Ryan Destiny

Ryan Destiny
Destiny at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
Ryan Destiny Irons

(1995-01-08) January 8, 1995 (age 30)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer-songwriter
  • dancer
  • model
Years active2010–present
Parent(s)Deron Irons
Dawn Irons
Musical career
InstrumentVocals
Years active2007–present

Ryan Destiny Irons (born January 8, 1995)[1] is an American actress, singer and songwriter. Destiny is best known for her roles in the Fox TV musical drama Star, and the Freeform sitcom Grown-ish.

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] Her family is of African-American descent, with her maternal grandmother having irish ancestry.

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] She released her first single "The Same" in 2018, with a remix featuring rapper Tobi Lou being released the following year. Her second single "Do You" was released in 2020. Her other songs are : “How Many“, released in 2022; “Lie Like That”, released in 2023 and “How Your Hands Feel”, released in 2024.

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] In December 2015, Destiny booked one of the lead roles as Alexandra in Daniels' series Star – opposite Queen Latifah.[10] The series premiered on Fox December 14, 2016 and ended after three seasons in 2019.[11][12]

In November 2019 it was announced that Destiny was cast to play Claressa Shields in Flint Strong, a sports biopic written by Barry Jenkins and directed by Rachel Morrison. Originally, it was in development at Universal Pictures.[13] However, the film was put in a turnaround in October 2021.[14] It was then picked up by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in May 2022.[15]

Destiny currently has a recurring role on season 3 of Grown-ish as Jillian, a transfer student from Spelman College.[16][17]

Influences

Destiny cites entertainers Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Prince and Aaliyah as her primary influences.[18][19] Destiny has also expressed admiration for singers such as Lauryn Hill, Brandy, India Arie, and Beyoncé.[19]

Personal life

Ryan Destiny was in a relationship with actor Keith Powers from 2017 till their split in 2022. As of 2024, they have remained close friends . [20][21]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2015 A Girl Like Grace Grace Lead role
2023 Oracle Shay Lead role
2024 The Fire Inside 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
2020–2021 Grown-ish Jillian Recurring role
2021 The Lower Bottoms Rebecca Cooper Main role

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2017 Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout TV Star Herself Nominated
2018 Choice Drama TV Actress Nominated
2019 Nominated
2024 Denver International Film Festival Rising Star Award The Fire Inside Won
Gotham Awards Breakthrough Performer Nominated
Celebration of Cinema and Television Rising Star Award – Film Won
Michigan Movie Critics Guild MMC Award for Film Excellence Won
2025 Indie Spirit Awards Best Lead Performance to be announced

References

  1. ^ Destiny, Ryan [@RyanDestiny] (January 8, 2017). "Ryan Destiny on Twitter: "23 years young"" (Tweet). Retrieved January 18, 2017 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b c d Campbell, Janis (May 26, 2011). "Never Say Never to Detroit Teen Singer" (PDF). Yak's Corner (775). The Detroit News: 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d 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 (760). The Detroit News: 6. January 27, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  7. ^ Morales, Wilson (June 19, 2015). "Exclusive: Singer Ryan Destiny Talks 'A Girl Like Grace'". Blackfilm.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. 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.[dead link‍]
  10. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (December 7, 2015). "Queen Latifah Lands Lead Role in Lee Daniels' Fox Music Pilot". Variety. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  11. ^ Alston, Joshua (December 14, 2016). "'Star's' Newcomers Reveal Audition Stories, What It's Like Working With Lee Daniels". Variety. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  12. ^ "'Star' Canceled After Three Seasons at Fox". Variety. May 10, 2019.
  13. ^ "Rachel Morrison's Directional Debut 'Flint Strong' Casts Ryan Destiny as Claressa Shields". Variety. November 13, 2019.
  14. ^ Masters, Kim; Kit, Borys (October 29, 2021). "Ice Cube Exits Sony Comedy 'Oh Hell No' After Declining COVID-19 Vaccine". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Kit, Borys (May 25, 2022). "Brian Tyree Henry Boards Flint Strong As Boxing Drama Finds New Studio Home, Restarts Shooting (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  16. ^ "TVLine Items: Star Vet to grown-ish, S.W.A.T. Adds Series Regular and More". TVLine. July 8, 2019.
  17. ^ "Watch an exclusive clip of Ryan Destiny joining grown-ish season 3". Entertainment Weekly. January 30, 2020.
  18. ^ Anassi, Pennie (December 6, 2017). "#LiveCivilInterview: Ryan Destiny Talks STAR, Colorism, Gabrielle Union, & The Secret To Her Glowing Skin". Live Civil.
  19. ^ a b "You are being redirected..." theknockturnal.com. November 19, 2017.
  20. ^ "We The Urban". July 2019. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  21. ^ "Keith Powers and Ryan Destiny Split After 4 Years: They're 'Remaining Close Friends,' Says Source". January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.