IN CONVERSATION WITH REGAN ALIYAH
interview by JANA LETONJA
Regan Aliyah is best known for her portrayal of Juliana, a fan-favorite in Netflix's ‘XO, Kitty’, the hit sequel series to ‘To All the Boys’ franchise. Next up, she will star in the eagerly anticipated Marvel Television/Disney+ original, live action series ‘Ironheart’, premiering on 24th June. Beyond acting, Regan is a true multi-hyphenate talent. She writes, raps, dances, sings, choreographs, and produces, having graced stages and screens alongside artists like Childish Gambino and brands such as Nike, Reebok, Google, and more.
jacket and pants UNBORN SOCIETY
‘XO, Kitty’ was a huge hit, and your character Juliana quickly became a fan favorite. How did you first connect with her, and what can we expect from her in Season 3?
I don’t know if I’d say she was a fan favorite across the board, but she definitely left a mark. She was in a tough spot, and I think as the show went on, or even on rewatch, people started to really get her. I’ve always understood her, but that might just be because I’m literally thinking her thoughts. I think she’s one of the most self-aware characters in the show. Yes, she had those moments of insecurity where it felt like the person she cared about most was slipping away, but she fully owned it, her feelings, her projections, her mistakes. She always apologized and tried to make things right. For Season 3, I really hope we get to see more of her fun side, like who she is when she’s not stuck in fight-or-flight mode, because I genuinely think she’s such a cool girl. Like have you seen her art? Give that girl a crayon and she will go crazy.
With over 72 million hours viewed in the show’s first week, how does it feel to be part of such a phenomenon?
I think about how lucky we are all the time. I feel so blessed to be part of a show that’s been received this well, something that’s become a comfort watch for so many people. Beyond that, I’m lucky to work with people who genuinely feel like family. I love these humans so much, and honestly, I’m kind of scared I’ll never find this kind of bond again once the show eventually wraps. I also want to highlight how powerful I believe the core of the show is, especially in the context of the world right now. The fact that most of the characters are openly queer is unreal. Like, no one’s hiding it, there’s no guessing game based on a character wearing flannel or whatever. We’re just out here, existing, and that visibility matters so much. I’ll never take that for granted.
You’re entering the Marvel Universe with ‘Ironheart’. What was it like stepping into such an iconic franchise, and how did you prepare for your role?
I can barely talk about it without crying, even now. This has been my dream since I was a kid. I’ve done 32-hour movie marathons in theaters, no sleep, just all the superhero vibes. I’ve been at every opening night since I was eight. I grew up with my mom collecting comics, so this world has always felt like home to me. There honestly aren’t words big enough to describe what it means to have this dream come true. I’ll be forever grateful. And I carried that gratitude with me every single day on set, during prep, in every scene. I never took a second of it for granted.
full look MEANTIME
What can you tell us about the story of the series and your character in it?
I read so many comics with her just to make sure I really understood her vibe and overall essence. To me, she’s this funny, slightly off beat girl who doesn’t always say or do the ‘right’ thing, but she definitely does things her way. And I love that about her. I love how oddly honest she is, in the comics and in the show. There’s something really refreshing about that. I hope people are as excited as I am when she finally gets introduced, because it opens up so many doors. There are some really fun, wild storylines that could unfold for her and the people she is intertwined with, and honestly, I’d be thrilled to watch them happen or be a part of them.
Besides acting, you write, rap, sing, dance, choreograph, and produce. How do all these creative outlets feed into each other?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. It’s all delusion and passion. I genuinely have no time for half the things I’m doing, and yet somehow I’m doing them. I guess the cost is me accidentally ghosting everyone, like all my texts and emails for weeks if it’s not urgent. But honestly, I just really love to entertain. I love everything about art. I think it’s one of the most powerful ways we can connect with people, across experiences, across the world, and I try to tap into that in every way I can.
You’ve performed with icons like Childish Gambino and worked with major brands. What do you look for in a collaboration, whether on stage or on screen?
I just want to work with people who love this as much as I do. People who see it as something greater than themselves. If you’re chasing greatness, not just wanting to be good, but truly great, then I want to be in the room with you. There are so many creatives out there who inspire me just by being real about their journey. Watching them dig deep and unearth the greatness within themselves? That’s the kind of energy I want to be around, keep that around me.
As a fourth-generation entertainer and openly gay artist, how do your identity and background influence the roles you choose or the stories you want to tell?
I’ve seen the struggling artist trope up close because that was my life. My family has the wildest stories from their youth, touring, making music, singing backup, dancing for big artists. But just as quickly, the stories shift to how the industry promised them a life it never delivered. They’ve all worked multiple 9-to-5s just to stay afloat. Eventually, something had to give, and that “something" was their dreams, so they could provide for their families. So by the time I was alive, I was watching my mom juggle front desk jobs, teaching dance, working at gyms. My grandma was a librarian. My aunt was the lunch lady at my middle school. It’s a weirdly nuanced situation a lot of people don’t talk about or understand. These days, it's like you’re either a “no-connections, small-town” story or a nepo baby. But what about the families like mine, nine people in one small apartment, just trying to make rent, while kids at school ask why we’re broke if my family once got the chance to sing in Japan. I can tell you it wasn’t bad money management, this industry can be brutal to people who don’t fit a certain mold if you know what I mean.
All of that gave me such a deep appreciation for where I am now. I’m doing this partly to honor them, to avenge the dream they had to put down. The success that the younger generation in my family is starting to find or that I’m just now finding, was always deserved by them. They are the most talented people I’ve ever seen. That lived experience pulls me toward stories with layers, stories with nuance, contradiction, soul. But weirdly, it also drew me to genres like sci-fi or superhero stuff. Those were my coping tools as a kid. I used to think “If Iron Man can save the world, maybe I can just save my family.” That felt like a smaller ask.
shirt and jacket SAN 263-1
skirt SAENGIN STUDIO
shoes MARTINE ROSE x NIKE SHOX MR4
You’ve been vocal about amplifying social issues. What causes are you currently most passionate about, and how do you use your platform to advocate for change?
I’m passionate about people. About the wellbeing and dignity of people everywhere. I think it’s usually pretty easy to tell where I stand on any issue, because it always comes down to this: everyone deserves the right to live a life free from fear. Free from the fear of state-sanctioned violence. Free from the fear of not knowing where their next meal will come from. Free from the fear that their wages won’t be enough to house their family. Free from the fear that the color or tone of their skin will determine how they’re treated, or whether they’re safe at all. Free from the fear that their home could be reduced to rubble if another nation decides their land is up for grabs. Free from the fear that a border could mean never seeing their family again. Free from the fear of genocide. Free from the fear of being trapped in cycles of forced or enslaved labor for the rest of their lives.
I care deeply about the just wellbeing of all people, and I always will until a world without these fears becomes our reality.
shirt and jacket SAN 263-1
skirt SAENGIN STUDIO
shoes MARTINE ROSE x NIKE SHOX MR4
With so many upcoming projects, how are you staying grounded and creatively energized?
My mom’s crazy, in the best way. A little craziness will keep you humble, but also hustling.
When you are not on set, how do you recharge and unwind?
I say this all the time, I love to lay down. It’s a passion, a hobby, honestly one of my greatest joys. It’s not even about sleeping, because I’m actually not that great at that either. It’s the act of horizontal existence that I live for. No schedule, no plans, no pressure, just laying. That’s how I want to be.
TEAM CREDITS:
talent REGAN ALIYAH
photography and creative direction ZOE ESCOFFIER
styling ARNOLD BLESSY
makeup KIM JI HYUN
hair HAKUA BEAUTY
hmua director CAMEO ADELE
photography assistants CLARA CHOI & FERIEL MSALLEM
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA
