Keke Palmer is known for speaking her mind during interviews, and she’s not afraid to get real about her past experiences in the entertainment industry. While she’s currently enjoying a wave of success, the actress opened up about some tough moments early on in her career. In an interview with The Cut, Palmer reflected on her time working on True Jackson VP, the popular Nickelodeon show, and how her experiences were different from those of her peers.
She revealed that when she was on the show, she didn’t feel like she was seen in the same way as other young stars like Victoria Justice, Selena Gomez, or Miley Cyrus, who were making waves with their respective Disney and Nickelodeon hits. Palmer explained that, rather than being considered a peer, she felt like she was boxed into a category as “the Black girl on the network” or part of “the Black show.”
For some context, Selena Gomez starred in Wizards of Waverly Place, Miley Cyrus was the face of Hannah Montana, and Victoria Justice had her own hit show Victorious on Nickelodeon, all while Palmer was carving out her own space. Despite being a breakout star on Nickelodeon, Palmer said she often felt isolated, with people viewing her role on the network as separate from those of her contemporaries.
Drawing a comparison to her school years in Illinois, Palmer explained that growing up as the only Black kid in her private school class helped her understand that people sometimes treated her differently. She described it as a “loss of innocence,” realizing that she was being treated in ways that others weren’t, something she learned to accept over time.
Now, Palmer said her perspective has changed, and she no longer feels the need to compare herself to others, especially to white peers. She emphasized that she’s come to a point where she embraces her individuality and no longer lets those past experiences define her.