Ryan Destiny

Ryan Destiny Irons (born January 8, 1995)[1] is an American actress, singer and songwriter. While she had been working in the music industry since childhood, Destiny first rose to fame as a member of the girl-group Love Dollhouse in 2013. Destiny is best known for her role in the Fox TV musical drama Star.

Ryan Destiny
Born
Ryan Destiny Irons

(1995-01-08) January 8, 1995
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • Singer-songwriter
  • dancer
  • model
Years active2010–present
Parent(s)Deron Irons
Dawn Irons
Musical career
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2007–present
Associated actsLove Dollhouse

Early life and education

Destiny was born in Detroit, Michigan.[2] Her father is a member of the 90s R&B group Guesss.[3][4][5] Destiny attended West Bloomfield High School. In January 2011, Destiny won a singing contest to attend the red carpet premiere of Justin Bieber's Never Say Never.[2][6]

Career

Music

In junior high school, the 12-year-old Destiny formed musical trio New Limit. Managed by her mother Dawn, the trio auditioned for America's Got Talent in 2010 and they made it to the finals until they decided it was not for them. By 2011, Destiny had signed with Universal Republic.[2] The group would later split, with Destiny and her manager holding auditions forming a new group called "Love Dollhouse" The trio signed to All Def/Capitol Records, a label partnership with Russell Simmons, Steve Rifkind and Brian Robbins. The group released their debut single "Can I."[3][5] The group disbanded in 2015.[7] In 2016, Destiny announced plans for a solo EP.[8]

Acting

In 2010, Destiny appeared in an episode of the web series The Wannabes Starring Savvy. In 2011, she traveled to Los Angeles with her mother to start auditioning for projects.[2] In 2013, she appeared in several episodes of the Detroit-based crime drama, Low Winter Sun.[5] Destiny later appeared as the lead in the independent film A Girl Like Grace opposite Garcelle Beauvais, Meagan Good, and Raven-Symoné. The Ty Hodges produced film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2015.[9]

Destiny initially booked the role of Tiana on Lee Daniels's hit musical drama Empire but due to her contract with All Def Music, she could not accept the role.[5][10] In December 2015, Destiny booked one of the lead roles as Alexandra in Daniels' series Star – opposite Queen Latifah.[11] The series premiered on Fox December 14, 2016 and ended after three seasons in 2019.[12][13]

In November 2019 it was announced that Destiny was cast to play Claressa Shields in Flint Strong, a Universal Pictures biopic written by Barry Jenkins and directed by Rachel Morrison[14]

Destiny currently has a recurring role on season 3 of Grown-ish as Jillian, a transfer student from Spelman College.[15][16]

Influences

Destiny cites entertainers Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Prince and Aaliyah as her primary influences.[17][18] Destiny has also expressed admiration for singers such as Lauryn Hill, Brandy, India Arie, and Beyoncé.[18]

Personal life

Destiny has been in a relationship with actor Keith Powers since late-2017.[19]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2015 A Girl Like Grace Grace Lead Role (Independent Film)
TBA Oracle TBA Lead Role
TBA Flint Strong Claressa Shields Lead Role

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2010 The Wannabes-Starring Savvy Customer
2013 Low Winter Sun April Geddes Recurring Role (6 episodes)
2016-2019 Star Alexandra Crane Lead Role
2020 Grown-Ish Jillian Recurring Role

Music videos
Year Song Artist Director(s) Role
2014 "Paradise" Big Sean Mike Carson Leading Lady
2019 "Single Again" Big Sean Lawrence Lamont Bianca
2020 "Holy" Justin Bieber ft. Chance the Rapper Colin Tilley Leading Lady

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee Result
2017 Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout TV Star Herself Nominated
2018 Teen Choice Awards Choice Drama TV Actress Herself Nominated
2019 Teen Choice Awards Choice Drama TV Actress Herself Nominated

References
  1. Destiny, Ryan [@RyanDestiny] (January 8, 2017). "Ryan Destiny on Twitter: "23 years young"" (Tweet). Retrieved January 18, 2017 – via Twitter.
  2. Campbell, Janis (May 26, 2011). "Never Say Never to Detroit Teen Singer" (PDF). Yak's Corner. The Detroit News (775): 4.
  3. "Love Dollhouse". Biography. Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  4. Levine, Daniel S (January 4, 2017). "Ryan Destiny as Alexandra Crane on 'Star': 5 Fast Facts". Heavy.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  5. McFarlin, Jim (January 2, 2017). "Ryan Destiny: A 'Star' is born". The Detroit News. Digital First Media. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  6. "Destiny To Sing" (PDF). Kids Making News. Yak's Corner. The Detroit News (760): 6. January 27, 2011.
  7. Morales, Wilson (June 19, 2015). "Exclusive: Singer Ryan Destiny Talks 'A Girl Like Grace'". Blackfilm.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  8. Harriet (March 16, 2016). "Ryan Destiny Chats to the Idle Man". The Idle Man. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  9. Pedersen, Erik (June 1, 2015). "'A Girl Like Grace' LA Film Festival Clip: Grieving, Bullying & Consequences". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  10. Jones, Tashara (September 29, 2017). "Ryan Destiny 'devastated' to lose 'Empire' role, but thrilled with 'Star' part". New York Post. News Corp. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  11. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (December 7, 2015). "Queen Latifah Lands Lead Role in Lee Daniels' Fox Music Pilot". Variety. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  12. Alston, Joshua (December 14, 2016). "'Star's' Newcomers Reveal Audition Stories, What It's Like Working With Lee Daniels". Variety. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  13. "'Star' Canceled After Three Seasons at Fox". Variety. May 10, 2019.
  14. "Rachel Morrison's Directional Debut 'Flint Strong' Casts Ryan Destiny as Claressa Shields". Variety. November 13, 2019.
  15. "TVLine Items: Star Vet to grown-ish, S.W.A.T. Adds Series Regular and More". TVLine. July 8, 2019.
  16. "Watch an exclusive clip of Ryan Destiny joining grown-ish season 3". Entertainment Weekly. January 30, 2020.
  17. Anassi, Pennie (December 6, 2017). "#LiveCivilInterview: Ryan Destiny Talks STAR, Colorism, Gabrielle Union, & The Secret To Her Glowing Skin". Live Civil.
  18. "You are being redirected..." theknockturnal.com.
  19. "We The Urban". July 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
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