Bel-Air breakout star Jazlyn Martin discusses Afro-LatinX media representation.

Jazlyn Martin, who plays Jackie on Season 2 of Bel-Air on Peacock, is a triple threat and serves as our go-to girl. Chatting with Jazlyn gives you the impression of a person who genuinely values the arts for their capacity to facilitate expression, healing, and social change. She wants to break down boundaries as a proud Afro-Latina by taking on more roles that highlight the intricacies of the culture. She dislikes being put in a box and doesn’t want Hollywood to create characters that aren’t accurate depictions of the communities they are a part of. This was a delightful, open, and intimate talk with her about her talent, the significance of representation, and season two of Bel-Air. 

Entertainment Profile
Jazlyn, Martin 
Singer, Dancer, and Actress 
Current Project: Season 2 of Bel-Air as “Jackie Ames” 
Recent Projects: This is Us and All-American: Homecoming 

Cox: I need to know who Jazlyn Martin is before we proceed. 
Martin: One of those questions, to which I have a different response each day. But I can tell that Jazlyn is someone who is seeking to understand herself and learn more about who she is every day. I’m an enthusiastic person and an artist who lets the art speak through me. I love to read and enjoy the outdoors, and I’m an activist. So that’s a little of who I am. 

Cox: What is it about producing art in whatever form that you love the most? You offered such a heartfelt response to how you enable art to speak through you as an artist. 
Martin: I enjoy doing art because it gives individuals an opportunity to heal via the tales they are told. We frequently don’t notice things until our tales are laid out in front of us. This is what you experience when you watch a film, a television program, listen to a song, or take in a dance performance. I regard myself as a servant to people as an artist, assisting in their healing and development. Art is about the people, not about me. 

Cox: You are a singer and a dancer in addition to being an actor. Who is a the singer and dancer Jazlyn? 
Martin: Honestly, my first love was dance. My parents used to make fun of the fact that I could dance before I could walk. They encouraged my dancing by enrolling me in dance courses when I was young. My father is a vocalist in the musical sense. As a result, since dancing integrates music, everything came together. 

They both assisted me in finding alternative methods to express myself. I convey everything with my body when I dance. I can express myself completely via music. For me, they are both equally lovely yet quite distinct. 

Cox: It is lovely. When did you realize this was where art would take you? 
Martin: In all honesty, I just realized it a few years ago. I’m now a psychology student, learning about the various ways that people cope, recover, and endure. What binds us together are these trying situations and tales. Thus, when we are able to communicate them via art in different ways, it gives us all the empathy we need. 

Cox: Do you have any restrictions on the types of jobs you’ll accept since you’re an artist? 
Martin: It’s interesting that as an artist, there isn’t much that I wouldn’t do. I believe that you have to approach art from a point of no judgment when examining how you may sympathize with a character. Even when you consider a character and believe that they are acting in the craziest manner possible, you must understand that this trait is ingrained in each and every one of us. Only that we choose not to follow that route. This is what keeps me in check as an artist. 

Cox: Speaking of empathy, how would you relate to a character like Jackie from the television show Bel-Air? 
Martin: I approach it objectively and really provide a defense for why she is acting the way she is. If I judge her, you’ll be able to tell since my performance won’t be sincere. Nevertheless, if I can relate to her, you’ll be able to see her character come to life in my performance. 

We can tell Jackie is a street survivor when we look at her. She is a product of her surroundings; therefore, I can’t judge how she managed to live. 

Cox: How did it feel to be cast as Jackie in such a renowned prior production that was so eagerly anticipated? 
Martin: Oddly enough, it was my new agent’s first audition for me. When I saw the word “Afro Latina” in the summary, I knew this was the booking for me. I could almost see her coming to life and getting her perspective on things. 

Cox: What do you believe made the difference in your getting the job? 
Martin: It may sound absurd, but I made use of my anxiety. Ordinarily, people would consider that unfavorable for an audition, but I managed to channel Jackie’s apparent anxiety into something productive. She started to give me the impression that she was afraid of failing and frightened. In the audition to play Jackie, you’ll learn that. 

Cox: Why do you believe Will is attracted to Jackie so much in their relationship? 
Martin: Jackie most certainly embodies his sense of place. He probably finds solace in the fact that she comes from a familiar and comparable background. She doesn’t require an explanation of who he is or what he does, unlike Uncle Phil, Carlton, and the other residents of Bel-Air. He can just be with her since Jackie understands. 

Cox: Before we continue, I have one more question concerning the program. What draws people to the reboot, in your opinion? What, in your perspective, is different? 
Martin: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will always be recognizable and have a huge cultural impact. I believe Bel-Air offers a different perspective than the original on how to go further into subjects. We truly get to see how the black family is impacted by generational trauma. 

Cox: I want to talk to you now about how Afro-Latino people are portrayed on the program and in movies. Do you believe they could successfully play an Afro-Latino character? 
Martin: It is a difficult subject, in my opinion, because Latinos are typically only represented by white people in the media, disregarding any other options. We’re kind of put in this box as being black by them. Indeed, we are Black, but we are also Latino. 

It is something you frequently observe in casting. When an Afro-Latino is cast in a production, they essentially cast them as black without even stating so. They’re not sure which box to put us in, which is why.  

Cox: While writing about characters, you started categorizing everyone. You believe that when they are creating these characters, it is more crucial for them to have actual people of their particular race and heritage present. 
Martin: Indeed, I believe it is quite difficult for individuals to write about the experiences of others if they have never actually experienced them. The character development is more genuine when those folks are present, either authoring it or at the very least providing some insight. The narrative has a real portrayal. 

I consider it to be more detrimental to the narrative and the core of that character when the appropriate individuals are not present to provide the necessary information. The importance of positive portrayal cannot be overstated. 

Cox: Why do you place such a strong emphasis on good depiction of an Afro-Latino? 
Martin: Considering how these personalities are created and developed once again They placed them in these categories that don’t accurately reflect us. Sometimes, when we consider these circumstances, we reply, “I don’t picture myself in it.” People start to wonder where they fit in as a result. 

Shoot Credit:

Photographer: Juliet Wolf
Creative Director: Camaron Engels
Hair: Araxi Lindsey
Makeup: Jackie Huerta
Nails: Jenny J
Fashion Designer: Melian Junius
Creative Producer: Sadie Wilking