Tell me about your role in All That.
Since All That is a sketch comedy show, I play a lot of different characters or roles. My biggest role is to bring the funny.
Describe your character in detail to me
One of my characters is Lorraine. She is a really fun and spunky grandma. Another one of my characters is an impersonation of Rihanna. I really got into this one by studying her mannerisms and her accent, and the hair and makeup team did a great job. I also play Eureekah, a psychic whose predictions are always slightly off.
What do you enjoy about the role?
I enjoy be able to play so many funny characters with so many crazy and amazing looks. The transformation is the best part.
What do you think makes All That such a unique show?
All That is such an amazing and unique show because it is a sketch comedy show. There are so many hilarious sketches and each of them is completely different. It’s not one plot line in an episode. Plus, we have a musical guest every episode that performs at the end of the show.
What is challenging about playing the role?
I think the most challenging thing is committing all of the lines to memory. The script changes every night from Monday to Wednesday so we can rehearse and perfect the sketches. At first it was difficult for me, but the more I got into the routine of filming, it got a lot easier to memorize my lines.
What can we expect from your character?
I will continue to bring out my personality even more in future characters. I’m sure my grandma character, Lorraine, is even older and spunkier. Eureekah will hopefully predict the end of COVID because I want to be able to play her again.
Why should viewers tune in for All That
Each sketch is different from the next, making it such a versatile show. Anyone can enjoy All That because of how many different characters and sketches there are that can appeal to plenty of audiences. It is hilarious and a great show to watch with the whole family.
Tell me about your role in Harriet?
I played Anger, Harriet’s niece and one of the family members that Harriet came back to rescue. Anger was eight years old and very relieved to escape with Harriet.
You are a young actress, tell me about what it’s like for you to do a show that has been done before? Is there pressure to do it better? How do you keep from comparing yourself from the previous cast?
I think it’s cool to be a part of the reboot because we get to pull inspiration from the original cast and it’s cool when they come to visit. They’re our mentors. We don’t compare ourselves to them, we simply do our best to put on a great show.
What is your favorite sketch you have done so far?
My favorite sketch, by far, is the DJ Salad Story sketch. It is such a hilarious sketch and it was a ton of fun to be a part of. I loved all the costumes that we got to wear. I also loved all of the hair and makeup transformations. I think the sketch came out really great.
What has been your favorite character to play?
My favorite character to play is Lorraine, because I loved the makeup transformation. Whenever I was super in the moment, I just completely let loose with my “grandma voice” and mannerisms. She was a ton of fun.
What did you learn as an actor from working on All That?
My versatility has improved a lot while working on All That. It requires me to use different voices and play different people (or sometimes aliens). My accents and voices have also improved a lot, as well as my ability to drastically change the delivery of my characters; making sure they don’t all sound the same.
Tell me about Ask Aria?
Ask Aria was an Instagram Live series that I started during the quarantine. The goal was to talk to people who were killing it in the industry. From actors to singers to casting directors, I interviewed people who are truly making their marks in the world. Guests included Kenan Thompson, Chantae Cann, Priah Ferguson and, one of my favorites, Tabitha Brown.
Why did you create that?
I created to stay productive during the pandemic. I wanted to interact with my followers and hopefully give people inspiration during these really hard times. I also created it to get inspiration and knowledge for myself.
In three words describe Aria to me
I am funny, independent, and talented.
Why do you like to sing?
My parents are performing arts teachers, so I grew up around music. When I am singing, I am able to release all of my emotions and put them into a song. Plus, there isn’t a much better feeling than to master a riff or run. I always feel so accomplished.
How do you pick a song to sing or write?
When I am writing, I just write whatever I fell in the moment. If there is something I want to get off my chest, I write it in song form. When I choose to sing songs, I just pick songs that I listen to. Whenever I cover someone else’s song, it is normally one that is on my playlist.
What do you hope your songs will do for teens your age?
I hope that my songs are relatable. Even if people haven’t dealt with my exact experiences, they can still apply it to something in their life. There are a select few artists who have a song for every single one of my emotions. I want to have songs like that.
What singer inspired you to sing?
Zendaya was one of my biggest singing inspirations growing up. I loved that she sang and acted, so I wanted to take singing more seriously. More recently, Melanie Martinez has been one of my singing inspirations. Her melodic and lyrical choices are similar to mine. They have inspired the artist I am today.
What is your favorite song that you love to sing that you didn’t write or sing?
My favorite song to sing right now is Driver’s License by Olivia Rodrigo. I walk around my house singing it with so much emotion even though I’ve never dealt with heartbreak in that way. I still love the song and her writing style. She has such a creative way of writing her music that doesn’t directly mention certain things, but she does imply the true meaning.
Why do you think music is so important?
Music helps people in so many ways, both mentally and emotionally. It gives people like me a creative outlet and music is such a free thing. It allows so much freedom and allows you to let go and get lost in the moment. Plus, it is scientifically proven that music helps people improve academically.
How do you prepare to write a song?
Normally, there isn’t much preparing ahead of time. I am very spontaneous when it comes to writing songs. When something happens to me, I write about it. If there is something that happened a long time ago that I couldn’t put into words then, sometimes I get the idea to write about it much later. Other times I get random melody or lyrical ideas that I start to work on. It is so unpredictable when I write.
Who is your favorite songwriter?
My favorite songwriter is Tate McRae. She is an amazing singer/songwriter. She writes about issues and topics that I relate to and our generation wrestles with. I would love to collaborate with her one day.
If you could play a singer who would you love to play in a movie?
I would play the younger version of Brandy in a movie. The start of my career is similar to the start of her career. I feel like I can connect with what she felt at that age, because I’ve dealt with some of the same things. Not to mention Brandy is on my list of Top Five Best Singers Ever.
Favorite Color
Sage green
Favorite singer
Melanie Martinez
Favorite song
Safety Net by Ariana Grande
Favorite actress
Zendaya
Favorite actor
Michael B. Jordan
Favorite clothing item to wear (meaning what is your favorite outfit to wear)
Loose pants, an artist T-shirt, and boots with wedges
Favorite clothing designer
Giambattista Valli
Favorite movie?
The Prom
Favorite thing to do with your family?
Watch movies and eat popcorn
Favorite Meal to eat
Chicken Alfredo
Favorite snack
Pretzels and Nutella
Favorite dessert
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Favorite place to eat
Chick-fil-A
Favorite author
Angie Thomas
Favorite book you have read
On The Come Up by Angie Thomas
Type of books you like to read
Historical Fiction and Romance
Dream actor and actress you hope to work with in your career
I would love to work with Zendaya because I feel like we have similar energy and even comedy style.
What is a dream role you would love to do in future?
I’d love to be the lead dynamic character in a teen coming of age movie.
What medical condition would you raise awareness on for children
I would raise awareness about anxiety disorder. It looks different for everyone, and the different forms anxiety can take on deserve more attention.
How old are you?
I am 14 years old.
What advice do you give to girls in your age group about life?
My advice would be to not try to have everything completely figured out in your life. Sometimes you may be faced with challenges or setbacks in life. It is better to take the time to truly figure yourself out and not let whatever it is get in your head. You should never think less of yourself just because you are confused about things.
Best advice your parents have given you that has helped you in life?
The best advice my parents have given me is more insight into life. They told me that motivation is a luxury. You will not always be motivated to do things. When things get hard, you cannot just give up because you have no motivation.
What is your favorite superhero?
Black Panther is definitely my favorite superhero. I enjoyed the movie itself as well as the story behind Black Panther. I loved the representation in the movie especially.
If you were a super hero in real life what powers would you want?
I would want the power to fly because that sounds really fun. I’ve always wanted to fly around above the world to see it from a better view.
What advice do you give a teen girl that is a fan of yours but she doesn’t come from an ideal family? What would you tell her to keep her going in life?
No matter what you want to do with your life just make sure you love it. There is always going to be someone who doesn’t like you or agree with what you are doing. There is no way to escape that. You just have to keep yourself motivated and prove people wrong.
Is there anything that I didn’t ask that you want me to point out.
I released a single called “Am I Next?”, which is available on all streaming platforms. It was originally written because of my fear of being killed for the color of my skin but eventually transformed into anger and the need to take action. The video was a call for that action and I hope it encourages people to change. I’m currently working on my debut album, scheduled to be released this year. Be on the lookout!
