Khaneshia JaNea Smith, known professionally as KJ Smith, was born on May 6, 1985, in Tallahassee, Florida.
She is an American actress with over 60 screen credits. She is best known for her lead role as Andrea “Andi” Barnes on Tyler Perry’s hit BET series Sistas.
Who is KJ Smith?
KJ Smith is an American actress and executive producer who began her on-screen career in 2009. Her full birth name is Khaneshia JaNea Smith, and she later took the professional stage name KJ Smith.
She rose to wide recognition through her lead role as the high-powered attorney Andi Barnes on Tyler Perry’s Sistas on BET. The show ran from 2019 through 2026, spanning eight seasons.
Beyond acting, Smith co-founded the production company Blackhouse Media with her husband, actor Skyh Black. She also serves as a Webby Award-winning executive producer for the short film Black Excellence.
Early Life of KJ Smith
Smith was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. Her parents are Marilyn and Ernest Smith, and she is the eldest of their children.
Her father Ernest passed away after a prolonged battle with cerebral palsy. Smith has since used her platform to raise awareness for both cerebral palsy and sickle cell anemia.
Her younger sister, Lanetra Bennett, works as a professional reporter at a CBS affiliate in Tallahassee. Smith was a cheerleader and softball player during her high school years.
KJ Smith Age
KJ Smith is 41 years old as of June 12, 2026, born on May 6, 1985. Her zodiac sign is Taurus. She welcomed her first child, daughter Pryde JaNea Black, in October 2025.
KJ Smith Ethnicity and Nationality
KJ Smith is an American national, born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. She is of African American heritage.
Her family background has roots in the southeastern United States, and she has publicly credited her upbringing in Florida as formative to her sense of identity.
KJ Smith Height and Weight
KJ Smith stands at 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) tall, as listed on her IMDb profile. Her weight is not publicly confirmed.
Her presence on screen is often described by interviewers as commanding despite her compact stature.
KJ Smith Education
Smith attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, where she studied business marketing and earned a bachelor’s degree. After graduating, she worked in corporate America for a period.
She later returned to higher education at Florida A&M University, where she majored in journalism. That second degree strengthened her communication skills ahead of her pivot to acting.
After feeling unfulfilled in a corporate career, she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting full time. A visit to a friend in Los Angeles in 2009 sparked that decision.
KJ Smith Career
Early Career
KJ Smith made her on-screen debut in 2009, starting with small roles and short films. Her early credits included an episode of the ABC soap opera All My Children and sketch comedy appearances on Conan and Jimmy Kimmel Live!
She built up her resume steadily through guest-starring roles across various network shows. Among those early credits were appearances on Real Husbands of Hollywood, Being Mary Jane, Lethal Weapon, and Survivor’s Remorse.
Smith landed a recurring role on the Oprah Winfrey Network drama Queen Sugar in 2016. She also appeared in multiple episodes of the Bounce TV sitcom Family Time across three seasons.
Breakthrough Roles
Smith joined the BET drama series The Family Business in 2018, playing recurring character Sasha Duncan. That same year, she co-starred alongside Tyler Perry in A Madea Family Funeral (2019), the eleventh and final installment in the Madea film franchise.
She also earned a recurring role in the ABC drama The Fix in 2019, playing Charlie. That year marked a turning point in the density and visibility of her roles.
Her defining career breakthrough came with Tyler Perry’s Sistas, which premiered on BET in October 2019. Smith played lead character Andrea “Andi” Barnes, a high-powered attorney navigating career, friendship, and love. The show ran for eight seasons through 2026, with Smith appearing in 185 episodes.
Recent Work
In 2020, Smith starred in Fatal Affair, a psychological thriller released on Netflix opposite Omar Epps. The film expanded her reach to a global streaming audience.
In 2022, she took on a recurring role as Palomar in season two of Power Book III: Raising Kanan on STARZ, playing a morally complex character that showcased a different side of her range.
Smith also co-founded the production company Blackhouse Media with her husband Skyh Black. As of 2026, two new projects produced under the Blackhouse Media banner are in pre-production.
KJ Smith Filmography
- All My Children (ABC, 2009)
- Family Time (Bounce TV, 2012–2015, recurring)
- Queen Sugar (OWN, 2016)
- Being Mary Jane (BET)
- The Family Business (BET, 2018–2022)
- A Madea Family Funeral (2019, film)
- The Fix (ABC, 2019, recurring)
- Sistas (BET, 2019–2026, lead, 185 episodes)
- Fatal Affair (Netflix, 2020, film)
- Power Book III: Raising Kanan (STARZ, 2022, recurring)
KJ Smith Awards and Recognition
Smith won two Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards (HAPA) for Best Actress in a TV Series for her work on Sistas. She was also honored with a BronzeLens Honorary Award for her contributions to film and culture.
She won a Webby Award as executive producer of the short film Black Excellence. The film explored themes of Black identity and achievement.
Smith attended the 55th NAACP Image Awards in 2024 and the 56th NAACP Image Awards in 2025. Her consistent presence at award events reflects her growing stature in the industry.
KJ Smith Husband
KJ Smith is married to actor and dancer Skyh Alvester Black. The couple first met on the set of Sistas in 2020, though a no-fraternization policy on set meant their romance developed after filming concluded.
They married on September 3, 2023, in Malibu, California, at the Malibu Dream Resort. The ceremony was attended by around 150 guests, including Tyler Perry, Loni Love, and Eva Marcille.
Smith and Black together co-founded Blackhouse Media, their joint production company. In August 2025, the couple relocated from Los Angeles to the Stone Mountain, Georgia area to be closer to family.
KJ Smith Children
Smith and Skyh Black announced their pregnancy on Mother’s Day 2025 in an exclusive interview with Essence magazine. The news was particularly meaningful for Smith, who had previously been diagnosed with PCOS and fibroids.
Their daughter, Pryde JaNea Black, was born on October 4, 2025. Smith told People magazine of her newborn: “She looks like a little angel. She’s so precious.”
Smith and Black credited filmmaker Tyler Perry for his support during what they described as a difficult birthing experience. The family of three relocated to a 10,400-square-foot property in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
KJ Smith Net Worth
KJ Smith’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her primary income source is her long-running television career, anchored by eight seasons on Sistas.
She supplements her acting income through brand endorsements and modeling collaborations, including partnerships with House of Beeombi, SuReina Bridal, Ria Victoria, and Murad Skincare. Smith and her husband also generate income through their Blackhouse Media production company.
Her financial profile reflects more than fifteen years of steady work across television, film, streaming, and entrepreneurial ventures.
KJ Smith Social Media
KJ Smith is active on Instagram under the handle @kjsmithofficial, where she shares updates on her career, personal life, and advocacy work.
She uses her platform to promote awareness for cerebral palsy and sickle cell anemia, causes close to her following the loss of her father. Her online presence also features content tied to her Blackhouse Media projects and brand partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KJ Smith’s net worth?
KJ Smith’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026, earned through television acting, brand endorsements, and her production company Blackhouse Media.
How old is KJ Smith?
KJ Smith is 41 years old as of June 12, 2026, born on May 6, 1985, in Tallahassee, Florida.
Who is KJ Smith married to?
KJ Smith is married to actor and dancer Skyh Black. They wed on September 3, 2023, in Malibu, California, and welcomed their first child, daughter Pryde JaNea Black, in October 2025.
What is KJ Smith famous for?
KJ Smith is best known for playing Andrea “Andi” Barnes on Tyler Perry’s BET comedy-drama series Sistas, which ran from 2019 to 2026 across eight seasons.
Where was KJ Smith born?
KJ Smith was born in Tallahassee, Florida, on May 6, 1985.
What awards has KJ Smith won?
Smith has won two Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards (HAPA) for Best Actress in a TV Series, a Webby Award as executive producer of Black Excellence, and a BronzeLens Honorary Award.
The Bottom Line
KJ Smith played the lead role of Andi Barnes across all eight seasons of Tyler Perry’s Sistas on BET, appearing in 185 episodes between 2019 and 2026. She also earned a Webby Award as executive producer of the short film Black Excellence.
She transitioned from a corporate career to acting after relocating to Los Angeles in 2009, having previously earned degrees from both Florida State University and Florida A&M University. In 2023, she married her Sistas co-star Skyh Black and together they launched Blackhouse Media.
As of 2026, Smith and Black have two new projects in pre-production under their Blackhouse Media banner. The couple welcomed their daughter Pryde JaNea Black in October 2025 and moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia.
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