Written by admin• March 11, 2026• 7:57 am• Icons & Amplifiers, Women Spotlight

Inspiration in Action: Yara Shahidi’s Mission to Elevate Underrepresented Voices

Yara Sayeh Shahidi is an American actress, producer, and activist born on February 10, 2000, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is the daughter of Keri Salter Shahidi, a commercial actress of African American and Choctaw heritage, and Afshin Shahidi, an Iranian-American photographer who notably served as Prince’s official photographer. This rich multicultural background African American, Choctaw Native American, and Iranian has profoundly influenced her worldview and activism. Yara spent her first four years in Minneapolis before relocating to California for her father’s work. She began her career extraordinarily early, appearing in commercials and print ads alongside her mother at just six weeks old, working with brands like McDonald’s, Ralph Lauren, Target, Gap Kids, Disney, and Guess Kids. She attended Immaculate Heart Middle School and High School before graduating from Dwight Global Online School in 2017 to accommodate her burgeoning acting career.

Breakthrough Roles

Yara achieved mainstream recognition starring as Zoey Johnson on ABC’s critically acclaimed sitcom, beginning in 2014 at age 14. Her portrayal of the popular, socially conscious eldest daughter of Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) Johnson earned her multiple accolades, including an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress and a Gracie Award for Female in a Breakthrough Role. The role resonated deeply with her real-life persona as an outspoken advocate for diversity and education. In 2018, she successfully transitioned to leading her own spin-off series, which followed Zoey’s journey through college at the fictional California University. The Freeform series ran for six seasons until 2024, tackling controversial topics including university investment in prisons, drug use, pre-NIL exploitation of college athletes, sex, and the value of higher education. Notably, Yara became the youngest producer on the network during her time on the show and eventually passed the torch to her on-screen brother Marcus Scribner (Junior) in season five while continuing as an executive producer.

Harvard University and Academic Excellence

Demonstrating remarkable academic ambition alongside her entertainment career, Yara was accepted into Harvard University in 2017, famously receiving a letter of recommendation from former First Lady Michelle Obama. She deferred enrollment for a year to focus on work and activism before beginning her studies. In May 2022, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Sociology and Black American Studies, concentrating specifically on “Black political thought under a neocolonial landscape”. Her senior thesis, titled “I Am a Man: The Emancipation of Humanness from Western Hegemony Through the Lens of Sylvia Wynter,” was a 136-page interdisciplinary exploration of art and social justice. Yara has stated that she wanted to be a history professor longer than she wanted to be an actor, and she used to browse the Harvard course catalog as a child, making her graduation the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

7th Sun Productions: Championing Authentic Storytelling

In July 2020, Yara and her mother Keri Salter-Shahidi launched 7th Sun Productions, signing a multi-year overall deal with ABC Studios (now ABC Signature). The mother-daughter company’s mission is “to pursue projects that touch upon themes of history, heritage, culture, and joy”, with a focus on elevating underrepresented voices. Under this banner, they served as executive producers on Grown-ish and created the Meta show, where Yara reflected with guests on their interests outside of fame. Their first scripted project was, a comedy pilot for Freeform in 2021, followed by development of an adaptation of Cole Brown’s book. The company expanded its deal in 2022 to include collaboration with Onyx Collective.

WeVoteNext (formerly Eighteen x 18): Empowering Youth Voters

Inspired by her work with President and First Lady Obama and frustrated by being unable to vote in the 2016 election at age 16, Yara founded Eighteen x 18 (now known as WeVoteNext) to educate and engage first-time voters. The platform provides accessible information on voter registration, government functions, and polling locations, specifically targeting the 4 million Americans turning 18 each year. In 2018, she hosted the inaugural #WeVoteNext Summit at TOMS headquarters in Los Angeles, convening young activists from all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The initiative contributed to a 31% youth turnout in the 2018 midterms the highest in 25 years. WeVoteNext operates on a “two-pronged” approach of voter education and registration, emphasizing that “we vote not only for ourselves, but for ‘all sons and daughters’ and every layer and intersection of identity.” Yara received the Bounce Trumpet Trailblazer Award in December 2020 for this work.

Yara’s Club and Educational Advocacy

Beyond voting rights, Yara established Yara’s Club in partnership with The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TYWLS) in New York City a bimonthly digital meet-up where high school students discuss societal issues, self-improvement, and higher education. She is a passionate STEM advocate, having served as a spokesperson for DoSomething.Org and 3M’s STEM campaign, which raised funds for science and technology resources in underserved classrooms in St. Louis and Minnesota. Her advocacy brought her to the Obama White House to participate in STEM initiatives, including co-hosting integrations at the White House Science Fair. She also collaborated with Michelle Obama’s Let Girls Learn initiative, which focuses on adolescent girls’ education worldwide.

Breaking Barriers as Tinker Bell

In 2023, Yara made history as the first person of color to portray Tinker Bell in Disney’s live-action adaptation Peter and Wendy (film), directed by David Lowery. She described the role as “a no-brainer,” embracing the opportunity to reimagine the iconic fairy for a new generation. The film, which also starred Jude Law as Captain Hook and featured Native actress Alyssa Wapanatâhk as Tiger Lily, represented a significant step forward in Disney’s efforts toward inclusive casting. Yara’s performance was part of a broader trend of her taking on roles that challenge traditional Hollywood norms and expand representation for young women of color.

Fashion, Beauty, and Dior Ambassadorship

Yara has become a fashion icon and influential voice in the beauty industry. As a Dior ambassador, she has appeared in campaigns for the brand’s cosmetics and fragrances, including Dior Forever and Jean Paul Gaultier: Gaultier Divine. She has walked red carpets in custom designs, including a modern flapper-inspired look for Dior’s Spring 2023 Couture show that paid homage to Dior muse Josephine Baker. Yara uses fashion as “a creative expression that’s a reflection of where I’m at at the moment,” collaborating closely with stylist Jason Bolden to tell stories through her wardrobe. She has been featured in Vogue, British Vogue’s Forces for Change, and numerous fashion publications, known for her bold, historically-referenced style choices and her philosophy of “undefining” beauty standards to promote inclusivity.

The Optimist Project and Future Endeavors

In November 2024, Yara launched, a weekly podcast created and co-produced by 7th Sun Productions for SiriusXM. The show explores the question “what gives you hope?” through conversations with change makers including Janelle Monáe, Courtney B. Vance, Hasan Minhaj, and Kid Super. This project reflects her commitment to optimistic, solutions-oriented dialogue in challenging times. Upcoming acting projects include the coming-of-age romance opposite Keith Powers and Renée Elise Goldsberry. She continues to be represented by Objectively Good Management, CAA, and 2PM Sharp.

Recognition and Impact

Yara’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including: