Hey Everyone, I hope you’re having a great weekend!!! Guess what? I just posted 3 more exclusive Young Black Starz History Makers interviews for you to enjoy!

The interviews are with Blake Hightower, NicKayla Tucker, and Rhyon Nicole Brown, and they told us how they are living out their dreams and making history. You can find out which historical figure has made an impact on Blake’s life, how NicKayla’s getting involved in the presidential election campaign, and what invention created by an African American Rhyon is thankful for. I was so inspired by what each of them had to say and by their energy and passion!

You can view Blake’s interview HERE, NicKayla’s interview HERE, and Rhyon’s interview HERE. Enjoy!

NicKayla Tucker has been honored by Pepsi and featured in their Black History ‘Firsts Of Many‘ Calendar. She’s featured as the first professional singer, dancer and actress in the Tucker family. You can view the profiles online HERE and download and print the calendar for free HERE (.pdf file)! NicKayla is the month of April; they have a lovely picture of her as well as a short paragraph. CONGRATS to NicKayla and all of our kids who are making history! :]

Thanks to Mrs. Tucker-Saunders for the news!

I’ve just updated NicKayla Tucker’s gallery with an adorable new picture of her as Young Nala in the Lion King on Broadway! The picture is too cute; I love her costume! You can find it in the gallery.

By Avis Thomas-Lester
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, August 25, 2007; Page B02

NEW YORK At 11, NicKayla Tucker knows she’ll be a big star someday.

As an actress who has amassed a respectful resume, the Laurel girl is preparing to make her debut tomorrow as the young lioness Nala in “The Lion King” on Broadway, just after Julian Ivey, 12, of Cheverly, ends his run playing Simba.

The role of Nala follows several other notable performances for NicKayla, who attended Lake Arbor Elementary School in Mitchellville from first through fourth grade. She performed at Madison Square Garden in the national touring company of the musical “Annie.” She has auditioned several times for TV series in Los Angeles.

“I have always wanted to be an actress,” the sixth-grader says. “I was watching ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ with my grandmother when I was, like, 3. I said, ‘Mom-Mom, I want to do that!’ She said, ‘One day, baby girl.’ ”

As she rehearsed for Nala about five hours a day during the past month, NicKayla also waited as her agent and manager shopped her to TV production companies in Los Angeles, hoping to secure her a part in a TV pilot.

Singing since age 2 and acting since 3, NicKayla debuted at the Apollo when she was 4, performing a gospel song. She won first place in three competitions, then finished second in the final contest. She has won first place in two pageants for talented children and is waiting until she turns 13 to enter a third.

For her stint on Broadway, she and her grandmother, Phyllis Tucker-Saunders, have settled into an apartment near Times Square and the theater where she will work for several months. Next week, she’ll begin going to a local Catholic school, missing class on matinées days. She’ll perform four times a week.

“New York is not really new to me, because I come up here to audition all the time,” she says, smoothing her jeans. “What I love is the fast pace. I really love the vibe of the city. I think I’m already a total New Yorker.”

After her run on Broadway, she and Tucker-Saunders will move to Los Angeles to be near TV studios. Her mother, Ardia Tucker, a real estate agent, visits frequently when her daughter is out of town.

Although she has definite plans to be an actress, NicKayla has other ambitions as well.

“I want to be an alternative medication doctor, a doctor who treats people with herbs and things like that,” she said. “And I want to be an actress, a singer and a dancer. And I’m also hoping to be the first black president of the United States.”

Hiii Guys! I’ve added 8 new pictures of Keke Palmer to the gallery, the pictures were taken at 3 different event. 3 are from the Hairspray Movie Premiere; she’s with Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelley and Zac Efron; 4 are from the 2007 Teen Choice Awards and she’s with Miley Cyrus, Aubrey Graham, Romeo and Vanessa Hudgens and the last is a picture of Keke with Smokey Robinson at Stedman Graham Charity Event in Chicago!

I’ve also added a new interview and article of Keke Palmer and Nickayla Tucker that you may want to check out. The Nickayla article is about a week old but still worth reading if you want to know more about her.

Thanks to Keke’s mother for the pictures!