In between her studio sessions and filming on set, she tells office her thoughts on Hollywood, colorism, and new music that we’re all starving for. Read the exclusive interview below.
After your Disney days, you posted a video on Youtube, “What Happened to Coco Jones?” explaining your experiences in the industry. What made you want to make that video?
When I made the “what really happened video,” It was really a response to a tweet that went viral asking what happened to me. I would’ve never done that on my own accord, but I responded to the tweet with “do you want to know what happened?“ and when I saw everyone’s curiosity, I felt obligated to tell my story. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
You touch on colorism in Hollywood. What kept you pushing for your dreams in this industry after experiencing trauma like that as a child actor and performer?
I think what kept me pushing was how it felt to succeed. The moment’s on stage, the moments on beautiful sets filming. I wanted to feel those highs as much as possible even if it meant a lot of lows.
I think the younger you would be so proud. What’s something that you wish you could tell her right now?
I wish I could tell the younger me to believe fearlessly. I think I believed in myself always, but sometimes I believed just as much as I feared. I would tell myself don’t be so obsessed with the timing, everything that needs to happen will happen and you’ll wish you just enjoyed every moment.
Now you have this new role as Hilary Banks and this version of her is much different, what was it about her character that made you want this role?
I think Hillary‘s determination is what made me want to play this role, as well as how inspiring it would be to the girls who look like me to see a dark skin version of her, a fashionista, from an upper-echelon upbringing. I think representation like that matters because there are so many different versions of a black woman and sometimes you don’t know what you can be until you see it tangibly.
