| Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins | |
|---|---|
 Featherson in 2017 | |
| Born | Ashley Blaine Featherson (1987-12-04) December 4, 1987 (age 37) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Dear White People |
| Spouse |
Darroll Jenkins (m. 2021) |
Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins (née Featherson; born December 4, 1987) is an American actress. She is best known as the co-creator and star of Black&SexyTV's Hello Cupid. She also appeared in the web series Roomieloverfriends, the film Bad Hair, and was a main cast member on the Netflix series Dear White People (2017–2021).
Early life and education
Born Ashley Blaine Featherson, she was raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She first acted at age four in a school production and enjoyed it from that age. When she was 14 she began to perform at the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. and studied under costume designer Reggie Ray.
Featherson attended Howard University and graduated from the Fine Arts department, where she majored in musical theater. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Featherson has stated that she most admires the career and work of Vanessa Williams.
Career
Featherson co-created the web series Hello Cupid with Lena Waithe in 2012. The show was distributed by Black & Sexy TV and eventually rebooted. Featherson also starred in the series opposite Hayley Marie Norman.
Her first feature film role was in Justin Simien's Dear White People in 2014. She reprised the supporting role of Joelle in the 2017 Netflix television series adaptation of the same name.
She co-starred in the 2018 web series Leimert Park, which premiered at Sundance. Featherson also appeared in the re-creation of the photograph "A Great Day in Harlem", organized by Netflix's Strong Black Lead initiative.
In 2020, she collaborated with Simien again on his comedy horror film Bad Hair. That year she also worked with The Lip Bar on a makeup campaign. She also helped develop a three-piece collection for dark skinned women with Mented Cosmetics.
Personal life
Featherson announced her engagement to sports agent Darroll Jenkins in September 2020, and married him on September 5, 2021, at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Santa Susana, California. Longtime friends, they began dating in 2018.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Bonds | Simone Bancroft | Short |
| 2014 | Dear White People | Curls | |
| David's Reverie | Dancer | Short | |
| 12 Days of Christmas | Zene | Short | |
| 2015 | Doors | Morgan | Short |
| Stages | Skye | Short | |
| 2016 | Paint It Black | Shirley Mae | |
| Drew | Stephanie Lloyd | TV movie | |
| 2020 | Bad Hair | Rosalyn |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | State of Georgia | Student #3 | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2012 | My Gimpy Life | Lady in Orange | Episode: "Inspirational" |
| 2013 | The Number | Whitney | Episode: "The Slumberette Party" |
| My Crazy Roommate | Leslie | Episode: "The Puppy" | |
| 2013–2014 | Hello Cupid | Whitney | Main cast |
| 2014 | Glee | Shaynice | Episode: "Bash" |
| Roomieloverfriends | Whitney | Recurring cast: season 3 | |
| 2015 | Mann & Wife | Ms.Lincoln | Episode: "Undercover Mann" |
| 2016 | The Number: The Reboot | Whitney | Episode: "The Intro" |
| 2017–2021 | Dear White People | Joelle Brooks | Main cast |
| 2022 | Grand Crew | Talia | Recurring cast |
References
- ^ Macon, Alexandra. "The Bridal Party Wore Pink for Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins's Wedding at Hummingbird Nest Ranch". Vogue. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "Ashley Blaine Featherson". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ "Dear White People Interview: Actresses Talk Netflix Series". Vibe. 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- Wills, Cortney (2019-09-25). "Ashley Blaine Featherson is even cooler than Joelle Brooks". TheGrio. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- ^ "Vixen Chat: Ashley Blaine Featherson's 'Hello Cupid' is Back For V-Day". Vibe. 2014-02-14. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- "10 THINGS - Ashley Blaine Featherson". REGARD MAGAZINE. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- Nguyen, Hanh (2019-02-13). "'Dear White People': Justin Simien Reveals Season 3 Directors, Including Cheryl Dunye and Kimberly Peirce". IndieWire. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- "'Dear White People' Star Ashley Blaine Featherson Signs With ICM Partners (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- "'Leimert Park' Gives Us A Girlfriend's Guide To Love, Sex And Navigating A Gentrifying Los Angeles". Essence. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- Anderson, Tre'vell. "Everything you need to know about that Netflix 'Strong Black Lead' spot you saw during the BET Awards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ Kai, Maiysha. "Dear White People's Ashley Blaine Featherson Is Our Best Friend in Our Heads—but She's Nobody's Sidekick". The Glow Up. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- Franklin, Ericka (2019-07-24). "Ashley Blaine Featherson Talks 'Dear White People' Season 3, Mented Cosmetics Collaboration | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- Corinthios, Aureli (2021-09-21). "Dear White People Star Ashley Blaine Featherson Is Engaged: 'Most Precious Moment of My Life'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- "'Dear White People' star Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins marries longtime partner". TheGrio. 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
- Penn, Charli (2021-04-05). "Love Is Looking Good On Actress Ashley Blaine Featherson". Essence. Retrieved 2021-06-03.