Skai Jackson is an American actress who grew up on Disney Channel as Zuri Ross in Jessie and its spin-off Bunk’d. A child model before she could walk, she has since voiced animated characters, written a book, competed on Dancing with the Stars and joined the cast of BMF. She became a mother in 2025.
Skai Jackson quick facts
| Name | Skai Jackson |
| Date of birth | 8 April 2002 |
| Birthplace | Staten Island, New York City, US |
| Profession | Actress, author |
| Known for | Zuri Ross in Jessie and Bunk’d |
| Book | Reach for the Skai (2019) |
| Children | A son, born January 2025 |
Early life
Skai Jackson was born on 8 April 2002 in Staten Island, New York. She started as a child model in national TV commercials for brands including Band-Aid, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Old Navy, and landed her first major acting role in the 2007 film Liberty Kid.
Career
- 2007 First major acting role in Liberty Kid
- 2011 Voices Little Fish in Nickelodeon’s Bubble Guppies; cast as Zuri Ross in Disney Channel’s Jessie
- 2015 Reprises Zuri in the spin-off Bunk’d
- 2018 Voices a role in Marvel Rising
- 2019 Publishes Reach for the Skai; joins DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders as Summer
- 2020 Competes on Dancing with the Stars season 29, reaching the semi-finals
- 2023 Appears in the film Sheroes
- 2024 Becomes a brand ambassador for Cantu Beauty
- 2025 Joins Starz drama BMF in a recurring role
Disney Channel
As the youngest of the Ross children in Jessie (2011–2015), Jackson became one of Disney Channel’s best-known faces, and her expressions turned into widely shared memes. She carried the character into Bunk’d from 2015 to 2018.
Author and other work
Her 2019 book, Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback, is a guide for young readers drawn from her own experiences. She has also voiced characters in Marvel Rising and DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders.
Personal life
In August 2024 Jackson was arrested at Universal Studios Hollywood on suspicion of domestic battery. The following month the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office declined to file charges. In November 2024 she announced she was expecting her first child with her then-boyfriend, Deondre Burgin, and she gave birth to a son in January 2025.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Skai Jackson?
She was born on 8 April 2002, so she is 24 years old in 2026.
Who did Skai Jackson play on Disney Channel?
Zuri Ross, in Jessie and then Bunk’d.
Does Skai Jackson have a baby?
Yes. She gave birth to a son in January 2025.
What is Skai Jackson doing now?
She joined the Starz drama BMF in 2025 and works as a brand ambassador for Cantu Beauty.
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