Jahkara Smith
Jahkara Smith (born September 5, 1996)[1][2] is an American YouTuber and actress. She is best known for the YouTube channel Sailor J, where she published parody make-up tutorial videos. She came to further recognition for her starring role as Margaret "Maggie" Leigh in the AMC supernatural horror drama series NOS4A2 (2019–present). She also appeared in the Hulu horror anthology series Into the Dark (2019).
Jahkara Smith | |
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Smith at the 2019 WonderCon | |
Born | |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2017–present |
Career
YouTube
Smith began posting YouTube videos in 2017 on her channel Sailor J while working at a United States Air Force base. Her first videos were parodies of make-up tutorial videos which include social commentary, having been inspired by sexist comments she read on those videos. They quickly went viral thanks, in part, to celebrities such as Sia sharing them.[3] Within the first month of her YouTube channel, Smith was receiving around 10,000 new subscribers per day on YouTube and had totalled 6 million views on Facebook.[3][4] By March 2018, her YouTube videos had received over 10 million views.[5]
Her tutorial videos have included commentary on subjects ranging from Native American-inspired make-up to the phrase "thoughts and prayers".[3][6] In addition to make-up tutorial videos, Smith has also published videos on subjects including Harry Potter Hogwarts Houses[7] and Zodiac signs.[8]
Personal life
Smith joined the United States Air Force at the age of 18. Shortly before she planned to leave home, the shooting of Michael Brown took place. Smith cites the resulting protests and curfews as eye-opening for her.[3]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2019–present | NOS4A2 | Margaret "Maggie" Leigh | Main role; 20 episodes |
2019 | Into the Dark | Shay | Episode: "Pure" |
References
- @SlaylerJ (5 September 2019). "23" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- @SlaylerJ (5 September 2019). "First cast read of season 2 down. Thank u @NOS4A2" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Safronova, Valeriya (14 May 2018). "Air Force by Day, YouTube by Night". New York Times. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- Reghay, Nayomi (18 November 2017). "This hilarious makeup tutorial breaks down everything wrong with cultural appropriation". Daily Dot. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- Lorenz, Taylor (7 March 2018). "Sailor J: The YouTube Beauty Star Skewering the Patriarchy". Daily Beast. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- Fasanella, Kaleigh (10 November 2017). "Sailor J Calls Out Native American Appropriation in Thanksgiving Parody Video". Allure. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- Wiest, Brianna (24 January 2018). "YouTuber Sailor J Gives a Hilarious Tutorial on How to Be a Hufflepuff". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- Ohlheiser, Abby (24 February 2018). "Let's ignore YouTube's worst creators for a moment and watch these 8 channels we actually love". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- Petski, Denise (5 July 2018). "'NOS4A2': YouTube Star Jahkara Smith Set To Recur In AMC Horror Drama". Deadline. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- "AMC Sets June 2 Premiere Date for "Fear the Walking Dead" Season 5 and New Supernatural Horror Series "NOS4A2"". The Futon Critic. March 30, 2019.
- Tallerico, Brian. "Which Into the Dark Episodes Are Worth Your Time?". Vulture. Retrieved 4 January 2020.