Parker McKenna Posey is all grown up and let's just say...people have noticed.
The former child actress got her start on the hit sitcom My Wife And Kids at the tender age of four. She stole hearts with her natural talent and irresistible charm. She then got a job on the Nickelodeon show iCarly before graduating high school. The now 21 year old has gotten tons of attention within the past few years for her stunning looks and poppin' Instagram account. She's even gotten into a relationship with rapper Problem and became a budding fashion designer.
Clearly, there's more to her than meets the eye. We chatted with Parker on how life after Kady Kyle is going, how she handles all the thirsty DMs and her next career move.
VH1: You were 4 years old when you joined the cast of My Wife And Kids. What was it like being on set that young?
Parker: Honestly it's what I wanted to do since I could speak. I think the hardest part was having to wake up early in the morning. To this day, I'm not a morning person. But I wanted be on set more than I wanted to be with my school tutor. I auditioned over 7 times. It was a crazy process, but [once I got the part] I loved getting to know the writers, the producers, being around [Damon Wayans]...me being so little, I basically grew up with them. So I didn't feel any crazy pressure. It was something I genuinely wanted to do every day.
Getty
GettyImages-828191
Do you still keep in touch with your TV mom (Tisha Campbell Martin) and dad (Damon Wayans) from My Wife & Kids?
When I was little, I didn't realize the magnitude of star power of these people that I was working. I was so blessed to be in the presence of people who are apart of Black film history. Now looking back on it, its crazy now recognizing their talents and everything that they've done in the past and present. Of course, I learned so much from Tisha. Not just about acting and how to be a professional business woman, but how to live my life as a woman in general. She was like my God mom. We were literally like a family. We celebrated birthdays, all that stuff. They were a big part of my childhood and helped shape me into a woman today. My comedic skills came from that whole family. I owe that to everybody on set because they definitely helped showed me the way.
Would you be up for a My Wife and Kids reunion?
You never know! Anything is possible. We were all a family. I'd be down for it. Sometimes people want to move on from that character, but you never. I'm sure all of us would be down to come back and do something great for the people that love and support the show to this day. The show has been off for some time, but it still gets a lot of attention. I feel like our show was a big part of Black culture, too.
People were in disbelief once your Instagram page was discovered. How do you handle all the social media attention?
I don't mind the attention. I don't really like them to call them followers/fans. I look at them as supporters and friends more than anything. I love to see people's comments. It's funny - even when people recognize me in person they're like "OMG, you're so old! You grew up!" And it's like *laugh* everybody grows up. I know its confusing because people still see the reruns on TV where I'm a four year old girl and then you see me out as an adult living my life. It's been a challenge trying to get away from the "Kady" thing in my career now. I am older, and I'm never gonna play a four year old girl again ever in my life. I have to start attacking more mature roles. I appreciate the Kady Kyle character so much and I'll forever be grateful, but now it's time to just be Parker McKenna Posey.
With you being in a relationship, does it become annoying/difficult handling all the thirsty dudes in your DMs?
As far as DMs go, I don't really entertain too many because the last time I did, I ended up in the relationship I'm in now. It's crazy that's how you connect with people nowadays both business wise and funny enough relationships too. So yeah, he slid in my DMs and three years later we're still keeping it pushing. I do laugh at some of the funny things guys say, but I don't really read my DMs too much. I'm genuinely a nice person and I like to respond to nice comments, but the thirsty stuff I can't entertain that.
Your boyfriend (Problem) is 10 years older than you. Is that a concern for people in your life, and how does the age difference affect the relationship?
Problem is a big ass little kid. Women's brains are way more advanced than men and I'm gonna stick to that *laughs*. I don't feel weird about it just because I'm younger and if other people do I don't feel some type of way about it. At the end of the day, I'm not the only person who has dated older and he's not the only person who's dated younger. And for whatever reason this is working for us right now. The main people I never want to disappoint are my mom and my dad. They absolutely adore Problem. I wouldn't be surprised if they love him more than me. He really is a sweetheart and a super supportive. I've been in a relationship where someone didn't want me to shine or work or audition. And he's always supporting me. The age difference isn't that big of a deal when the person is doing all the right things. He can keep up with me and I can keep up with him.
So what's next for Parker McKenna Posey?
I think because I started off in TV, that's what I personally love to do. But I'm not against film either. I also did 90 Minutes Of The Fever which is debuting at some film festivals in LA while its [being shopped around] to different networks. Other than that, I've been auditioning, have a TV show in development and have been designing my swimsuit line which I'm hoping to release in August around my birthday. When I graduated high school, I wanted to go to FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising), but ended up focusing on acting. But now I've got that bug again so I've been sewing, taking classes and trying to get my swimsuits into production.
If you were stunned to see Parker now, check out these other "then & now" pics of child actors who played the youngest sibling on our favorite TV sitcoms.
The Insecure star takes us on a ride through Santa Monica as she shares insight on her rise from child actor to a multi-talented comedian.
