Ajiona Alexus
She transformed from a teen TV star into a powerful dramatic actress, embodying complex young women navigating trauma and ambition.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American actress·Birthday: March 16·Millennials
Biography
Ajiona Alexus stepped into the spotlight as a teenager, but quickly shed any typecasting to become a performer of remarkable emotional depth. Her breakout role as the younger version of the formidable Cookie Lyon on 'Empire' showcased a preternatural ability to capture a character's core essence, a skill she later applied to the harrowing role of Sheri Holland in '13 Reasons Why.' Alexus doesn't just play parts; she inhabits them, bringing a grounded authenticity to stories about survival, whether in a supernatural thriller like 'Light as a Feather' or the gritty streets of Detroit in 'BMF.' Her film work, from thrillers like 'Acrimony' to musical projects with Mary J. Blige, reveals a versatile artist committed to challenging narratives. More than a rising star, Alexus has built a career on portraying resilience, making her a defining voice for a generation on screen.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ajiona was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ajiona Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Ajiona's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the teenage version of Taraji P. Henson's Cookie Lyon on the hit musical drama series 'Empire' for three seasons.
- Played the pivotal role of Sheri Holland in the controversial and widely discussed Netflix series '13 Reasons Why.'
- Starred as the lead, McKenna Brady, in the Hulu supernatural series 'Light as a Feather' for its two-season run.
- Joined the cast of the Starz crime drama 'BMF' as a series regular, portraying the character Kato.
- Featured in the Tyler Perry thriller 'Acrimony' opposite Taraji P. Henson.
Did You Know?
She began her professional acting career at age 12 on the TV One sitcom 'The Rickey Smiley Show.'
She is also a singer and contributed to the soundtrack for the film 'Something Like Summer.'
She played a young Rhonda in the 2018 thriller 'Breaking In' starring Gabrielle Union.
Her first name is pronounced "Ah-jee-oh-nuh."
“You have to find the truth in the character, even when it's painful.”
