15 Things You Didn't Know About Tatyana Ali

You think you know Tatyana but you have no idea...

A Long Way From Bel-Air - Learn more about actress/singer Tatyana Ali, who stole our hearts as Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and then catch her in the new BET original film A Very Larry Christmas on Tuesday, December 9 at 8P/7C! (Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)

1 / 16

A Long Way From Bel-Air - Learn more about actress/singer Tatyana Ali, who stole our hearts as Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and then catch her in the new BET original film A Very Larry Christmas on Tuesday, December 9 at 8P/7C! (Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)

¡Hola, Tatyana! - Aside from English, Tatyana Ali can speak fluent Spanish and knows a few phrases in Hindi thanks to her Afro-Panamanian and Indo-Trinidadian roots.   (Photo: Ilya Savenok/BET/Getty Images for BET)

2 / 16

¡Hola, Tatyana! - Aside from English, Tatyana Ali can speak fluent Spanish and knows a few phrases in Hindi thanks to her Afro-Panamanian and Indo-Trinidadian roots. (Photo: Ilya Savenok/BET/Getty Images for BET)

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ - Between Sesame Street and Bel-Air, there was Star Search. A 7-year-old Tatyana Ali knocked it out of the box and won not once, but twice! Even at such a young age, she commanded the stage with her charming presence. With her performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” there’s no denying she was destined to become a star!(Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank)

3 / 16

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ - Between Sesame Street and Bel-Air, there was Star Search. A 7-year-old Tatyana Ali knocked it out of the box and won not once, but twice! Even at such a young age, she commanded the stage with her charming presence. With her performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” there’s no denying she was destined to become a star!(Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank)

Side Hustle - During her time on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Tatyana Ali took on side projects on shows like The Cosby Show, The All New Mickey Mouse Club and Are You Afraid of the Dark? among others.(Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank)

4 / 16

Side Hustle - During her time on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Tatyana Ali took on side projects on shows like The Cosby Show, The All New Mickey Mouse Club and Are You Afraid of the Dark? among others.(Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank)

Ashley Banks - On The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Tatyana Ali played Ashley Banks, the cute daughter of a wealthy couple who let their nephew from West Philadelphia move in with them. (Photo: Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank)

5 / 16

A Breath of Bel-Air - Tatyana credits Will Smith, her Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star, with giving her a platform where she could express herself musically. Towards the end of the show, the two started recording and years later she shared the stage with N’Sync, Monica, the Backstreet Boys and more! She was living every '90s girl's dream.(Photo: Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank)

ADVERTISEMENT
Celebrity High - Tatyana Ali and Kim Kardashian attended all-girls high school Marymount together in Los Angeles. Given the opportunity, Tatyana said she would ask Kim how she’s actually doing since reality TV doesn't always give you the full story.(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd/WireImage)

6 / 16

Celebrity High - Tatyana Ali and Kim Kardashian attended all-girls high school Marymount together in Los Angeles. Given the opportunity, Tatyana said she would ask Kim how she’s actually doing since reality TV doesn't always give you the full story.(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd/WireImage)

Harvard Grad - The multitalented singer and actress is also a Harvard grad. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in African-American studies and government.(Photo: Chad Buchanan/Getty Images)

7 / 16

Harvard Grad - The multitalented singer and actress is also a Harvard grad. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in African-American studies and government.(Photo: Chad Buchanan/Getty Images)

On the Side - It's all about side-swept glamour and loose curls for Tatyana Ali's red carpet look. Subtle and sexy, just like the actress.  (Photo: Alberto Rodriguez/BET/Getty Images for BET)

8 / 16

Obama Girl - With her studies so focused on politics, it’s no surprise that Tatyana Ali traveled the U.S. as a spokesperson for Barack Obama during the 2008 presidental campaign. Her support continued during the reelection campaign in 2012.(Photo: Alberto Rodriguez/BET/Getty Images for BET)

‘Good Hair,’ Don’t Care - In an interview with VladTV, Tatyana Ali opens up about her childhood experience with being labeled as a Black girl with "good hair." She admits she badly wished her hair was more like her mother’s so that she could style it the same way and not feel so alienated.(Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)

9 / 16

‘Good Hair,’ Don’t Care - In an interview with VladTV, Tatyana Ali opens up about her childhood experience with being labeled as a Black girl with "good hair." She admits she badly wished her hair was more like her mother’s so that she could style it the same way and not feel so alienated.(Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)

Home Again - In 2012, Tatyana nabbed the lead role in the Jamaican Canadian drama film Home Again. Due to certain restrictions, the cast couldn’t film in the story’s true setting of Jamaica, but it gave Tatyana a chance to spend time in her father’s home country of Trinidad. (Photo: REUTERS /ANDREA DE SILVA /LANDOV)

10 / 16

Home Again - In 2012, Tatyana nabbed the lead role in the Jamaican Canadian drama film Home Again. Due to certain restrictions, the cast couldn’t film in the story’s true setting of Jamaica, but it gave Tatyana a chance to spend time in her father’s home country of Trinidad. (Photo: REUTERS /ANDREA DE SILVA /LANDOV)

ADVERTISEMENT
Awkward Black Actress - Awkward Black Girl’'s Issa Rae backs the upcoming webseries Black Actress. The mockumentary aims to highlight the issues that Black women face in Hollywood and will feature a cameo and commentary from Tatyana Ali and a few other actresses.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

11 / 16

Awkward Black Actress - Awkward Black Girl’'s Issa Rae backs the upcoming webseries Black Actress. The mockumentary aims to highlight the issues that Black women face in Hollywood and will feature a cameo and commentary from Tatyana Ali and a few other actresses.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Albert

So Far Gone - Tatyana doesn’t deny her undying love for Drizzy and even says that if she ever starred in her own reality TV show she’d name it I Love Drake! In a 2013 interview with Wendy Williams, the actress coyly dances around answering the question about hooking up with Drizzy. Will we ever know?!(Photo: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for the Starfish Foundation)  

12 / 16

So Far Gone - Tatyana doesn’t deny her undying love for Drizzy and even says that if she ever starred in her own reality TV show she’d name it I Love Drake! In a 2013 interview with Wendy Williams, the actress coyly dances around answering the question about hooking up with Drizzy. Will we ever know?!(Photo: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for the Starfish Foundation)  

Back to Black - Back in 2005, Tatyana produced and starred in the BET web show Buppies. A few years later, she returned alongside Craig and Damien Wayans for the BET comedy show Second Generation Wayans.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for UP TV)

13 / 16

Back to Black - Back in 2005, Tatyana produced and starred in the BET web show Buppies. A few years later, she returned alongside Craig and Damien Wayans for the BET comedy show Second Generation Wayans.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for UP TV)

Photo By Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for UP TV

‘Wait for It’ - The wait is over. After more than a decade of musical silence, Tatyana Ali released new music. Earlier this year, she dropped her EP Hello, making the announcement of her return back to the music scene.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for NAACP)

14 / 16

‘Wait for It’ - The wait is over. After more than a decade of musical silence, Tatyana Ali released new music. Earlier this year, she dropped her EP Hello, making the announcement of her return back to the music scene.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for NAACP)

Photo By Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for NAACP

Emerald Envy - Actress Tatyana Ali is a show-stopper in an emerald dress on the red carpet of Imagine a Future.(Photo: Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images for BET)

15 / 16

We've Got a Winner - The talented Tatyana Ali has won four NAACP awards during her acting career for roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Young & The Restless.(Photo: Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images for BET

It's an Art - Earlier this year, the actress/singer became an advocate for the Black Girls Rock! message of community, sisterhood and empowerment through the arts. Tatyana says it was a struggle for her parents to find positive images of Black girls and women and that she's glad organizations like this exist to fill that void. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

16 / 16

It's an Art - Earlier this year, the actress/singer became an advocate for the Black Girls Rock! message of community, sisterhood and empowerment through the arts. Tatyana says it was a struggle for her parents to find positive images of Black girls and women and that she's glad organizations like this exist to fill that void. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)