Disney Channel Actress Jaida-Iman Benjamin Talks Breaking Into The Business, Motivation, and More With GGB

Jaida-Iman Benjamin is a rising star and a triple threat to the industry as a talented actress, dancer and singer ready to tackle any challenge thrown her way.

The North Carolina native moved to Los Angeles and embarked on a career that landed her guest spots on Disney’s Liv & Maddie and Austin & Ally, TNT’s Southland, Nat Geo Wild, and countless commercials, that are all listed on this young starlet’s resume. Currently, you can catch Benjamin as a Disney Channel Movie Surfer, interviewing some of your favorite stars.

The 20-year-old is beyond beautiful but outside of that, she has a sweet and inviting presence that will solidify her as one of the “good girls” as her career grows. I spoke with Jaida-Iman Benjamin and we talked about her getting started in the entertainment industry, working with Disney channel, staying grounded and more! Check out some excerpts from our chat below.

On getting started in the industry: “I got started in the industry doing pageants when I was younger, I got into commercials, then I’ve always been into dance, my mom always had me in dance. She worked in radio so I kind of grew up in entertainment, so I knew I wanted to do it because that was my life growing up being around her. I booked my first commercial when I was about 8-years-old and that’s when I started popping with everything. Ever since then I’ve been going.”

On working on Disney channel: “It’s great, I love working for Disney. I have guest starred on a couple of shows and I’m currently a Disney Movie Surfer; basically we go to the set of the latest Disney movie and interview the stars, and they play it every commercial break, like segments.”

On pressures of transitioning to adult roles: “I feel there’s not even any pressure for me to do young adult roles because I still look so young. People still think I’m like 14, 13-14 especially with no make up, the way Disney makes me up I look very young. I’ll focus on doing more adult, mature roles later but right now while I still look like a baby [laughs] I’m going to ride this Disney wave on out.”

On staying grounded: “I think the way I stay grounded is just investing time in myself. When I say that I mean taking time out and working on me: my soul, my spirit, meditating, balancing myself. Disconnecting from Earthly things and connecting with higher things, because I feel like when we get too wrapped up down here and stuff we think that matters, that’s when we kind of get off filter, but if you stay grounded spiritually, you pray, I think that that’s what really matters ultimately.”

On favorite actress: “I really look up to Kerry Washington especially because she’s such a sweet spirit. I was talking to a few people who worked with her recently on Scandal and it’s just amazing how you could have so much success, but still be so humble. I feel like those are really the people who are happy with themselves. The people who don’t feel like they have to be mean or put others down even though they already are at that high level of success. It’s cool to hear about those celebrities who are so sweet because you know it means it’s genuine, they’ve worked on themselves, they’re happy with themselves. I feel like a lot of people get famous but on the inside they don’t feel good, so that ends up coming out, they end up getting into drugs, and they rely on people for confirmation. I feel the people who are healthy on the inside exude a different light.”

On charity work: “The charity I work with a lot is called ‘Saving Our Daughters’ and the point of the charity is to help girls with their self-esteem, confidence, helping them to realize they can achieve their dreams, helping them to realize that they are beautiful and amazing, and helping them see themselves for who they really are. I really love this charity too because it’s so important, especially as a child to get good information instilled into your mind especially if all you’re surrounded by is negative stuff. I love being able to give them a wake up call and disconnect them from society or whoever makes them feel bad. We, the women who talk to these girls, ultimately start a domino effect. Us talking to them, helps them talk to other girls, so I feel like it starts a wave of good vibes between girls.”

On what’s next: “I try not to make it about what’s next, but work on myself and what comes along, comes along. I feel like if you live in that ‘oh god what am I going to do next,’ that’s unhealthy and sometimes I have to snap myself out of it like ‘Jaida don’t think like that, just relax.’ It’s like watching a pot of water boiling, you watch it and it’s not going to do it, or it’s going to take really long so I like to look at life like that. You can never be prepared for what comes next. You just have to be the best version of yourself so when things do come you’re ready.”

To stay up to date on all things Jaida-Iman Benjamin is working on follow her on social media: @JaidaImanBenjamin on Instagram and Facebook and @jaidabenjamin on Twitter.

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Photo: Mayhem Entertainment Public Relations