China Anne McClain

China Anne McClain is a multifaceted American actress and singer, born on August 25, 1998. Her journey in the entertainment industry began at the tender age of seven when she made her film debut as Alexis in The Gospel (2005). Following this, she portrayed China James in Daddy's Little Girls (2007), which helped to establish her presence in Hollywood.

McClain gained widespread recognition for her role as Jazmine Payne in the popular sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne, which aired from 2007 to 2012 and returned in 2020. She also showcased her talent in the comedy films Grown Ups (2010) and Grown Ups 2 (2013). However, it was her portrayal of Chyna Parks in the Disney Channel series A.N.T. Farm (2011-2014) that catapulted her to global fame. Additionally, she starred as Uma in the Disney Channel films Descendants 2 (2017), Descendants 3 (2019), and the upcoming Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024).

In 2018, McClain took on a new challenge by starring as Jennifer Pierce, also known as Lightning, in the CW superhero series Black Lightning, which ran until 2021. She also reprised her role as Jazmine Payne in the revival of The Paynes on OWN in 2018, further solidifying her status as a versatile actress.

Alongside her acting career, McClain has made significant strides in music. She began her musical journey in 2005 as part of the sibling girl group the 3mcclaingirls with her sisters Sierra and Lauryn. Her first professional single, "Your Biggest Fan," featured Nick Jonas and was part of the Jonas L.A. soundtrack in 2010. In 2011, she signed with Hollywood Records, releasing her debut solo single, "Dynamite," which peaked at number two on the US Kid Digital Songs chart. Her follow-up single, "Calling All the Monsters," reached number one and achieved impressive sales.

McClain's contributions to music have not gone unnoticed; she was named the sixth best-selling artist for digital kids' songs by Billboard in 2012. Her single "What's My Name" from Descendants 2 achieved gold certification, selling over five hundred thousand units. In June 2020, the sibling group rebranded as Thriii, continuing to evolve in the music industry.