Who is American actress Skai Jackson?

American actress and social media personality Skai Jackson has found herself at the centre of public attention after remarks she made about her 2018 visit to Kenya sparked widespread criticism from Kenyans online, prompting her to issue a public apology.

The 24-year-old rose to fame as a child star and has since built a career in television, film, voice acting and publishing, earning recognition as one of Hollywood's prominent young entertainers.

Born on April 8, 2002, Jackson began her career as a child model, appearing in national advertising campaigns for major brands including Band-Aid, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Old Navy before transitioning into acting.

She made her film debut in the independent movie Liberty Kid in 2007 and later appeared in productions such as The Rebound (2009), Arthur (2011) and The Smurfs (2011). She also featured in television series including Rescue Me, Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, Royal Pains and Boardwalk Empire.

Jackson's breakthrough came in 2011 when she was cast as Zuri Ross in Disney Channel's hit comedy series Jessie. The role made her a household name among young audiences and earned her a nomination for an NAACP Image Award.

She later reprised the character in the spin-off series Bunk'd, where she starred from 2015 to 2018.

Beyond live-action television, Jackson has established herself as a voice actress. She voiced characters in the Marvel Rising franchise between 2018 and 2019 and in DreamWorks' Dragons: Rescue Riders from 2019 to 2022. In 2023, she starred in the action-comedy film Sheroes.

Jackson has also authored a memoir, Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback, published in 2019, in which she shares lessons from her journey in the entertainment industry and encourages young people to pursue their ambitions. In 2020, she competed in the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars, reaching the semi-finals.

Her influence extends beyond acting. In 2016, Time magazine included her on its annual list of the world's Most Influential Teens, recognising her impact on social media and among young audiences.

She has also received a Shorty Award and earned nominations for her online influence.

Jackson recently became the subject of debate in Kenya after a viral interview in which she recalled visiting a small village in the country in 2018.

She claimed mirrors were expensive and that many children she met had seen their reflections for the first time using her mobile phone, comments that many Kenyans criticised as reinforcing outdated stereotypes about the country.

Following the backlash, Jackson issued a public apology in a video shared on social media on Sunday, July 19, 2026, saying her remarks had been misunderstood and were never intended to describe Kenya as a whole.

"I wanted to apologise for my conversation when I was talking about my trip to Kenya. I did not mean any disrespect by it. I went back in 2018, and I did go to a very tiny village. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful. I really, really enjoyed my time in Kenya. I truly loved my experience, and I was not being funny," she said.

"I just wanted to apologise. I hope you guys forgive me. I would never be disrespectful or say anything that's crazy because I'm not that type of person."

Her apology came after thousands of Kenyans criticised the remarks online, with many arguing that they painted an inaccurate picture of the country despite her clarification that she was referring only to one rural community she had visited.