Meet Malia Baker

Malia Baker stars in a hit Netflix series, fights for diversity and representation, and was named one of Refinery29 Canada's Powerhouses of 2021. Oh, and did we mention that she’s only 15?! She really is THAT girl! Malia’s efforts to elevate women and the need for women’s representation extend beyond Women’s History Month. She is not only an amazing actress, but she’s also an activist who uses her platform to inspire and empower young women, especially women of color! She understands how important it is for women and young people to use their voices to demand and create change in the world. On her Instagram, where she has more than half a million followers, you can see more of her advocacy and activism work while also getting a glimpse into her upcoming projects!

We got the chance to catch up with Malia to talk about the issues she’s passionate about, how young people can use their voices to speak up, and if there are upcoming projects of hers that we should keep an eye out for! Check out our conversation below to be inspired.

DoSomething: Tell us about yourself! What brings you joy and what causes are you passionate about?

Malia: Simple things like just spending time with friends and family, preferably while eating ice cream, cause the most joy, but also the outcome of the work I put into my jobs as well. The causes I’m most passionate about are usually centered around girls’ and women’s equality and empowerment, but I also feel strongly about creating discussions around mental health, as well as representation in the industry.

DoSomething: You currently play Mary Anne Spier on Netflix’s hit series "The Baby-Sitter's Club”. What does it mean for you to see diverse representation on screen? Were there any diverse characters that you looked up to on-screen when growing up?

Malia: Growing up, the only form of representation was Black girls either being the “sidekick” or a trope. If you really think about it, what coming-of-age movies did we have that starred a BIPOC person that didn’t have a complete sob story behind them? The industry seemed to be heavily lacking in the joyous parts of being a Black girl in particular. On top of that I was very shy, so to have played Mary Anne, a biracial girl who was unapologetically living and growing in the most relatable ways possible is a true honour. I think my five-year-old self would be decently proud.

Photo by: Karolina Turek

DoSomething: As someone who talks about the need for diversity and representation, how would you describe your experience as a young woman of color in Hollywood?

Malia: My experience in the industry as a young woman of colour has been a mix of emotions. From hair teams not being able to properly do my hair, to having a bit too much orange in my foundation. I feel like the most important conversation, especially as a light-skinned girl, is the colourism the industry holds. I seem to be the only presentable/acceptable version of a Black girl most can handle, and that is something we need to hold the industry accountable to for change. All hues should be represented accordingly. There’s a lot of work to do. It is important for audiences to be fully represented across multiple facets of entertainment. We cannot be what we do not see.

DoSomething: You were named one of Refinery29 Canada's Powerhouses of 2021, what does it mean for you to be paving the way for other young Black actors? How far have we come and what should be next regarding representation within Hollywood?

Malia: I don't feel like I’m paving the way as much as I’m following the insane aspirations my younger self had, thanks to seeing some representation of what is possible. I love being seen as a role model to other young people trying to get out there, and I hope I’ll be able to continue being that as I grow. I feel that with representation we have come a long way, but there’s still so much further to go. Even little things like having natural hair portrayed in all its authenticity on screen are so important. Having our stories actually told by people who have lived the same or similar experiences is often forgotten, and I think to really have progression, it needs to be thought of not only in front of the camera but behind it too. Ava Duvernay’s company, Array Now, is certainly an amazing example of this.

DoSomething: In your activism, we’ve seen you work in support of the Black Lives Matter programs, advance womens’ equality and empowerment, and provide resources to stand up against AAPI hate. How important is it for you to speak up about the causes that matter to you and why should other young people speak up about the causes that are important to them?

Malia: It means a lot to me to live life in a way that will be a story for the next generation to learn from. I feel like being a part of both the BIPOC community, and the industry, has given me the realization that we all have stories we wish we could’ve read, or watched, of people like ourselves and so it’s up to us to be the person who can now make that happen. Just thinking of this loop of inequality and inhumanity that we seem to all collectively be living, it gives you some sort of motivation to not let it repeat for the next generation.

DoSomething: You’ve talked in the past about how social media can portray an activism illusion. We fill our feeds with posts and content surrounding Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+, and equal rights for all, yet that only scratches the surface of the work to be done. How can young people go beyond just resharing posts on Instagram, and embrace their inner activist?

Malia: This is a point I bring up often because it's very relevant to a lot of young people today. We want to help, but most just don’t even know where to start. That's why my mum and I created #HashtagsAnd, to go past the hashtag in an easy way. Signing petitions with just one click, subscribing to organizations so they have more of a platform, donating to those organizations, writing emails, researching topics and learning - unlearning- etc; these are all necessary steps in implementing change. Not everyone is the type of person to speak in front of hundreds of people at a rally, and that's totally understandable, but there are so many other ways to be a part of a change that still needs all of us.

Photo by: Noah Asanias

DoSomething: You have worked with some amazing organizations such as GirlUp, Zahara’s Dream, and Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta. Why is working with these organizations such an important part of your identity?

Malia: I feel like working with organizations such as the ones you named are such an important part of my identity because of the community behind them. From the preparation meetings where I meet the people on the ground doing the work, to actually speaking at events, you get to meet countless people who share your same passions and make you feel welcomed. I was pretty young when I started doing all of this and I was still trying to find myself. I feel like these organizations and their support of me have helped make my voice stronger not only for myself, but for the people who aren’t able to use theirs as well.

DoSomething: DoSomething is dedicated to elevating young Black voices. Who are some awesome creators, artists, or activists we should be following?

Malia: Some amazing young Black voices would include Aria Brooks, Winter BreeAnne, Thandiwe Abdullah, and Kenidra R. Woods. There are so many youths whom are making a difference that I haven't named, so please continue to do your own research to discover them. It’s so important to build a community for yourself and each other.

DoSomething: We absolutely love you in The Baby-Sitter’s Club! Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects for this year?

Malia: I’m so glad you enjoyed the show! As for upcoming projects, I’d keep your eyes peeled for ‘Harvest Moon’, a super relatable movie coming out sometime this year. While you're waiting on that, ‘Caught in His Web’, just premiered on Lifetime TV and is a must-watch for anyone that is on the internet…so, all of us!

We loved getting to catch up with Malia and we hope you’re as inspired as we are to use our voices to create change and fight for representation! We can’t wait to see Malia’s upcoming projects, as well as how she’ll be using her platform to keep activating young people and advocating for the issues that matter to her!