the DoSomething.Org and 3M “Science Sleuth” campaign, which generated money for Minnesota and St. Louis classrooms in need of science and technology supplies.
Currently, she serves as executive producer and lead of Freeform’s black-ish spinoff series, grown-ish, which is the #1 cable comedy among the 18 – 49-year-old demographic. Yara Shahidi also executive produces and stars in Meta’s new interview show, Yara Shahidi’s Day Off, where she joins her celebrity peers and gets a glimpse into their lives through a variety of experiences that reflect their authentic interests outside of their fame. Recently, Yara voiced Callie in Netflix’s animated film, My Father’s Dragon.
Yara Shahidi can also be seen in the role of “Tinker Bell” in Disney’s live-action film, Peter Pan & Wendy. She serves as executive producer and stars in Amazon Studios’ romantic-comedy Sitting in Bars with Cake. Additionally, she appears in Apple’s upcoming American anthology drama series, Extrapolations.
Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter
In order to view the below you must be logged in.
Shane Feldman is a globally recognized leadership keynote speaker known for his unique ability to empower teams and create thriving, inclusive communities. With a decade of experience delivering customized, actionable insights, Shane has inspired millions to foster meaningful connections, drive engagement, and embrace the transformative power of collaboration in today’s rapidly evolving digital world. His […]
With a trailblazing spirit and a commitment to excellence, Carey Lohrenz has soared to remarkable heights both in the sky and on the ground. As the first female F-14 Tomcat pilot in the United States Navy, Carey shattered stereotypes and paved the way for women in military aviation. Her journey is not just one of […]
Kerri Strug vaulted into Olympic history with her courageous performance during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. With the world watching, she executed a near-flawless vault on an injured ankle, securing the first-ever team gold medal for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. Her determination and resilience in that defining moment made her an American hero, […]
Allison Massari, an extraordinary inspirational speaker hailing from the scenic town of Belvedere, California. Her journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, as she not only overcame unimaginable adversity but has dedicated her life to inspiring others through her compelling story and motivational insights. Allison’s life took a drastic turn in […]
Jenn Lim is the bestselling author of Beyond Happiness, and the CEO of Delivering Happiness [DH], a company she and Tony Hsieh [the late CEO of Zappos.com] cofounded to create happier company cultures for a more profitable and sustainable approach to business. Delivering Happiness started as a book (New York Times and WSJ Bestseller, which sold one million copies worldwide) and […]
Stephen Drum is a highly regarded leadership and peak performance speaker, renowned for his extraordinary career as a Navy SEAL Master Chief with 27 years of combat-tested experience. As a distinguished figure in leadership development, Drum brings unparalleled expertise and insights to organizations and individuals seeking to excel in high-pressure environments. His transformative approach to […]
With over 15 years of experience in both live and taped productions, Joe Cummings is a highly skilled MC and Host who brings a unique blend of professionalism, charisma, and improvisational talent to every event he hosts. Joe Cummings | Professional Emcee Experience and Expertise Joe Cummings is not your average event emcee. With a […]
You might recognize Derek Hughes as one of the recent finalists on America’s Got Talent but his experiences range far beyond that. Derek’s original comic voice and strong interactive magic make him one of the most requested acts working today. Derek performs regularly at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California where he was recently nominated […]
No results available
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |