It has to be, because at the end of the day, Black hair is too precious. GM: Always on point! I can't stress this enough, the more representation that we believe is important on screen needs to be behind the scenes. It was beneficial and I hope that people who do play tennis are able to see the work that was put in, and are hopefully appreciative of the story that we're trying to tell, especially for Black female athletes. Overall, it was challenging, but it was worth it. Then, I also had to get a tennis coach to learn the foundation of the sport, the history of the sport.
Training was not easy at all I had to get a trainer to keep my stamina and keep my body in tact. I enjoyed every minute of being able to say, I learned for the sake of his role in this opportunity. I wanted to immerse myself in a way that was respectful to the sport. GM: When I first found out that the pilot was greenlit, I wanted to take the time to learn tennis out of respect for the sport. What was the process like learning tennis? TV: We’re getting to know Simone as an athlete. It’s just a matter of when it might happen, but I think ultimately, that’s definitely something that was such a huge part of Simone’s life and I don't think that they'll just let it go like that. It's not set in stone though, but knowing our showrunner and knowing our amazing writers, like they have all the feels already. In season three, when Simone decided to commit to that relationship with wanting to be in baby Shay's life, I think that because of Simone, and how she's grown, I have no doubt in my mind that as the show progresses and continues, that we'll be able to have those moments. GM: The amazing thing is that the stories are still developing, and what I love so much about this day and age is that a lot of the fans and what they love plays a huge part in how we create the series.
TV: Speaking of her son, will baby Shay continue to be in Simone’s life? But I think that that's when we get a chance to see her just take charge, as a young adult, and make certain decisions that are tough. Once upon a time, that was such a confusing space for her to be in - she didn't know if she wanted to be in the baby's life or if she could still be in the baby's life. But, I feel like this is a moment where we see Simone take control of those attachments, and make it all about her, even along with her child. GM: I feel like on All American, she was more of a fixture in certain people's lives on the show. TV: How does Simone’s character development differ on All American and All American: Homecoming ? I feel like All American: Homecoming will not just be a moment, it will be something that will be forever remembered and forever embraced, because of where it came from and why it was created, which was for people that look like you and I to celebrate. She represents Black girl magic and I think it's time to have shows that represent who we are, what we bring to this world, and just celebrating what it means to be a Black girl. As far as Simone goes, she represents adversity. Geffri Maya: I think culturally speaking, the show has made such an impact on different ages, different backgrounds, but mainly celebrating the culture and what it means to be Black. She goes from pregnant teenager to young newlywed and now, a freshman at Bringston, and through it all, we’re finally seeing Simone blossom into a young woman.
Her parents want her to attend Stanford or an Ivy League university, but Simone perseveres and follows her own path. She’s left her loved ones behind - her friends and family, her boyfriend Jordan Baker (Michael Evans Behling) and her son, baby Shay, who remains in her life post adoption. Simone is far away from her lavish lifestyle in Beverly Hills. In the midst of a potential romance, Simone is determined to make the tennis team at Bringston but is confronted with a brewing rivalry with the team captain, Thea (Camille Hyde). Whilst there, she feels a sense of purpose as she walks around the campus, where Black intellectuals, athletes, and activists walked before her. In the backdoor pilot that aired during All American season three, Simone visits Bringston University and crosses paths with Damon Sims (Peyton Alex Smith), an elite baseball player who, like Simone, considers attending Bringston. Homecoming is a chance for her to continue Simone’s journey. She has since acted in Private Practice, East of La Brea, Snowfall, and had her breakout role in All American. Geffri is an alum of an HBCU herself she grew up in Los Angeles and attended Clark Atlanta University before embarking on her acting career.
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