Yara Shahidi is probably one of the most prolific young people in Hollywood today. Well-versed in everything from literature, to fashion, and beyond, this true Renaissance woman sat down with Vogue Magazine to give her opinions on her television persona Zoey Johnson, red carpets, and more.
Check out a snippet of what the 18-year-old star had to say below.
Shahidi on Zoey Johnson
“We knew that we didn’t want Zoey to be Yara. “(People know enough about me where that wouldn’t have been enjoyable”). A teenage girl is usually just projected upon. OK, Zoey may be angsty, and she may be rebellious, she may be on her phone a lot, but Kenya and the writers really let you see her be a leader within her family, or excel at her job. All of that was through active conversation. Figuring out, OK, how do we stay true to character and not perpetuate stereotypes about what a woman can or cannot be?”
Shahidi on being an activist on the Red Carpet
“Like, this one will give me a platform to talk about voting. Or saying to myself, OK, well, it feels a little weird to be at the Teen Choice Awards right after Charlottesville. But then how do I use my position to shed light on what’s happening?”
To read the interview in its entirety, click here.
