News | Entertainment
19 Feb 2026 17:54
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Keke Palmer felt her career was limited as a child star because of her ethnicity

    The 31-year-old actress grew to prominence playing the title character in the Nickelodeon sitcom 'True Jackson, VP' in 2008, before providing the voice of Aisha in the network's revival of 'Winx Club' and leading the cast of the television film 'Rags'.


    However, she believes she was only chosen for "Black girl" parts at Nickelodeon and wasn't in the "same conversations" as her peers, Victoria Justice, Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus.

    She told The Cut magazine: "I wasn't necessarily in the same conversations as Victoria Justice or Selena Gomez or Miley Cyrus at that time.

    "It was very much 'That's the Black show' or 'That's Keke Palmer, the Black girl on the network.'"

    Victoria, 31, rose to fame on Nickelodeon, playing Lola Martinez on the comedy drama series 'Zoey 101' between 2005 and 2009, Tori Vega on the teen sitcom 'Victorious' and Jordan Sands in the television comedy horror film 'The Boy Who Cried Werewolf'.

    Selena, 32, starred on Disney Channel's 'Wizards of Waverly Place' between 2007 and 2012, while Miley, also 32, made her name playing her titular alter ego in 'Hannah Montana' on Disney from 2006 until 2011.

    She continued: "There is a loss of innocence that comes with the awareness that you're treated differently that I'd accepted a long time ago.

    "I don't compare myself to anyone, but I definitely don't compare myself to any white person."

    The Emmy Award-winning star has since gone on to star in movies including 2014's 'Animal', 2018's 'Pimp', 2019's 'Hustlers', and Jordan Peele's acclaimed 2022 sci-fi horror 'Nope', and admitted that once she'd gotten too old to be considered a child star, she had to completely rebuild her "brand".

    She said: "You're at this weird age where you're too young for the kind of roles that you would want and you're too old for the kind of roles you used to get. Your brand was made up of you being a kid, and you're not a kid anymore. So you have to build a new one."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     19 Feb: Jane Seymour felt privileged to work with Robert Duvall
     19 Feb: Logan Paul has sold a Pokemon trading card for $16.5 million
     19 Feb: Sir Sam Mendes has "no outlet" during a film shoot
     19 Feb: Walton Goggins has hailed Robert Duvall as the "greatest storyteller of all time"
     19 Feb: Daniel Radcliffe is "always taking care" of Tracy Morgan
     19 Feb: Viola Davis was "in awe" of Robert Duvall when they worked together
     19 Feb: Joshua Bassett's memoir is the "most vulnerable" he's ever been
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A Sky Sport Now subscription's about to become more costly More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Confidence green pastures lie ahead for Fonterra, as the sale of brands like Anchor and Mainland nears completion More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A man has been fined 14-thousand dollars and sentenced to 180-hours community service for running an unlawful security company 17:27

    Business:
    Confidence green pastures lie ahead for Fonterra, as the sale of brands like Anchor and Mainland nears completion 17:07

    Skiing:
    An avalanche in Northern California was the worst in the US for 40 years. Here's how it unfolded 17:07

    Soccer:
    A hammer blow to the Wellington Phoenix's hopes of finally beating Auckland FC in an A-League derby 16:57

    Law and Order:
    In her memoir, Gisèle Pelicot reveals the secret love behind France's most infamous rape trial 16:57

    Business:
    A Sky Sport Now subscription's about to become more costly 16:17

    National:
    Why big oil is not interested in Venezuela 16:07

    Law and Order:
    A Rotorua rest home will go to trial in October - over the death of a resident after a fire 15:27

    Law and Order:
    Christchurch Police have confirmed a gang-related altercation on Northcote's Hoani Street last night involved firearms 14:57

    Cricket:
    Former White Ferns batter Lauren Down has announced her retirement from all forms of cricket 14:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd