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Grace (Gealey) Byers
Actress on the Hit TV Show Empire & New York Times Best-Selling Children’s Book Author
Grace (Gealey) Byers
Actress on the Hit TV Show Empire & New York Times Best-Selling Children’s Book Author
Biography
Grace Byers is a talented actress, creative, and dedicated activist who first entered the spotlight with her breakout role as 'Anika Calhoun' on Fox's smash hit series Empire.
Growing up in the Cayman Islands as biracial, multicultural and a Child Of Deaf Adults (CODA), Grace was constantly bullied throughout her childhood. Her experiences led her to write her first book, I Am Enough, which was released in March 2018 and instantly became a New York Times best seller. Since then, the book has quickly gone on to become a social and cultural phenomenon, also winning the 2018 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Book. Her second children’s book, I Believe I Can, will be released in Winter 2020. Both books were born out of her impassioned desire to empower young children against the negative effects of bullying and to inspire them with the ideals of self-acceptance and love.
Grace attended college at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she received a B.A. in Theater Arts. Upon graduation, Grace was accepted into the prestigious University of California - Irvine’s graduate program and obtained her M.F.A in Acting. A successful showcase took her from California to New York City, where she performed professionally. Several theater productions, short films and national commercials led her to Chicago where she booked the smash hit, Empire.
Since Empire, Grace has been seen in Marvel’s popular TV show, The Gifted, Irv Gotti’s Tales on BET and the indie thriller Bent, written and directed by Robert Moresco opposite Karl Urban, Sofia Vergara and Andy Garcia.
In her spare time, she volunteers with the non-profit anti-bullying organization; "Saving Our Daughters," and various deaf organizations. In 2015, Grace was honored by Glamour & Investigation Discovery with their annual "Inspire A Difference" award for her philanthropy work with "Saving Our Daughters." A sought-after inspirational speaker, Grace moves audiences with her powerful anti-bullying message and teaches children the importance of self-acceptance. She lives with her husband, actor Trai Byers and their little malti-poo, Baron Byers, in Los Angeles.
Speaker Videos
Saving Our Daughters
Standing Up Against Bullying
Speech Topics
An Evening With Grace Byers
In this intimate Q & A, a moderator will interview Grace on stage while also integrating questions from the audience. This is an unforgettable affair where gleaning advice, inspiration and life lessons from Grace becomes a personalized and profound event. (Pictures and autographs may follow event, if requested)
We Are Enough
Growing up in the Cayman Islands as a biracial, multicultural young girl and Child Of Deaf Adults (CODA), Grace understood what it was like to be "different." It wasn’t until she ventured out into the world that she realized how uncommon her life was from others and was bullied because of it. Feeling like she wasn’t enough, Grace tried in many ways to fit in. In this vulnerable and touching engagement, Grace shares her journey from feeling "not enough" to learning that we are all more than enough.
Close Calls & Wake Up Calls
Before she became a star on the hit TV drama Empire, Grace experienced several near-death experiences, including a traumatic head-on collision with an SUV that exposed her skull and left her with multiple stitches in the hospital. During her lengthy recovery, she took time to reflect on life, practice mindfulness and observe stillness as a means of better understanding herself, the lives of others and the world that unites us all. In this inspirational presentation, Grace revisits the close calls and convalescent periods that allowed her to transform hard knocks into valuable new beginnings – ultimately discovering that the cultivation of love and gratitude is the most powerful healing force of all.
Phenomenal Wom(e)n
In this uplifting and empowering presentation, Grace highlights the special importance of women building each other up in today’s society where competition, comparison and insecurities tend to unravel the unification of women. Grace shares how we can move forward in communities of cohesion and reinforcement as we continue to break barriers and shatter glass ceilings together, as women.
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