Grace Byers' character Anika has seen plenty of twists and turns during her four-season run on "Empire," but it's the actress' own childhood that inspired her to write her first children's book. Byers joins Cheddar to discuss what she hopes young people get out of "I Am Enough." She takes us back to her years growing up in the Cayman Islands as a multiracial child of hearing-impaired parents. Despite featuring illustrations of female characters, Byers says the book is meant to empower children of all genders. She recounts a story of a near-death experience and how it changed her outlook on life. The star also tells us what it's like playing a character prone to bullying others. "Empire" shattered expectations for what's possible from a network television show. Byers reveals whether she thinks the series is changing the model for success in the streaming era. She also gives her take on what the series finale might entail at some point down the road.

Share:
More In Culture
The Rising Demand for Delivery Services
According to LendingTree, over 196 million Americans used an on-demand delivery service within the last year. Cheddar breaks down why this trend is here to stay, and why so many Americans are actually overspending on these services.
Keys to Making Remote Work a Success
Ramon Ray, Founder of SmartHustle.com, joins Cheddar to discuss how businesses have learned how to collaborate virtually during the pandemic, and tips for making remote work a success.
JOANN Launches Grant to Support Hispanic Business Owners
Cheddar is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the history, culture, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx communities. We're diving into issues that matter and shining a light on the amazing influence of the Hispanic culture. To celebrate this month, leading fabric and craft retailer, JOANN is launching its second annual Minority Creative Grant program to support Hispanic creatives. The program will provide grants totaling $100,000 to 20 Hispanic business owners in need of financial support. Anthony Davila, lead product designer with JOANN and Shautina Lilly, diversity and inclusion manager with JOANN joined us to talk about the program.
Load More