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Now, I’ll be honest: as an avid TV-lover, I was well-prepared to hop on Zoom and jump into all the chatter around Bel-Air and her characters’ decisions. But after listening to her new EP Identity Crisis, I knew there was a lot more to talk about as well. During this exclusive conversation with xoNecole, Jazlyn Martin delved into the challenging journey she’s faced surrounding her identity, newfound fame, and family influence, and how it all plays a part in her art. Check it out!
xoNecole: So I know that your father is in the entertainment world, but when did you realize you shared the same passion?
Jazlyn Martin: I think it was very early on. I was a child who was full of attitude and fearlessness that would go after anything I wanted. I believe seeing my dad pursue music made me realize it was possible. I just had this hunger and fire, and my parents consciously fed and nurtured that - they are always all super supportive of whatever I do. So very, very early on, I was like, I'm meant to do this. And I just was like, I'm a star, and I know I'm a star.
xoN: Actually, let's talk about your family. What are some of your most important values, and how have your family and heritage played a part in shaping those values?
Jazlyn: I mean, my mom is like an angel; she's so graceful and kind, and I've had to work hard to get there. When I was young, I was very abrasive, headstrong, and stubborn. Whereas my mom gives an immense amount of grace in the way she carries herself. I had to learn that.
I think being strong is something I’ve always had. My parents always joke that they don't know where my personality came from. Because my dad is shy and timid and my mom is kind, and I'm a fireball. But my Dad always asked the important industry questions like, “Why do you want to do this?” And that instilled some purpose into me. It really carried me to keep going because it's so easy to be discouraged in this field, but that drive has helped me push through all of the challenges.
xoN: I bet. I have such a respect for actors and the way you all navigate the industry. Speaking of, let’s dig into “Bel-Air.” Were you a fan of the show? Did you have to go back and watch the episodes?
Jazlyn: So I actually did watch the show which is crazy because sometimes I don’t. I saw it was a reboot and was like, ‘Oh no, not another one.’ But I watched the first three episodes, realized how good it was, and ended up watching the whole season. I became a fan, and then a few months later, I booked the role!
I think the imagination is such a beautiful and powerful tool, and I feel like if you create something in your mind, it happens. It's a crazy thing, but I really just created Jackie's world - the house she grew up in, her parents leaving her, and everything. I created why she fell in love with dance. I really came at it from a human approach. If I see it, then the audience can see it.
xoN: Yeah, background plays into so much of how we deal with things, how we interact with people, and everything. And I feel like Jackie gets a lot of backlash. Like, we’ve all had a “Jackie Moment” to be real.
Jazlyn: She gets so much backlash! I just encourage people to give her grace and see the God in her because I do think she tells a lot of Black and brown girls' stories. People project on her, saying she’s too ratchet or hood, and I’m like does that mean she’s not loveable?
We have to be careful of what’s said and put out because Jackie has gone through things that I've never had to go through. The fact that she's alive and still highly functioning is a blessing. So what if she gets a little messy? I love her. Because she’s helped me extend empathy to people I don't necessarily want to or don't think deserve to have it. But she's 17, she's figuring it out, and she doesn't have parents. Like, that's such a huge factor.
"We have to be careful of what’s said and put out because Jackie has gone through things that I've never had to go through. The fact that she's alive and still highly functioning is a blessing. So what if she gets a little messy? I love her."
xoN: You mentioned how your character is viewed, which digs a bit into identity. So I want to talk a little bit about some of the emotional songs on your EP “Identity Crisis.” What inspired the track “Perfect?”
Jazlyn: When I was creating “Perfect,” I already had the EP title. So I kind of mapped out, like, the different conflicts I had in my head and categorized them into seven songs, and so one of my identity crises was being perfect. Because I feel like a lot of men tend to put women on pedestals. They're expected to be perfect - especially when you’re in the limelight. You know, you can't slip up. You can't say the wrong thing. Cancel culture is such a huge thing. And I just wanted to encourage people to give people grace to be themselves because that's not an easy thing to do.
I just wanted to take down this facade that I’m perfect because I never pretended to be. I never wanted to be. I think that's something people have placed on me, that I have it all figured out, I think I just carry it well, but that doesn't mean it's not heavy. I just wanted to be very vulnerable and honest. I think people think “perfect” is a compliment, but I think it's a cage because it doesn't allow room for error. It doesn't allow for you to be human and mess up and fail and take risks. So I just wanted to encourage grace.
xoN: Do you ever feel like you went through an identity crisis?
Jazlyn: I go through one constantly. Growing up, I didn't really have one. But I think as you get older and more aware and cognitive, you know how the world goes, and the world starts telling you who you are, instead of you deciding who you are. And I feel like being mixed played a big role in that, not feeling Black or Mexican enough. I wanted to belong to both worlds but didn’t so I was just “other.” That was an identity crisis in itself.
Also, being introduced to a level of fame has been interesting, too. I think we all go through identity crises all the time because we’re evolving and changing. It’s beautiful, but it’s also scary; you see yourself this one way, and then something happens, and there’s a shift. So yeah, I think it’s something we all go through but no one talks about.
"I think as you get older and more aware and cognitive, you know how the world goes, and the world starts telling you who you are, instead of you deciding who you are. And I feel like being mixed played a big role in that, not feeling Black or Mexican enough. I wanted to belong to both worlds but didn’t so I was just 'other.'"
xoN: I love that. And I know Hispanic Heritage Month is coming up, and you'll be speaking at the New York Latino Film Festival. Talk to me about what that moment means to you and what you hope to bring to the event. *Editor’s note: The interview was conducted before Hispanic Heritage Month began.
Jazlyn: I’m bringing some Afro-Latino-ness! I always grew up seeing Latinos being represented in a very specific way—very Spanish, not very Indigenous looking. So I'm really excited to bring the Black experience, with the Latino experience, to the stage because that's something a lot of people don't know exists.
People are always like, “Are you Black or Latina?” Well, I'm both! We were just dropped off in different parts. I’m excited to speak on that and highlight how prevalent anti-Blackness is within Latino communities. A lot of Afro-Latinos have faced an identity crisis because of it, including myself. It sometimes feels like you’re supposed to hate the other half of who you are.
For me, I held onto that little Black girl inside. I refused to let her go. And that’s what I want to represent when I speak—resilience and acceptance of our full selves. I’m also looking forward to meeting fellow Latino people, especially Afro-Latinos, and sharing our stories. It’s not a narrative that gets much attention, and I’m excited to represent.
xoN: I’m excited for you! Finally, with all the praise and recognition you’re receiving now, what has it been like to transition from working in music, dance, and acting to now being in the spotlight? How have you embraced this new level of fame?
Jazlyn: Um, it's overwhelming. I think that's the best word. Sometimes, I'm joyful, because I'm giving back to the community. People resonate with Jackie's stories and see themselves in her, which I think is the biggest compliment to me. But then sometimes, you know, I feel sad because I'm like, ‘Damn, I'm not doing enough,’ like I should be doing more. It's crazy, the industry is so fast-paced that you don't really try to celebrate wins. It's just a transition, an identity crisis of the like.
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Since it’s the fall season and there are sure to be some family get-togethers, office parties, and holiday-themed events with your bae that are coming up, if you are someone who enjoys all things makeup, I want to share with you some of the colors that will be big trends for autumn, as well as winter, along with some color psychology behind each and every one.
That way, you can choose hues that not only are currently in style but will reflect how you want to feel from the inside out whenever you have them on too.
1. Smoky Gray Eyes
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For the longest time, I wasn’t exactly sure what my favorite color was. Although I do tend to lean into neutrals, now more than ever, as I was looking at my closet a few months ago, I realized that, hands down, from head to toe, it’s gray. From a color psychology standpoint, gray represents things like wisdom, knowledge, being calm, and remaining composed. Although it also symbolizes things like neutrality and not being stimulated (which definitely isn’t me — LOL), I just feel — feminine and cozy in gray, especially during this time of the year.
Anyway, if you’re someone who has an upcoming date that requires dressing up, try the currently popular smoky gray eye. Not only does it provide a really dramatic effect, but it also brings out the best in your eyes if they are brown; plus, it’s a great complement for your gray hair stands (if you happen to have any). Yeah, nothing says “stunningly regal and sexy” like a well-done smoky gray eye does.
2. Plum Cheeks
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Pretty recently, ESSENCE ran an article entitled, “9 Times Sanaa Lathan Proved She’s The Queen Of Blush.” It wasn’t until I skimmed it that I thought about how impacting blush really can be. Although I’ve always known that it can bring out the best in cheekbones, what I really like is how it can provide a radiant glow while contouring our features. As far as which shade is gonna be big this season,it’s plum.
Since plum is in the purple family, it’s a color that symbolizes things like royalty, luxury, extravagance and ambition. Also, from what I’ve read and researched, plum, specifically, is all about spirituality and enlightenment. So, if you’re down to brush a lil’ bit of plum onto your cheeks this fall and winter, that’s the kind of energy that you will be bringing into your personal space. Beautiful.
3. Cranberry Lips
Next to pumpkins, cranberries would definitely have to be the signature fruit for fall and wintertime. That’s why it makes all of the sense in the world that it would be a trending color for the latter part of this year. Since it’s a shade of red, cranberry represents things like love, passion, power, and dominance. Hmph. The main thing that I think of when I think of the color red is the need for balance because, when it’s not controlled, it can lead to aggression and anger, too.
Anyway, as far as makeup application goes, cranberry is pretty bomb because it complements pretty much every skin tone, and from a lipstick standpoint, it’s a great (cosmetic) way to brighten your smile. Honestly, probably every woman should have a cranberry tube of lipstick (or at least lip gloss) in her possession. Do you?
4. Metallic Eyeshadow
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If you do some Googling on fall and winter makeup trends, you’re probably going to see a lot about eyes that look “iced out” or futuristic — and the way to achieve this look is to go with a metallic color of eyeshadow like gold, silver or bronze. That’s cool because metallic hues evoke things like creativity and excitement. Something that gold can do, specifically, is cause you to feel wealthy, while silver encourages you to tap into your intuition, and bronze reminds you to embrace strength and stability.
That said, if a metallic eye is something that you would like to try but have absolutely no idea of how to make it happen on the DIY tip, YouTuber Ale Jay has a video tutorial that combines a smoky and metallic eye in a very eye-catching way. You can check it out here.
5. Shades of Pink
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Pink is romantic. Pink is feminine. Pink is nurturing, sweet, kind, and soft — so, I’m all about it. Interestingly enough, although I tend to associate this color with spring and summer more, this year, you’ll be seeing all shades of pink in makeup during the colder seasons.
Actually, now that I come to think of it, an icy almost-white, pink sweater or a monochromatic blush outfit would probably be perfect for the cold. So, if you’re a fan of pink, this is your time to shine from eyeshadow to blush to lipstick. Have at it, sis.
6. Black Makeup
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So, what’s up with all of the black this year? As King Solomon once said, there is truly nothing new that is under the sun, and it appears that '90s grunge is back — only with a bit of an ungraded twist. Before I tackle that, let’s first talk about what black symbolizes: sophistication, seduction, strength, mystery, and being dignified. So, if anyone has ever tried to convince you that you are “hiding yourself” in black (black makeup, black clothing, whatever), school them on what black is all about.
Also, if you decide to wear black makeup this year, spice it up a bit by going with a black eyeshadow that has some sparkle in it or, if you’re going to wear black lipstick, apply a lip gloss that has a bit of glitter in it. Also, keep in mind that grunge comes in hues like burgundy or a smoky eye with a nude lip. You can check out different variations of the look (if black isn’t your thing but you’d like to experiment with the grunge look anyway) here.
7. Classic Red Lipstick
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This one, we’ve already touched on as far as what red represents, so let’s just hop into why you should definitely have a classic red lipstick in your possession. I mean, have you seen yourself in red before? LAWD. If you’re shy about it, look at YouTuber Okemute Ugwuamaka in a red lip here, RaggedyRoyal in an ombré red lip here, Karen Michelle’s matte red lip here, Nyla Akua in a red lip (short) here and ND MAKE-UP’s perfect red lip tutorial here.
Chile, if after viewing those, you don’t see how fabulous a classic red lip can be in and for your life…you simply don’t want to. SMDH.
8. Your Own Skin
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And what if you want to just — pardon the pun — chill and take the less is more approach this fall and winter? Believe it or not, you’ll actually be on-trend if you do; that’s because another big cosmetic look for this season and the next is not wearing much of anything at all.
As someone who pretty much lives this way, trend or not, what I really like about it is it reminds you to prioritize skincare so that you don’t have to worry (at least as much) about trying to cover up blemishes and discoloration (check out “Why Your Skin, Hair, And Nails Need Hyaluronic Acid Like...Yesterday,” “I've Been Doing At-Home Chemical Peels. Here Are The Pros And Cons.” and “Resolving To Kick Your Product Junkie Habit? Here's Your Game Plan For 2024.”).
Just apply a bit of bronzer and your favorite lip gloss (again, along with some mascara, of course), and you’ll look gorgeous in whatever you choose to wear. Plus, brown symbolizes things like health, nurturing, dependability, reliability, comfort, and honesty — so why not let your skin shine through?
Welcome to fall, y’all.
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