Full Name
Genneya Elizabeth Shanks
Nickname(s)
"If you can't pronounce Genneya but can pronounce some random Easter European name with all of the different vowel sounds and what-not, I'm calling you on being racist, end of the story. For my friends, I let them call me Gigi. It's simple and it's not a lot of work for them. I have a few that call me Naya, whichc is kinda cool cuz I love me some Naya Rivera. She's so awesome. But Tink is the only nickname that only my sister can call me. I hate when she does it in public, though. When I was a baby, I was obssessed with Tinker Bell and she dressed me up as her once for Halloween. I don't remember this at all, but she swears that I wouldn't let her take the costume off of me while I was still awake. Nevertheless, the name sticks."
Tinka B or Tink {Only by her big sister} || Gigi or Naya {Common; mostly used by friends}
Date of Birth
February 22, 2004
Age
Twelve
Star Sign
Pisces
Nationality
African-American
Ethnicity
Some Haitian and some unspecified African descent
Sexual Orientation || Sexual History || Relationship History || Relationship Status
"I honestly don't know what you people expect from me. I'm twelve. Does it look like I've even thought of sex yet? I still get weirded out by the idea of my parents going at it, let alone actually doing it myself. I'm not even gonna lie and say I haven't had my first kiss yet since I had to prepare for acting roles, but geesh, guys! What kinda kid do you take me for?"
Genneya Elizabeth Shanks
Nickname(s)
"If you can't pronounce Genneya but can pronounce some random Easter European name with all of the different vowel sounds and what-not, I'm calling you on being racist, end of the story. For my friends, I let them call me Gigi. It's simple and it's not a lot of work for them. I have a few that call me Naya, whichc is kinda cool cuz I love me some Naya Rivera. She's so awesome. But Tink is the only nickname that only my sister can call me. I hate when she does it in public, though. When I was a baby, I was obssessed with Tinker Bell and she dressed me up as her once for Halloween. I don't remember this at all, but she swears that I wouldn't let her take the costume off of me while I was still awake. Nevertheless, the name sticks."
Tinka B or Tink {Only by her big sister} || Gigi or Naya {Common; mostly used by friends}
Date of Birth
February 22, 2004
Age
Twelve
Star Sign
Pisces
Nationality
African-American
Ethnicity
Some Haitian and some unspecified African descent
Sexual Orientation || Sexual History || Relationship History || Relationship Status
"I honestly don't know what you people expect from me. I'm twelve. Does it look like I've even thought of sex yet? I still get weirded out by the idea of my parents going at it, let alone actually doing it myself. I'm not even gonna lie and say I haven't had my first kiss yet since I had to prepare for acting roles, but geesh, guys! What kinda kid do you take me for?"
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Height
5'3
Weight
101 lbs
Body Shape
Banana
Body Type
Ectomorph
Shape of Face
Oval
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Height
5'3
Weight
101 lbs
Body Shape
Banana
Body Type
Ectomorph
Shape of Face
Oval
╰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╯
╭━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╮
Eye Color
Brown
Skin Tone
Deep Brown
Hair Color
Dark brown
Hair Length
Long
Hairstyle(s)
Varies day-to-day {Currently in box braids}
╰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╯
Eye Color
Brown
Skin Tone
Deep Brown
Hair Color
Dark brown
Hair Length
Long
Hairstyle(s)
Varies day-to-day {Currently in box braids}
╰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╯
╭━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╮
Physical Impairments
None
Distinguishing Marks
None
Piercings
Lobe Piercing {Both}
╰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╯
Physical Impairments
None
Distinguishing Marks
None
Piercings
Lobe Piercing {Both}
╰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╯
╭━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╮
Style of Dress
Definitely girly
Upkeep
Kim Kimble Bounce Back Curl Hair Products
Bellaboo Skincare Products
Personal Chef
Monthly Spa Sessions
Trained Gymnast & Dancer
Overall Attractiveness
9 out of 10 on the cute meter
╰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╯
Style of Dress
Definitely girly
Upkeep
Kim Kimble Bounce Back Curl Hair Products
Bellaboo Skincare Products
Personal Chef
Monthly Spa Sessions
Trained Gymnast & Dancer
Overall Attractiveness
9 out of 10 on the cute meter
╰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╯
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Special Skills
"I may not have above a four point zero like Ya Ya or speak more than two languages like she can, but I definitely do have a few skills, thank you very much."
Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Freestyle & Hip Hop Dancing. Ice Skating. Cheerleading. Gymnastics. Singing. Acting. Sketching.
Strength(s)
Genneya is a magnanimous performer and she's an entertainer. She doesn't just make a rapt audience; she makes an audience want to get up and dance with her or even believe whatever she is selling as an actress. It's probably a good thing that she's not exactly adept at using her convincing acting skills to her advantage as a manipulator because she'd probably get a lot of people under her thumb. Another good thing about her is her kindness. Aisha hasn't let her wealth, successes nor her social status enable entitlement nor an uppity-ness. She's nice to a lot of her classmates, even to the chagrin of those who think she shouldn't be. It's not to say that Aisha is going out of her way to befriend each and every non-popular student, but one can definitely say that she's one cool kid who is genuinely liked and for good reason.
Weakness(es)
The fact of the matter is that despite all of her successes and what is surely to come, in terms of her social life at Buckley, her classmates have gotten in her head. She has her sister to depend on when she's really having problems and needs advice, but at the end of the day, she feels like she's not doing enough. Genneya is at a crossroads. Because being a Cool Kid is such a precarious position, should she do what it takes and try to elevate herself socially so that she lives up to the Shank family reputation that her sister has set forth? Or does she stay satisfied with being where she is, despite so many of her fellow popular people wanting to just throw her down the rabbit hole to one of the unpopular cliques? Will that disappoint her sister?
Mental or Behavioral Disabilities?
None.
"I may not have above a four point zero like Ya Ya or speak more than two languages like she can, but I definitely do have a few skills, thank you very much."
Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Freestyle & Hip Hop Dancing. Ice Skating. Cheerleading. Gymnastics. Singing. Acting. Sketching.
Strength(s)
Genneya is a magnanimous performer and she's an entertainer. She doesn't just make a rapt audience; she makes an audience want to get up and dance with her or even believe whatever she is selling as an actress. It's probably a good thing that she's not exactly adept at using her convincing acting skills to her advantage as a manipulator because she'd probably get a lot of people under her thumb. Another good thing about her is her kindness. Aisha hasn't let her wealth, successes nor her social status enable entitlement nor an uppity-ness. She's nice to a lot of her classmates, even to the chagrin of those who think she shouldn't be. It's not to say that Aisha is going out of her way to befriend each and every non-popular student, but one can definitely say that she's one cool kid who is genuinely liked and for good reason.
Weakness(es)
The fact of the matter is that despite all of her successes and what is surely to come, in terms of her social life at Buckley, her classmates have gotten in her head. She has her sister to depend on when she's really having problems and needs advice, but at the end of the day, she feels like she's not doing enough. Genneya is at a crossroads. Because being a Cool Kid is such a precarious position, should she do what it takes and try to elevate herself socially so that she lives up to the Shank family reputation that her sister has set forth? Or does she stay satisfied with being where she is, despite so many of her fellow popular people wanting to just throw her down the rabbit hole to one of the unpopular cliques? Will that disappoint her sister?
Mental or Behavioral Disabilities?
None.
Greatest Joy(s)
• Spending Time with Her Big Sister, Aaliyah • Her Family and How Much They Support Her • Dancing • Her Life and Still Being Able to Be A Child Despite Her Career
Greatest Fear(s)
• Ever Letting Her Sister Down • Most Rodents and Insects • Zombie Apocalypse • Not Amounting to Anything
Priorities
• Be Able to Not Be Too Influenced By the Other Middle School Popular Kids • Maintain Her Grades • Have Fun • Not Lose Sight of Who She Is
Life Philosophy
"Ya Ya told me this quote once before. She does that sometimes. But it was one of the ones that resonated the most with me. I like to believe that I'm not like a lot of the other Cool Kids, the ones who always want to become more popular and eventually be considered one of the un-touchables. Or whatever you wanna call them. But that means becoming someone you're not and I don't want that. I know I'm supposed to care about elevation, but I want to be a good person. I don't wanna spend my entire educational career always seeking out the things I don't have or lowering myself to fit some mold. So, I try to be a good person each and every day. I'm not the best and I can accept that, but I like to think that I'm liked enough and that I'm not the type of person I wouldn't recognize in the mirror."
"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day."
~ Richard G. Scott
• Spending Time with Her Big Sister, Aaliyah • Her Family and How Much They Support Her • Dancing • Her Life and Still Being Able to Be A Child Despite Her Career
Greatest Fear(s)
• Ever Letting Her Sister Down • Most Rodents and Insects • Zombie Apocalypse • Not Amounting to Anything
Priorities
• Be Able to Not Be Too Influenced By the Other Middle School Popular Kids • Maintain Her Grades • Have Fun • Not Lose Sight of Who She Is
Life Philosophy
"Ya Ya told me this quote once before. She does that sometimes. But it was one of the ones that resonated the most with me. I like to believe that I'm not like a lot of the other Cool Kids, the ones who always want to become more popular and eventually be considered one of the un-touchables. Or whatever you wanna call them. But that means becoming someone you're not and I don't want that. I know I'm supposed to care about elevation, but I want to be a good person. I don't wanna spend my entire educational career always seeking out the things I don't have or lowering myself to fit some mold. So, I try to be a good person each and every day. I'm not the best and I can accept that, but I like to think that I'm liked enough and that I'm not the type of person I wouldn't recognize in the mirror."
"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day."
~ Richard G. Scott
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Good Personality Traits
Charismatic || Confident || Vivacious || Amicable || Energetic || Generous || Observant || Witty || Cunning || Ambitious
Bad Personality Traits
Tactless || Erratic || Melodramatic || Vindictive || Impatient || Trusting || Impulsive || Quirky || Sarcastic || Blunt
Personality
There is a notable difference between the Shank siblings that most will become aware of in the first ten seconds of being in their presence at the same time. While the eldest is definitely a dominant creature with a silence one can't help but feel threatened by, the youngest - a one Genneya Shank - is far from quiet. As it is known that her sister is the queen of underhanded antics and machinations, for all her sweetness, Genneya is the complete opposite. She doesn't take the time to think about the things she says, especially when she's nervous which is even worse than her at her normal. On a regular basis, Gigi firmly believes in not having a filter, saying the first thing that comes to her mind no matter whose feelings she hurts. Now, that could be a good thing. It means she's a relatively honest person and she'll be one individual one wouldn't have to worry about what they're thinking or how to please them. She'll tell you. She's probably one of the few people you won't have to worry about hearing that she spoke about you behind your back. Gigi probably said it to your face, if pushed. It can be endearing, charming even, because she obviously wishes at times that she was better. That she had a bit more of the grace and self-control that her big sister does. At the same time, this lack of tact can definitely be seen as an annoyance and to the chagrin of others, especially those who are receptive to being the source of her unfiltered thoughts and words. Most of the time, though, it's obvious that Gigi doesn't mean to hurt feelings when she does, but there are instances - especially in the face of someone who thinks they have power over her or can tell her what to do - where she just doesn't care. And if she feels a thing in her heart of hearts, best believe that you'll hear about it and whether or not you feel offended is a problem you better solve on your own because she's not wasting her time. It's worse, however, when she's nervous.
Possessing a great well of energy and optimism, Genneya is a rather charming young lady with an easy way of making friends. She has a way of making each and every person that she encounters feel welcomed, whether just in her presence or along some crazy little adventure she and her friends are bound to embark on. For all her blunt mannerisms that definitely remind you that she is still quite young and has room to grow, the one thing that Genneya would definitely say is her greatest flaw is the fact that she is a babbler. Honestly, she can't help it. And most of the time, her best friends can't help but think it's adorable. Gigi just has a rather positive outlook on life and she's so bright and genuinely just trying to be a kid that all of the energy not spent on her actions spews forth in her words, particularly when she's nervous. She'll clumsily reveal her own thoughts in that light, not meaning to, and definitely feeling flustered afterwards. But at this point, it's just another charming attribute that one either learns to contend with or just live an entire existence without a bundle of endless joy in your life. Which is what Gigi is. There's a reason, after all, that she has maintained a her social standing in the popular crowd of the lower school and it has less to do with either her sister or familial wealth, and more to do with the fact that Gigi is genuinely a fun person. Yes, she can be quite dramatic, impatient, headstrong, impulsive, smart-mouthed and seemingly all over the place with her eagerness to just be the pre-teen that she is. She wouldn't be Gigi if she was not all of those things. At the same time, there is no kinder person that you will meet and boldly kind, at that.
While there are many in her clique who would choose to shit on their classmates and act like their shit don't stink, Genneya isn't that person. She's not out to be besties with every single kid in the lower school division, but she's definitely not making enemies and trying to treat them like they're less than dirt. Gigi is the type to not condone unnecessary bullying nor being mean to a person just because. It's one thing to tell yourself that you're above a person. It's a completely different story, as she was lectured by her sister, to exert your dominance over them in neanderthal ways. It just proves that you're no better and that you have no class. And Gigi was never the type to begin with. She greets her classmates without fail, even if they are in a different clique and she has no problem with working with a person outside of her clique for assignments. For her, especially because she's worked as a dancer and gymnast with girls and boys who would be in different cliques than herself outside of school, a social hierarchy - though apparent everywhere - seems unnecessary and honestly tiresome. So, she doesn't spend her time being a bitch. She just exists and in the liveliest way she can. And if it happens that someone in a clique higher than herself feels as though she's being purposefully disobedient and, worst, disrespectful to the structures that be, well, then that's their problem because Genneya dares a person to tell her what she can and can't do. Regardless of not wanting to be anything like a Junior Royalist, she's definitely got an indomitable fire in her. It's what her sister and mother both instilled in her, after all.
At the end of the day, Genneya does have her actual bad personality traits. Some might find her a bit too much because she's so adamant that her friends need to try all of the clothes in her closet now because she will be darned if she's caught dead with one of them wearing that ugly striped shirt again. She might be a bit too dramatic and ready to huff and puff her way into an aneurysm over the fact that Ashley said this and that about her, and then had the audacity to smile in her face afterwards. She can be too trusting at times, because she's too busy believing that everyone else is going to be as upfront as she is, and she definitely wears her heart on her sleeve. She doesn't always watch her mouth, she's probably one of the most impatient children known to man, and believe it or not, for all her good girl antics, there is a side of her that is willing to get back at people for any disrespect towards her friends. However, there's also no denying that Genneya is a good friend. She sticks up for those she cares about and she has the capacity to forgive, though she definitely never forgets. And if there's anyone who's going to fangirl over Cameron Dallas with you, stay up and watch all of the music videos you can think of, and even belting our your favorite songs at the top of your lungs, it's definitely going to be her. So why hate the bad when you can embrace them, and still get the good?
Charismatic || Confident || Vivacious || Amicable || Energetic || Generous || Observant || Witty || Cunning || Ambitious
Bad Personality Traits
Tactless || Erratic || Melodramatic || Vindictive || Impatient || Trusting || Impulsive || Quirky || Sarcastic || Blunt
Personality
There is a notable difference between the Shank siblings that most will become aware of in the first ten seconds of being in their presence at the same time. While the eldest is definitely a dominant creature with a silence one can't help but feel threatened by, the youngest - a one Genneya Shank - is far from quiet. As it is known that her sister is the queen of underhanded antics and machinations, for all her sweetness, Genneya is the complete opposite. She doesn't take the time to think about the things she says, especially when she's nervous which is even worse than her at her normal. On a regular basis, Gigi firmly believes in not having a filter, saying the first thing that comes to her mind no matter whose feelings she hurts. Now, that could be a good thing. It means she's a relatively honest person and she'll be one individual one wouldn't have to worry about what they're thinking or how to please them. She'll tell you. She's probably one of the few people you won't have to worry about hearing that she spoke about you behind your back. Gigi probably said it to your face, if pushed. It can be endearing, charming even, because she obviously wishes at times that she was better. That she had a bit more of the grace and self-control that her big sister does. At the same time, this lack of tact can definitely be seen as an annoyance and to the chagrin of others, especially those who are receptive to being the source of her unfiltered thoughts and words. Most of the time, though, it's obvious that Gigi doesn't mean to hurt feelings when she does, but there are instances - especially in the face of someone who thinks they have power over her or can tell her what to do - where she just doesn't care. And if she feels a thing in her heart of hearts, best believe that you'll hear about it and whether or not you feel offended is a problem you better solve on your own because she's not wasting her time. It's worse, however, when she's nervous.
Possessing a great well of energy and optimism, Genneya is a rather charming young lady with an easy way of making friends. She has a way of making each and every person that she encounters feel welcomed, whether just in her presence or along some crazy little adventure she and her friends are bound to embark on. For all her blunt mannerisms that definitely remind you that she is still quite young and has room to grow, the one thing that Genneya would definitely say is her greatest flaw is the fact that she is a babbler. Honestly, she can't help it. And most of the time, her best friends can't help but think it's adorable. Gigi just has a rather positive outlook on life and she's so bright and genuinely just trying to be a kid that all of the energy not spent on her actions spews forth in her words, particularly when she's nervous. She'll clumsily reveal her own thoughts in that light, not meaning to, and definitely feeling flustered afterwards. But at this point, it's just another charming attribute that one either learns to contend with or just live an entire existence without a bundle of endless joy in your life. Which is what Gigi is. There's a reason, after all, that she has maintained a her social standing in the popular crowd of the lower school and it has less to do with either her sister or familial wealth, and more to do with the fact that Gigi is genuinely a fun person. Yes, she can be quite dramatic, impatient, headstrong, impulsive, smart-mouthed and seemingly all over the place with her eagerness to just be the pre-teen that she is. She wouldn't be Gigi if she was not all of those things. At the same time, there is no kinder person that you will meet and boldly kind, at that.
While there are many in her clique who would choose to shit on their classmates and act like their shit don't stink, Genneya isn't that person. She's not out to be besties with every single kid in the lower school division, but she's definitely not making enemies and trying to treat them like they're less than dirt. Gigi is the type to not condone unnecessary bullying nor being mean to a person just because. It's one thing to tell yourself that you're above a person. It's a completely different story, as she was lectured by her sister, to exert your dominance over them in neanderthal ways. It just proves that you're no better and that you have no class. And Gigi was never the type to begin with. She greets her classmates without fail, even if they are in a different clique and she has no problem with working with a person outside of her clique for assignments. For her, especially because she's worked as a dancer and gymnast with girls and boys who would be in different cliques than herself outside of school, a social hierarchy - though apparent everywhere - seems unnecessary and honestly tiresome. So, she doesn't spend her time being a bitch. She just exists and in the liveliest way she can. And if it happens that someone in a clique higher than herself feels as though she's being purposefully disobedient and, worst, disrespectful to the structures that be, well, then that's their problem because Genneya dares a person to tell her what she can and can't do. Regardless of not wanting to be anything like a Junior Royalist, she's definitely got an indomitable fire in her. It's what her sister and mother both instilled in her, after all.
At the end of the day, Genneya does have her actual bad personality traits. Some might find her a bit too much because she's so adamant that her friends need to try all of the clothes in her closet now because she will be darned if she's caught dead with one of them wearing that ugly striped shirt again. She might be a bit too dramatic and ready to huff and puff her way into an aneurysm over the fact that Ashley said this and that about her, and then had the audacity to smile in her face afterwards. She can be too trusting at times, because she's too busy believing that everyone else is going to be as upfront as she is, and she definitely wears her heart on her sleeve. She doesn't always watch her mouth, she's probably one of the most impatient children known to man, and believe it or not, for all her good girl antics, there is a side of her that is willing to get back at people for any disrespect towards her friends. However, there's also no denying that Genneya is a good friend. She sticks up for those she cares about and she has the capacity to forgive, though she definitely never forgets. And if there's anyone who's going to fangirl over Cameron Dallas with you, stay up and watch all of the music videos you can think of, and even belting our your favorite songs at the top of your lungs, it's definitely going to be her. So why hate the bad when you can embrace them, and still get the good?
⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑⌑
Short Term Goals
"I guess, you could say that I'm genuinely just trying to have a good time, get ready to shoot this next season of Project MC2 and keep up my grades. School is definitely not my strongest suit, obviously. I'm not the sibling for that, apparently. I get mostly Bs and Cs with an A here or there, but that's usually a lot of work. So I think I'm focused since it's pretty much the middle of the year anyway, to do better. I'm definitely nowhere near failing and I'm not at all passionate about it, but I wanna try. At least, for my own self. I've been preparing for this tv series that I did a season of and didn't know if we'd do another, so it would be great to really focus on that during the upcoming winter break. Even though we all know winter does not exist in Twinkle City. Ya Ya is helping me with remembering lines before the sit down in her spare time cuz she's awesome like that, so I think that's the only thing that could probably go under long term goals as well, but whatever. I just like acting and I wanna be lost in it as quickly as possible because shooting and being with my cast mates is awesome!"
Long Term Goals
"Is this really a thing right now? Don't I have enough pressure on me as it is? I'm twelve, about to be thirteen. I'm not even thinking of next year right now. I'm thinking that I want to dance, act, and do whatever I can do in the time that I have, I don't have my life drawn out for me or outlined. I honestly don't think about being married and having kids. I AM a kid. I definitely don't wanna think about having any. I don't even wanna think about puberty, even though I'm apparently in the middle of it. I don't think about my first Grammy or becoming a world famous choreographer. Those things sound nice, but I'm not sitting here at every turn planning out what the next ten or twenty years are gonna look like for me. I just have ideas and people who support those ideas. As of right now, my long term goal is to be a kid for as long as I can, all things considered."
Aspirations
"Ummmm...I'm twelve. I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to not have any aspirations. Which is good because I don't really have any. I'm an eleven year old dancer and singer who's done more in her eleven blessed years than most adults have in their forty plus lives. After all that I've done, I don't need to have any aspirations. I'm living someone's right now. But I will say that, jobs and future jobs aside, the one thing that I would want for myself is to be happy. And yes, I'll definitely steal that from Beyonce."
"I guess, you could say that I'm genuinely just trying to have a good time, get ready to shoot this next season of Project MC2 and keep up my grades. School is definitely not my strongest suit, obviously. I'm not the sibling for that, apparently. I get mostly Bs and Cs with an A here or there, but that's usually a lot of work. So I think I'm focused since it's pretty much the middle of the year anyway, to do better. I'm definitely nowhere near failing and I'm not at all passionate about it, but I wanna try. At least, for my own self. I've been preparing for this tv series that I did a season of and didn't know if we'd do another, so it would be great to really focus on that during the upcoming winter break. Even though we all know winter does not exist in Twinkle City. Ya Ya is helping me with remembering lines before the sit down in her spare time cuz she's awesome like that, so I think that's the only thing that could probably go under long term goals as well, but whatever. I just like acting and I wanna be lost in it as quickly as possible because shooting and being with my cast mates is awesome!"
Long Term Goals
"Is this really a thing right now? Don't I have enough pressure on me as it is? I'm twelve, about to be thirteen. I'm not even thinking of next year right now. I'm thinking that I want to dance, act, and do whatever I can do in the time that I have, I don't have my life drawn out for me or outlined. I honestly don't think about being married and having kids. I AM a kid. I definitely don't wanna think about having any. I don't even wanna think about puberty, even though I'm apparently in the middle of it. I don't think about my first Grammy or becoming a world famous choreographer. Those things sound nice, but I'm not sitting here at every turn planning out what the next ten or twenty years are gonna look like for me. I just have ideas and people who support those ideas. As of right now, my long term goal is to be a kid for as long as I can, all things considered."
Aspirations
"Ummmm...I'm twelve. I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to not have any aspirations. Which is good because I don't really have any. I'm an eleven year old dancer and singer who's done more in her eleven blessed years than most adults have in their forty plus lives. After all that I've done, I don't need to have any aspirations. I'm living someone's right now. But I will say that, jobs and future jobs aside, the one thing that I would want for myself is to be happy. And yes, I'll definitely steal that from Beyonce."
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Hometown
Holmby Hills, CA, USA
Upbringing
Unlike her older sister, there are no real emotional ties to the city of Detroit where her family had originally settled. In fact, all that Genneya knows is Sun City or Twinkle Town, or whatever everyone else is calling Los Angeles. All Gigi knows is that when Suzanne was really getting the hang of Wall Street and making it her stomping grounds upon which she would build a financial empire, her father was an old friend that she re-connected with. They had known one another as children, but drifted apart during her college years. Surprisingly enough, though, they had kept one another's numbers in their phone books and went about their lives. Somehow or another - Gigi likes to call it fate, even though Aaliyah promptly reminds her that fate couldn't keep them together - they both wound up in Detroit and things just clicked for them. For a little while at least. Suzanne hadn't really dealt with the loss of her husband, who was the father of her two older children. Aisha knows that there was a still-born in between herself and Aaliyah, and there was a point where Suzanne hadn't wanted another child because she had lost both that baby and her husband. She had just wanted to focus on her career and the children she did have. But, as fate would have it, Genneya was born and the rest has pretty much been history.
Though she has to deal with people pointing out that Aaliyah seems disinterested or unimpressed with most things - and even things like possibly feeling above most things and people - the one person during her childhood that Gigi could honestly say was the most involved was her big sister. She doesn't remember the diaper changes or even the time when she was two years old and demanded to watch Yo Gabba Gabba in Aaliyah's bedroom even though she had a nursery with a rather impressive television. She barely even remembers when her father walked away that one time and never looked back. But she does remember when it clicked in her brain that she was legitimately doing gymnastics and her big sister was sitting there in the stands, all proud like her mother should have been. To an extent, much like her grandmother pointed out and Aaliyah's own grandma (who treats Gigi like one of the others), Aaliyah is her other mother. There's no denying either how much Suzanne cares, though. There's always a performance or photo shoot that Aaliyah is recording for her or doing a live chat so that Suzanne could see with her own eyes on those long trips to New York or Detroit. But in terms of how well a person Genneya is and how confident and accomplished she is, she can't help but owe it to her sister. It was Aaliyah who spent late nights with her in the gym and helping her stretch. Aaliyah who pushed in the first place for her to be involved with whatever she wanted since it would keep Gigi occupied and active. And it is still Aaliyah who does her hair when she's feeling like the world is coming down on her because one plait keeps alluding her.
As it stands, Gigi can honestly say that she's had a blessed childhood. She has never felt unloved nor as if she wasn't supported. She definitely recognizes that she's rather privileged, especially in comparison to her fellow dancers and even some of her classmates. But that privilege has yet to truly go to her head. And she's had so many successes and honestly the life that many wish they could. She more than likely has been a bit sheltered and she wouldn't necessarily be equipped to face the real world on her own, but she's also twelve. There are still life lessons for her to learn yet.
Childhood Hero
"If someone else were to say it, they would be kissing her butt and I might smack them for loving my sissy as much as I do. No one else supports me the way that she does. She literally argued mommy down for me about dancing and doing whatever I wanted. There's never been a recital or performance that she's missed and rarely a photo shoot she hasn't overseen herself. And have you seen her? Who wouldn't look up to her? I still do."
Her big sister, Aaliyah
Dream Job
"I've embraced the fact that I'm weird and being the weirdo that I am, I liked the idea of being a dentist. You get to touch people's gums and it feels weird, and probably weirder with rubber gloves. I was here for it. Then I wanted to be a vet."
Dentist
Pet(s)
"We didn't get Jinxuntil about hree years ago. I was too busy and I didn't wanna put so much on Ya Ya. And I was never gonna count those monstrosities she calls her babies anything but demons. The only creature I liked was Chase. All I did was try to pet Toby in his cage and like the devil's spawn he is, he bit me! She said my hand was too close to his head instead of somewhere else on his body and that I was being too slow, so he got scared. I don't care. I haven't touched him or his sister since."
Education
"Buckley is the only school I have ever known."
The Buckley School
Social Class
"Let's see...my mother is THE leading financial titan on Wall Street and who's company is worth two trillion dollars. I also happen to be a dancer and actress. I'm pretty sure there's nothing working class about us save for our work ethics."
Upper Class
Holmby Hills, CA, USA
Upbringing
Unlike her older sister, there are no real emotional ties to the city of Detroit where her family had originally settled. In fact, all that Genneya knows is Sun City or Twinkle Town, or whatever everyone else is calling Los Angeles. All Gigi knows is that when Suzanne was really getting the hang of Wall Street and making it her stomping grounds upon which she would build a financial empire, her father was an old friend that she re-connected with. They had known one another as children, but drifted apart during her college years. Surprisingly enough, though, they had kept one another's numbers in their phone books and went about their lives. Somehow or another - Gigi likes to call it fate, even though Aaliyah promptly reminds her that fate couldn't keep them together - they both wound up in Detroit and things just clicked for them. For a little while at least. Suzanne hadn't really dealt with the loss of her husband, who was the father of her two older children. Aisha knows that there was a still-born in between herself and Aaliyah, and there was a point where Suzanne hadn't wanted another child because she had lost both that baby and her husband. She had just wanted to focus on her career and the children she did have. But, as fate would have it, Genneya was born and the rest has pretty much been history.
Though she has to deal with people pointing out that Aaliyah seems disinterested or unimpressed with most things - and even things like possibly feeling above most things and people - the one person during her childhood that Gigi could honestly say was the most involved was her big sister. She doesn't remember the diaper changes or even the time when she was two years old and demanded to watch Yo Gabba Gabba in Aaliyah's bedroom even though she had a nursery with a rather impressive television. She barely even remembers when her father walked away that one time and never looked back. But she does remember when it clicked in her brain that she was legitimately doing gymnastics and her big sister was sitting there in the stands, all proud like her mother should have been. To an extent, much like her grandmother pointed out and Aaliyah's own grandma (who treats Gigi like one of the others), Aaliyah is her other mother. There's no denying either how much Suzanne cares, though. There's always a performance or photo shoot that Aaliyah is recording for her or doing a live chat so that Suzanne could see with her own eyes on those long trips to New York or Detroit. But in terms of how well a person Genneya is and how confident and accomplished she is, she can't help but owe it to her sister. It was Aaliyah who spent late nights with her in the gym and helping her stretch. Aaliyah who pushed in the first place for her to be involved with whatever she wanted since it would keep Gigi occupied and active. And it is still Aaliyah who does her hair when she's feeling like the world is coming down on her because one plait keeps alluding her.
As it stands, Gigi can honestly say that she's had a blessed childhood. She has never felt unloved nor as if she wasn't supported. She definitely recognizes that she's rather privileged, especially in comparison to her fellow dancers and even some of her classmates. But that privilege has yet to truly go to her head. And she's had so many successes and honestly the life that many wish they could. She more than likely has been a bit sheltered and she wouldn't necessarily be equipped to face the real world on her own, but she's also twelve. There are still life lessons for her to learn yet.
Childhood Hero
"If someone else were to say it, they would be kissing her butt and I might smack them for loving my sissy as much as I do. No one else supports me the way that she does. She literally argued mommy down for me about dancing and doing whatever I wanted. There's never been a recital or performance that she's missed and rarely a photo shoot she hasn't overseen herself. And have you seen her? Who wouldn't look up to her? I still do."
Her big sister, Aaliyah
Dream Job
"I've embraced the fact that I'm weird and being the weirdo that I am, I liked the idea of being a dentist. You get to touch people's gums and it feels weird, and probably weirder with rubber gloves. I was here for it. Then I wanted to be a vet."
Dentist
Pet(s)
"We didn't get Jinxuntil about hree years ago. I was too busy and I didn't wanna put so much on Ya Ya. And I was never gonna count those monstrosities she calls her babies anything but demons. The only creature I liked was Chase. All I did was try to pet Toby in his cage and like the devil's spawn he is, he bit me! She said my hand was too close to his head instead of somewhere else on his body and that I was being too slow, so he got scared. I don't care. I haven't touched him or his sister since."
Education
"Buckley is the only school I have ever known."
The Buckley School
Social Class
"Let's see...my mother is THE leading financial titan on Wall Street and who's company is worth two trillion dollars. I also happen to be a dancer and actress. I'm pretty sure there's nothing working class about us save for our work ethics."
Upper Class
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Current Household
"She's not there all of the time obviously, but mommy lives with us. Work just takes her to the Detroit office a lot."
Pet(s)
"Again, I'm not counting those demons. I love my Jinxy poo and Chase though."
Secret(s)
Editing...
Summer Spent?
Editing...
Home
594 S Mapleton Drive, Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California
Gigi's Bedroom
[X][X][X]
Transportation
"Well, obviously I'm not driving yet. Nine times out of ten, Damien is driving me because Sophie wakes up like she's got a real live nine to five job and the drive usually knocks her out. If he can't, a driver will. Sometimes, though, Ya Ya drives me, mainly when she doesn't have to deal with her floozies. That's usually the best. I mean, how much cooler can you get than having the queen of the entire school drive you to said school? Plus, we get food."
Family
Suzanne Shank || Mother || 41 || Living || President and CEO of Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co., LLC & Acting Chief Executive Officer of Muriel Siebert & Co.
"My relationship with mom is much different than what she has with Ya Ya. I'm not the one mommy says is the one she's looking to have take over when she wants to retire. Which is great for me because even if she did expect me to do anything in finance, I couldn't. I hate math. Leah loves it. At the same time, and I haven't told Leah this, it just feels like mommy doesn't expect much out of me. I know for a fact that she's proud that I'm putting my energy into something good and I'm not just sitting around and letting everyone take care of me. But I feel like I'm not doing enough, somehow. Daddy says I'm crazy and that it's honestly the fact that mommy isn't the most affectionate or emotional person. Ya Ya is like that too. But I know she loves me and she might not like much affection with other people, but she definitely loves it when I love on her."
Henry Walton || Father || 45 || Living || Estranged
"It does suck that my Dad walked out of my life like that. I think Nana, Ya Ya and Damien's grandma, said that he and mommy just didn't work out. I just don't see what that has to do with me. Even if you tell yourself that I'm good on finances because my mom is super rich, it doesn't mean that I wouldn't like my dad in my life. Aaliyah is such a killjoy cuz she's said something like, our house is the home of fatherless children, but at least she has memories with her dad. How am I supposed to remember things that happened when I was two or three?"
Aaliyah Shank || Sister || 17 || Living || High School Senior
"There's honestly no words to describe how...amazing I think Leah is. She's my big sister and with eleven years in between us, you wouldn't think we would be that close. A lot of my friends say that their big brother or sister treats them like they're a pest but that's not us. I can talk to Leah about any and everything. I know there are a lot of people intimidated and even afraid of her, and I get it because she's intense and obviously her greatness is too much to handle, but no one will know how loving she can be behind closed doors. I don't even think she knows. She's the smartest person I know and even I forget that she's my sister and definitely has flaws because sometimes, I look at her and see this person who has it all together. And even if she doesn't see it, even mommy admires her. She's so proud of her. Leah doesn't know it, but they had a big argument and mommy called the house. Leah didn't answer because it was her, but I did and we talked. At some point, mommy got real quiet and then asked how Leah was. I told her what she was doing and stuff but she told me that that wasn't what she asked. She wanted to know how Leah really was and that was when I knew that mommy does love her. More than she'll ever know. They're just both so silly about it and honestly they should just get locked in a closet and made to work their mess out."
Damien Bishaw-Shanks || Older Brother || 25 || Living || Second Lieutenant in the United States Army
"I know Leah would say otherwise, but I actually look at Damien like the cool older brother. Obviously, he still can't trump Ya Ya, but how many people can say that their big brother actually tries to do their hair? Again, it's obvious he sucks and Ya Ya would crucify him before she'd let him send me out of the house with lopsided pigtails, but the point is that he kinda keeps things light around the house. He's legit like the best buffer when mommy and Leah are about to start WWIII. It probably helps our relationship that he literally gets me a lot of candy, even though my coach and agent both say I don't need it."
Sophia Bishaw-Shanks || Niece || 2 || Living || Currently running the Shank Household
"In mommy's stead, Leah may have the final say in the house, but it's Sophia who runs everything and everyone. If Soph says it's time to watch Team Umi Zoomi, it's time to watch Umi Zoomi and you better sing along to shimmer and shine making it divine, darn it! Obviously I'm biased because she's my blood so of course, I'd automatically say that she's the best baby in existence, but Sophia really is the best baby in existence. Honestly, she's just proof that my family makes gorgeous children and if it weren't for the fact that I'm pretty sure she could kill me with a bobby pin if she wanted to, I'd say that I can't wait until Ya Ya gives me another niece or a nephew."
"She's not there all of the time obviously, but mommy lives with us. Work just takes her to the Detroit office a lot."
Pet(s)
"Again, I'm not counting those demons. I love my Jinxy poo and Chase though."
Secret(s)
Editing...
Summer Spent?
Editing...
Home
594 S Mapleton Drive, Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California
Gigi's Bedroom
[X][X][X]
Transportation
"Well, obviously I'm not driving yet. Nine times out of ten, Damien is driving me because Sophie wakes up like she's got a real live nine to five job and the drive usually knocks her out. If he can't, a driver will. Sometimes, though, Ya Ya drives me, mainly when she doesn't have to deal with her floozies. That's usually the best. I mean, how much cooler can you get than having the queen of the entire school drive you to said school? Plus, we get food."
Family
Suzanne Shank || Mother || 41 || Living || President and CEO of Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co., LLC & Acting Chief Executive Officer of Muriel Siebert & Co.
"My relationship with mom is much different than what she has with Ya Ya. I'm not the one mommy says is the one she's looking to have take over when she wants to retire. Which is great for me because even if she did expect me to do anything in finance, I couldn't. I hate math. Leah loves it. At the same time, and I haven't told Leah this, it just feels like mommy doesn't expect much out of me. I know for a fact that she's proud that I'm putting my energy into something good and I'm not just sitting around and letting everyone take care of me. But I feel like I'm not doing enough, somehow. Daddy says I'm crazy and that it's honestly the fact that mommy isn't the most affectionate or emotional person. Ya Ya is like that too. But I know she loves me and she might not like much affection with other people, but she definitely loves it when I love on her."
Henry Walton || Father || 45 || Living || Estranged
"It does suck that my Dad walked out of my life like that. I think Nana, Ya Ya and Damien's grandma, said that he and mommy just didn't work out. I just don't see what that has to do with me. Even if you tell yourself that I'm good on finances because my mom is super rich, it doesn't mean that I wouldn't like my dad in my life. Aaliyah is such a killjoy cuz she's said something like, our house is the home of fatherless children, but at least she has memories with her dad. How am I supposed to remember things that happened when I was two or three?"
Aaliyah Shank || Sister || 17 || Living || High School Senior
"There's honestly no words to describe how...amazing I think Leah is. She's my big sister and with eleven years in between us, you wouldn't think we would be that close. A lot of my friends say that their big brother or sister treats them like they're a pest but that's not us. I can talk to Leah about any and everything. I know there are a lot of people intimidated and even afraid of her, and I get it because she's intense and obviously her greatness is too much to handle, but no one will know how loving she can be behind closed doors. I don't even think she knows. She's the smartest person I know and even I forget that she's my sister and definitely has flaws because sometimes, I look at her and see this person who has it all together. And even if she doesn't see it, even mommy admires her. She's so proud of her. Leah doesn't know it, but they had a big argument and mommy called the house. Leah didn't answer because it was her, but I did and we talked. At some point, mommy got real quiet and then asked how Leah was. I told her what she was doing and stuff but she told me that that wasn't what she asked. She wanted to know how Leah really was and that was when I knew that mommy does love her. More than she'll ever know. They're just both so silly about it and honestly they should just get locked in a closet and made to work their mess out."
Damien Bishaw-Shanks || Older Brother || 25 || Living || Second Lieutenant in the United States Army
"I know Leah would say otherwise, but I actually look at Damien like the cool older brother. Obviously, he still can't trump Ya Ya, but how many people can say that their big brother actually tries to do their hair? Again, it's obvious he sucks and Ya Ya would crucify him before she'd let him send me out of the house with lopsided pigtails, but the point is that he kinda keeps things light around the house. He's legit like the best buffer when mommy and Leah are about to start WWIII. It probably helps our relationship that he literally gets me a lot of candy, even though my coach and agent both say I don't need it."
Sophia Bishaw-Shanks || Niece || 2 || Living || Currently running the Shank Household
"In mommy's stead, Leah may have the final say in the house, but it's Sophia who runs everything and everyone. If Soph says it's time to watch Team Umi Zoomi, it's time to watch Umi Zoomi and you better sing along to shimmer and shine making it divine, darn it! Obviously I'm biased because she's my blood so of course, I'd automatically say that she's the best baby in existence, but Sophia really is the best baby in existence. Honestly, she's just proof that my family makes gorgeous children and if it weren't for the fact that I'm pretty sure she could kill me with a bobby pin if she wanted to, I'd say that I can't wait until Ya Ya gives me another niece or a nephew."
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Grade
"For all the crap I talk to Ya Ya about lower school, it's kinda scary that this is my last year in it. After this, if I stay here, I'm gonna have to deal with the big dogs and let me tell you, I am NOT looking forward to that. Especially without my sissy being here."
8th
Lifer? Newcomer?
"Definitely a lifer. Can't say I've been anywhere else."
Lifer
Clique?
The Cool Kids
Are you happy?
"I'd be lying if I said I was, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. It's honestly a win-win, lose-lose situation for me. On one hand, I don't know what it's like to be unpopular so I'm genuinely comfortable where I am and uncomfortable with the idea of being elsewhere. At the same time, it's so exhausting. No, Krystal, I don't wanna hear about how you think that music kid is a dork and how much you just wanna push him down the stairs. I hate the people that I have to deal with sometimes. But I'm also pretty sure that life would be far from perfect if I was anywhere else."
Would you change? To what?
"Not that I'm saying I want to because god forbid that the wrong person hears this...but I'd kinda like to be with the performers, maybe? I forget what they're called. They're...kinda my people...when I'm not at school. So, it's not really a surprise that I would want to be with them."
Clubs? Sports teams?
Musical Theater and PAWS
What are you looking forward to the most?
"Honestly, it's the parties. I know the upper school does their thing and that's cool, I guess. They have alcohol and I don't like alcohol, so there's the reason why I'm not exactly pressed to be involved with that any time soon. But we have parties too. Yeah, those parties might be at amusement parks and break way less rules than the upper school kids, but at least I'm not out here trying to be a heathen on my mommy's dime. But back to what I was saying, I like the parties. It's always an excuse to bug Leah to help me with getting an outfit together or all of my friends and I getting our nails done. And honestly, what kid doesn't want to have fun at an amusement park or skating rink?"
"For all the crap I talk to Ya Ya about lower school, it's kinda scary that this is my last year in it. After this, if I stay here, I'm gonna have to deal with the big dogs and let me tell you, I am NOT looking forward to that. Especially without my sissy being here."
8th
Lifer? Newcomer?
"Definitely a lifer. Can't say I've been anywhere else."
Lifer
Clique?
The Cool Kids
Are you happy?
"I'd be lying if I said I was, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. It's honestly a win-win, lose-lose situation for me. On one hand, I don't know what it's like to be unpopular so I'm genuinely comfortable where I am and uncomfortable with the idea of being elsewhere. At the same time, it's so exhausting. No, Krystal, I don't wanna hear about how you think that music kid is a dork and how much you just wanna push him down the stairs. I hate the people that I have to deal with sometimes. But I'm also pretty sure that life would be far from perfect if I was anywhere else."
Would you change? To what?
"Not that I'm saying I want to because god forbid that the wrong person hears this...but I'd kinda like to be with the performers, maybe? I forget what they're called. They're...kinda my people...when I'm not at school. So, it's not really a surprise that I would want to be with them."
Clubs? Sports teams?
Musical Theater and PAWS
What are you looking forward to the most?
"Honestly, it's the parties. I know the upper school does their thing and that's cool, I guess. They have alcohol and I don't like alcohol, so there's the reason why I'm not exactly pressed to be involved with that any time soon. But we have parties too. Yeah, those parties might be at amusement parks and break way less rules than the upper school kids, but at least I'm not out here trying to be a heathen on my mommy's dime. But back to what I was saying, I like the parties. It's always an excuse to bug Leah to help me with getting an outfit together or all of my friends and I getting our nails done. And honestly, what kid doesn't want to have fun at an amusement park or skating rink?"
