Jaylen Barron is a vibrant Afro-Latina slaying the Hollywood scene right now. With her mesmerizing onscreen performances, award show appearances, and eye-catching red-carpet looks, it is no surprise why she is that girl to watch this year. We sat down with Jaylen for a fun girl’s chat about her acting career, representation, intention, her latest role, and accepting her flowers. 

Who is Jaylen Barron? Born in Covina, California, and raised in the Inland Empire, she is an around-the-way girl who stands on a foundation of strong women. She has always harbored the desire to have her name in lights. With her family’s support, she expressed herself through dance and competitive cheerleading. 

As a little girl, she was inspired by the young actors she watched on TV in shows like Barney and Out of the Box. She hoped that one day she could be there too. So, at 13 years old, she finally got to prove she could also be a star. She auditioned and booked her first role in a Bratz commercial. The opportunity confirmed that acting would be a lifelong pursuit for her. 

“I would say that she (acting) chose me, but I also chose her,” Barron said. “She can be very unkind, and she can be very unpredictable, but usually, when you give to her, she returns the favor. It may not be instantly or when you would like, but you must continue to work with her and pour back into her cup.” 

Barron has accomplished a lot in her career thus far and is still reaching higher. Roles in popular shows such as Shameless, Free Rein, 9-1-1, Bones, and Those Who Can’t are just a fraction of the credits she has attained. She made history with her role in Free Rein as the first black girl on an equestrian team. For a culture that often qualifies such extracurricular activities with “black people don’t do that,” breaking this barrier was a huge inspiration for black girls worldwide.

“I’m happy to know that there are other little girls out there that may have wanted to ride horses but were told that they couldn’t, and then they saw me on Free Rein and realized that that wasn’t true,” Barron said.

She dove deeper into the importance of representation, admitting that at 18 years old, when she played the role, she did not understand the gravity of the opportunity. Now that she’s older, she has a deeper appreciation for her impact on the lives of black and brown youth. It makes her proud to know that the positive influence onscreen will encourage her community to continue to surpass the odds. 

“I’m grateful to have had that platform at that age, making history,” Barron said. “It is so inspiring to me. I had no idea of the impact then, and it makes me wonder what else I am doing today to be influential that I don’t even realize. There is not a lot of diversity in the equestrian community, but I showed the youth that there is not one thing they cannot do.”

She is doing her big one on STARZ’s critically acclaimed series Blindspotting as Trish. Trish is an extra, unbothered, outspoken free spirit that isn’t afraid to turn up the club or put a chick in check. Period! Her edge in the series is entertaining; fans are here for her! Blindspotting recently wrapped up season 2 in May, living up to its well-deserved TV Spotlight Audience Award win at SXSW and leaving fans fiending for the next season.

Being a part of the Blindspotting cast has been a new discovery for Barron. The experience has taught her to embrace who she is, express herself more, and not take herself too seriously. It has also improved her craft. She learned to find layers and dig deeper to serve the character and give the audience what they deserve.

“With every character and opportunity, you learn something about yourself, things you might like and dislike,” Barron said. 

Her onscreen success can be credited to Barron’s intentionality. She chooses her roles wisely for her growth as an artist. Typically, she relates to her characters in one way or another, but Trish has brought something new and beautiful out of her that she didn’t know existed, and she owns it. 

“There have been roles and scripts that I have passed on because I felt that it didn’t serve me, and I didn’t serve it either, and that is very important,” Barron said. “I want people to experience the best parts of me.”

The actress is winning right now! Still, Barron is not exempt from losses. Over the years, she discovered rejection was inevitable in this business, but she refused to give up on her dreams. Instead, she saw her glass as half full versus half empty, reminding herself she would not have made it this far if she wasn’t meant to go further.

“Acting is not an easy business to be in,” Barron said. “The industry, in general, is not an easy industry to be in. But having a positive mindset never allowed me to give up, no matter how many no’s I’ve had, and I just let things flow. If it happens, it happens, and it will.”

It’s giving high vibrations. 

The industry is undoubtedly taking notice. Barron is revered on Variety’s “Up Next” list, Indiewire’s list of “The 25 Best Breakthrough Performances”, and Essence’s list of “15 Afro-Latinx Stars That Should Be on Your Radar.” Her presence has been requested to present at the Writers Guild Awards, the ACE Eddie Awards, and the ICG Publicist Guild Awards. And it can’t be ignored that she was also an honoree at Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood event. As the spotlight brightens upon her crown, Barron remains humble, admitting that she doesn’t always stop to accept her flowers.

“Sometimes I need to take a moment to stop and appreciate the space I’m in and be a little more grateful for what I have right now,” Barron said. “I often forget to stop and smell the roses. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a moment to appreciate all those things. So, when it’s read back to me, I think, ‘Wow, I did that!?’ But I’m just working.” 

She continued, “All those other things are a plus to what I’m fortunate enough to do. I love the recognition, but it’s just another day on the job. Other people are doing more important things than me, like delivering babies and saving lives, and they deserve to be known worldwide too.”

Barron’s vision for her future is vivid. Working alongside two of her muses, Halle Berry and Denzel Washington, and winning an Emmy are two career goals she intends to fulfill. As a loving pet parent, she hopes to open an animal shelter. Most importantly, she desires to use her platform to give back to her community by opening an acting school to nurture the dreams of other young hopefuls.

It’s the philanthropy for us. 

Jaylen Barron is a compelling personality who is making a statement in the industry. Still, the glitz and glam do not define her because she knows her worth. Tenacity, affirmation, and Mama Barron’s influence have lifted her, so she is full of purpose. 

“You’re going to be built up, smashed down, and taken away, but all of those things need to happen for you to be the person you are destined to be,” Barron said. “God doesn’t make any mistakes, so to be this beautiful vase, you first have to start as mud.”

Jaylen Barron is the moment!

Credits:

Photographer: Stephen Spencer @stephenspncr

Photo Assistant: Anaiah Simons @anaiah.papaya

Hair: Hachoo @iam_whatshername_

Makeup: Anton Khachaturian @antonmakeup

Stylist: Andrew Gelwicks @andrewgelwicks

Stylist Assistant: Sydney Babineaux

Purple Set: L’agence

Shoes: Femme LA