Afro-Latina actress and singer Jaidyn Triplett, known for her role as Millicent on Paramount+’s “iCarly,” is set to release her debut album titled “Young Girl With A Big Dream” on August 1st. This powerful collection of songs carries messages of mental health, self-love, and encourages people to follow their dreams.
As part of the album launch, the title track “Young Girl with a Big Dream” and its music video will be released on July 11th. The song promises to inspire and motivate listeners of all ages with its uplifting lyrics and catchy melody.
In addition to her musical album, Jaidyn will star in the horror film “Hauntology,” alongside Emmy-nominated actress Naomi Grossman, known for “American Horror Story.” The film is set to premiere on Friday, September 13th, heightening anticipation and suspense for fans of the genre. “iCarly” has also received a Kids Choice Awards nomination, further solidifying the show’s success and Jaidyn’s talent.
Jaidyn Triplett not only impresses with her acting and singing abilities but also as a young woman in Hollywood who embraces her Afro-Latina roots. She highlights the importance of her hair as an expression of identity and self-acceptance, something she proudly showcases as her crown.
Recognized as an “old soul” for her wisdom and maturity, Jaidyn advocates for mental health and seeks to inspire the new generation to take control of their own narratives. In addition to her passions for acting and singing, she also finds joy in exploring her personal style, writing, traveling, and running her small business of gourmet cheesecakes and desserts.
How was the process of creating your debut album “Young Girl With A Big Dream”? What were your biggest inspirations?
The process was really extremely cool! I flew out to London to work with one of my favorite producers Sean Hamilton who produced my BOPSTAR EP. We produced, wrote, and recorded 6 songs in the span of a week, with each song having a different co-writing collaboration. I was able to put so much meaning behind each song. I wanted every song to address an issue that’s not talked about much within my age group and give reassurance if you relate. I think that’s missing in a lot of music nowadays. I recorded a few more songs back in LA after returning from London, and then I flew to NYC to record a ballad and duet with my dad! We recorded the duet and filmed my music video the same week. It took a lot of work and I’m very proud of how it came out. Super excited for people to hear!
The title track and music video are out now. What do you hope listeners will feel when they hear this song?
I wanted my listeners to get to know me and my journey. The song focuses on the process of auditioning over and over before landing my role as Millicent in iCarly. There are alot of ups and downs to life but you have to keep going. I hope people who listen can see that anything is truly possible as long as you have passion for it. “Even if it takes a while, if it all comes crashing down, and it all seems so far away, I won’t walk away.
“Young Girl With A Big Dream” brings messages of mental health and self-love. Why did you choose to address these themes in your album?
Growing up, I didn’t really hear music addressing mental health and ways to navigate it. I wanted to make inspirational music for people my age. Hearing someone your age talking about anxiety and other struggles makes you feel heard and that’s what I really wanted to achieve with “Get to it” and “I Choose Me”. I address self love and physical image, in “What is Perfect?” Friends break ups with “Here We Go Again”.
You will be in the cast of the horror film “Hauntology”. How was it working alongside Naomi Grossman and what can fans expect from this film?
The whole movie was filmed in segments and unfortunately Naomi filmed her segment a year prior to the parts that I filmed. Her acting in the movie was wonderful and she’s such a natural on camera! Fans can expect to laugh, cry, and get jump scared. The movie will really have you on the edge of your seat! My character Venus is going through a crisis every teen faces of not knowing yourself and who you want to be. The journey will make the audience not only relate but fall in love with the character as they find themselves.
Nominated for the Kids Choice Awards, the revival of the series “iCarly” available on Paramount Plus was very successful and you play the character Millicent. How was it to participate in the show, especially considering all the success this series has had since its original version from 2007 to 2012?
Getting iCarly was such an important portion of my life and has really helped rocket launch me into bigger opportunities. All of the great directors, producers, and cast mates I’ve met have changed my life. I’m really glad the old fanbase fell in love with the reboot as much as they loved the OG. At the end of any season, there is always a chance that it could be the end. It’s the hardest part about the business. So the final day was bittersweet, although I wish we could’ve got to see who Carly’s mom was haha! I’ve become a better actor, and a more mature person since then and I’m so excited for what’s to come. There have been quite a few rumors and internal talk about a movie to finish it all off. I think the fans deserve a proper ending! #saveicarly – I see you guys!
You are known for embracing your Afro-Latina roots and highlighting the importance of your hair as an expression of identity. How does this representation impact your career and your fans?
“Haircare and styling is something that I have used to express myself and represent my culture. Hair is something that I love to showcase on TV because it is a big part of my identity! I Love my curls! I love being able to showcase and express my creativity. I hope that girls that have hair like me can learn that straight hair isn’t the only hair that’s acceptable. There are a lot of resources these days to learn how to properly manage your hair and it’s very beautiful and manageable and perfect just the way it is!! All types of hair are gorgeous and you should never feel otherwise.”
Many describe you as an “old soul” for your wisdom and maturity. How do you balance your professional responsibilities and your personal life?
Dealing with work and school and other hobbies like my music and baking business, can get overwhelming. I had to learn how to calm down and analyze each situation accordingly. Retraining myself to prioritize finding solutions instead of harping on what’s out of my control. If I can practice what I preach, I hope to inspire other kids my age to do so too. But yes a lot of adults say I seem mature and older for my age, I just find myself paying attention and being in tune with things happening around me. I also care a lot. I care about others around me and I care about cause and effect. As a teenager, life is definitely what you make of it and happiness and mental health is top priority.
Besides acting and singing, you have a small business of cheesecakes and gourmet desserts. How did this passion come about and how do you manage to balance it with your artistic career?
I used to bake with my dad all the time but I started taking it very seriously during the pandemic. In 2020, during quarantine, when there was nothing to do I watched a lot of cooking shows and Rosanna Pansino was a huge inspiration. I had the chance to meet her twice at the Kids Choice awards. She is so sweet! I used to always watch her back and get inspired.
I started baking cookies or cake from the box every once in a while. Then I came across a cheesecake recipe and I made it my own by adding my own ingredients. I began selling them to family and friends three years ago and it has been an amazing journey. I have several celebrity clients now. I catered a wedding and even featured one of my cheesecakes in an ICarly episode. I wonder if the iCarly fans can figure out which episode.
So many people have been supporting me and rooting me on. It truly is one of my passions, and baking is something I want to go to college for. Right now I only sell by word of mouth to friends and family to avoid the stress of a full business but I hope one day I can expand further.
What are your upcoming projects and goals after the release of the album and the film “Hauntology”?
I’ve been auditioning a lot recently so I’m crossing my fingers for one of those projects! A lot of irons in the fire! We know that God will open the right door at the right time. Besides that, my fans can pre-save my new album Young Girl With A Big Dream or enjoy early access if they use Apple Music. Also, I will be unlocking one new song each week until my album releases on August 1st! My YouTube channel has all the music videos that my family produces as well. I keep all my followers posted on tiktok and instagram so go follow me there!
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