Vanessa Baden (born September 8, 1985) is an
American actress best known for her role as Kyra Rockmore in the hit
Nickelodeon show
Kenan and Kel, and for starring in the TV series
Gullah Gullah Island. She also did a radio show “Keeping it real with Reverend Al Sharpton”. She was born in
Manhattan Beach, California and raised in
Satellite Beach, Florida, where she got her start in print ads. She graduated from
Florida State University in
Tallahassee, Florida in December 2007 with a degree in Sociology. In 2004, she won the Florida District Miss Black and Gold Pageant representing the Iota Delta Chapter of
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at regional competition in
Atlanta, Georgia.
Civil Rights Activist
In 2006-2007, Vanessa Baden acted as a secretary in a group called
Coalition of Justice for Martin Lee Anderson. This group protested the death of a 14 year old boy,
Martin Lee Anderson who died in one of Florida's youth boot camps. These camps were designed to change the behavior of boys who had committed crimes. Martin Lee died after allegedly being hit and kicked by guards. Vanessa Baden was present and protested throughout the trail and at the capital after the involved guards were found not guilty. It was a protest as the capital, that turned into civil disobedience when the protesting students from FAMU (
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University), FSU
Florida State University and TCC, (
Tallahassee Community College) blocked two busy intersections during rush hour at the capital. Vanessa acted as spokesman for the Coalition and was quoted repeatedly in involving articles, none of which connect her with her Nickelodeon past.
Filmography
