Jayla Cookie Walton is an American actress, model, singer, and social media influencer best known for playing Dove (Odessa Sanderson) in the final season of AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead.
Growing up in a household built around athletics and entertainment, she built her own following on social media before landing major TV and film roles.
Who is Jayla Walton?
Jayla Walton is an American actress, model, musician, and athlete from Atlanta, Georgia.
Her breakout role came in 2023 when she joined the cast of Fear the Walking Dead as a series regular in its eighth and final season.
She is also the older sister of actor and boxer Javon Walton, widely recognized for his role as Ashtray in HBO’s Euphoria.
Yet Jayla has built her own career independently, earning more than five million combined followers across social media.
Her work spans acting, modeling, music, and brand endorsements, including a past Nike commercial.
She is also a trained athlete who played competitive volleyball throughout her youth and practiced various styles of dance.
Early Life of Jayla Walton
Jayla Cookie Walton was born on September 12, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia, where she grew up alongside three brothers in a close-knit family.
Her father, DJ Walton, is a former professional boxer and the founder of Onward Athletics, an athletics company based in Buford, Georgia.
Her mother, Jessica Walton, is a digital creator, producer, and businesswoman who has managed her children’s entertainment careers.
Jessica is also a graduate of Jacksonville University and was involved in producing the children’s book Blue Moon: From the Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee alongside Alicia Keys in 2014.
DJ and Jessica married on July 17, 2000, and have four children together. Jayla is the eldest and only daughter.
Her brothers are Javon Walton and Jaden Walton, who are fraternal twins born on July 22, 2006, and Daelo Walton, born June 6, 2014.
Javon is a professional boxer and actor known for Euphoria and Utopia. Jaden is a content creator and athlete. Daelo has also taken on acting work.
The Walton household put a strong emphasis on sports and discipline from an early age. Jayla played competitive volleyball and practiced dance.
Her father trained the family in boxing from very young ages, giving the children a foundation in both physical discipline and performance.
Jayla Walton Age / Birthday
Jayla Walton is 22 years old as of 2026, born on September 12, 2004. Her zodiac sign is Virgo, a sign often associated with precision and a strong work ethic.
By 22, she already has several TV and film credits and a developing music career to her name.
Jayla Walton Ethnicity and Nationality
Jayla is American by nationality, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Multiple sources identify her as white ethnicity.
She grew up in a Christian household and has spoken openly about her values around equality, acceptance, and environmental activism.
Jayla Walton Height and Weight
Jayla stands 5 feet 3 inches tall, which equals 160 centimeters. Her reported weight is around 112 pounds (51 kilograms).
Her athletic background in volleyball and dance gives her a lean and toned build. She frequently shares fitness and lifestyle content on social media.
Jayla Walton Career
Jayla began building a public profile as a social media creator before her acting career gained traction.
By the time she landed a major television role, she already had a substantial following on both Instagram and TikTok.
She found her passion for acting after visiting film sets, and that early exposure shaped her drive to pursue screen work professionally.
Her career now spans television, film, music, and modeling.
Early Career and Social Media Start (2018–2022)
Jayla posted her first TikTok video in August 2018, beginning a social media journey that would eventually bring her more than 2.5 million followers on that platform.
She also built a presence on Instagram, where she posts modeling photos and lifestyle content.
In 2020, she appeared in Alicia Keys’ music video for “Love Looks Better,” marking one of her first on-screen credits.
That same year, she appeared in the documentary No Days Off, which followed the Walton family’s athletic lifestyle.
Her commercial work during this period included a Nike advertisement as well as campaigns for Take Life Further and Buff Bunny Collection.
By 2022, her Instagram following had crossed 1.3 million, and she appeared in the film 1-800-Hot-Nite, directed by Nick Richey, where she played the character Kelly.
Fear the Walking Dead (2023)
Jayla received a call on July 12, 2022, that would define the next chapter of her career.
AMC had cast her as Dove, also known by her full character name Odessa Sanderson, in the eighth and final season of Fear the Walking Dead.
She described the character as military-influenced and multi-layered, with aspects she could personally relate to.
The show’s final season premiered on AMC on May 14, 2023, and Jayla appeared starting in the very first episode, “Remember What They Took from You.”
The final season marked a significant production shift, moving filming from Austin, Texas, to Savannah, Georgia.
Jayla joined a cast that included longtime series regulars, bringing a new energy to the show’s closing chapter.
Film Work and Continued Growth (2024–2025)
Jayla appeared in Chasing Raine in 2024, a thriller in which she played a character described as Ceaser’s Coach.
Written and directed by Quinanthony Bateman and Lee Bateman, the project reunited her with the Walton family’s broader professional network.
In 2024, she also appeared in English Teacher, adding to her growing list of credits.
Her most high-profile film role came in 2025 with Poetic License, directed by Maude Apatow and distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.
Jayla played the role of Kyra in the comedy, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025.
The film stars Leslie Mann, Andrew Barth Feldman, and Cooper Hoffman and received generally positive reviews, earning a score of 77 on Metacritic.
Music Career
Alongside her acting work, Jayla has developed a music career as a singer and songwriter. She has released singles including “Premonition,” “Know You Too,” and “Deep End.”
She works with producer Kerry “Krucial” Brothers, a Brooklyn-born producer best known for his long-running collaboration with Alicia Keys, which began in the late 1990s and produced chart-topping albums.
Kerry has also worked with Drake and Keyshia Cole. Jayla is currently working on an album with Kerry Brothers.
Her music blends her interests in fashion and self-expression with her growing platform.
Jayla Walton Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | No Days Off | Herself | Documentary |
| 2020 | Love Looks Better (music video) | Featured | Music video |
| 2022 | 1-800-Hot-Nite | Kelly | Film |
| 2023 | Fear the Walking Dead (Season 8) | Dove / Odessa Sanderson | TV Series |
| 2024 | Chasing Raine | Ceaser’s Coach | Film |
| 2024 | English Teacher | – | TV Series |
| 2025 | Poetic License | Kyra | Film |
Jayla Walton Net Worth
Jayla Walton’s estimated net worth is $500,000 as of 2026. Her income comes from multiple streams, including acting work in film and television, brand endorsements, social media content creation, and music.
Her modeling and brand deal portfolio includes Nike, Take Life Further, and Buff Bunny Collection.
As her acting credits have grown from a documentary in 2018 to a Sony Pictures Classics comedy in 2025, her earning potential has grown with them.
Music royalties from her released singles and ongoing work with producer Kerry “Krucial” Brothers represent an additional and developing revenue stream.
With over five million combined followers across her social platforms, she also earns from sponsored content and creator campaigns.
Jayla Walton Social Media
Jayla is active on multiple platforms and uses her reach to discuss fashion, music, and environmental causes.
Her verified Instagram handle is @jaylawaltonofficial. She is also active on X (formerly Twitter) at @jaylawaltonofc, where she engages with her fanbase.
Her TikTok content has built her a following of more than 2.5 million on that platform.
Conclusion
Jayla Walton has moved steadily from social media creator to working actress and musician over a remarkably short span, appearing in projects ranging from an AMC series finale to a Sony Pictures Classics comedy premiere at TIFF.
Her career at 22 already reflects a deliberate range across acting, music, and content creation.