![]() GM: The amazing thing is that the stories are still developing, and what I love so much about this day and age is that a lot of the fans and what they love plays a huge part in how we create the series. TV: Speaking of her son, will baby Shay continue to be in Simone’s life? But I think that that's when we get a chance to see her just take charge, as a young adult, and make certain decisions that are tough. Once upon a time, that was such a confusing space for her to be in - she didn't know if she wanted to be in the baby's life or if she could still be in the baby's life. But, I feel like this is a moment where we see Simone take control of those attachments, and make it all about her, even along with her child. GM: I feel like on All American, she was more of a fixture in certain people's lives on the show. TV: How does Simone’s character development differ on All American and All American: Homecoming ? I feel like All American: Homecoming will not just be a moment, it will be something that will be forever remembered and forever embraced, because of where it came from and why it was created, which was for people that look like you and I to celebrate. She represents Black girl magic and I think it's time to have shows that represent who we are, what we bring to this world, and just celebrating what it means to be a Black girl. As far as Simone goes, she represents adversity. Geffri Maya: I think culturally speaking, the show has made such an impact on different ages, different backgrounds, but mainly celebrating the culture and what it means to be Black. She goes from pregnant teenager to young newlywed and now, a freshman at Bringston, and through it all, we’re finally seeing Simone blossom into a young woman. Her parents want her to attend Stanford or an Ivy League university, but Simone perseveres and follows her own path. She’s left her loved ones behind - her friends and family, her boyfriend Jordan Baker (Michael Evans Behling) and her son, baby Shay, who remains in her life post adoption. Simone is far away from her lavish lifestyle in Beverly Hills. In the midst of a potential romance, Simone is determined to make the tennis team at Bringston but is confronted with a brewing rivalry with the team captain, Thea (Camille Hyde). Whilst there, she feels a sense of purpose as she walks around the campus, where Black intellectuals, athletes, and activists walked before her. In the backdoor pilot that aired during All American season three, Simone visits Bringston University and crosses paths with Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith), an elite baseball player who, like Simone, considers attending Bringston. Homecoming is a chance for her to continue Simone’s journey. She has since acted in Private Practice, East of La Brea, Snowfall, and had her breakout role in All American. ![]() Her game plan? Embracing beauty from within while acing her sculpting and wellness goals.Geffri is an alum of an HBCU herself she grew up in Los Angeles and attended Clark Atlanta University before embarking on her acting career. The health-conscious, self-proclaimed “breakfast enthusiast” says she’s focused on longevity and having a legacy in Hollywood akin to Cicely Tyson’s. “Being able to translate the HBCU experience in Homecoming feels like my purpose,” she adds. She pulled from her real-life experience attending Clark Atlanta University, a historically Black college and university. To accurately bring Simone and her tennis pursuits to life, Maya did not have to look far for inspiration. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Enjoy 4 Digital Plus 2 Print/Digital Issues Of Watch Per Year - For Free!Īll American: Homecoming airs Mondays at 9p.m.ET/PT on The CW and streams on. In the spinoff, Maya’s character embarks on a new journey as a college student/tennis champ at a fictional HBCU in Atlanta named Bringston University. Now the ball is in Maya’s court, as she takes the lead in All American: Homecoming. that play a huge part in who I am today.” “I didn’t grow up in Beverly Hills like Simone, but I was exposed to different walks of life in South Central L.A. “Luckily, my relation to Simone and the dichotomy is not that far,” says Maya. The muscle and movement memory she developed at Allen’s dance academy came in handy when performing the celebrated dance sequence in the Season 3 episode “All American: Homecoming,” which launched the new spinoff series of the same name. Before landing the recurring role as Simone Hicks in Season 2 of the sports drama, the 21-year-old grew up dancing and training under famed choreographer Debbie Allen. Playing a student-athlete on The CW’s All American isn’t a stretch for Geffri Maya-it’s her destiny.
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