Carlacia Grant Wiki/Bio: From Childhood Dreams to Outer Banks Star – Her Inspiring Journey
Long before Carlacia Grant became a breakout star in Netflix’s Outer Banks, she was a young girl with relentless ambition, navigating a world of shifting homes, cultural expectations, and big dreams. Known for her powerful portrayal of Cleo in the hit series, Carlacia has captivated audiences with her fierce yet vulnerable screen presence.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, and raised primarily in South Florida, Carlacia’s upbringing was deeply influenced by her Caribbean roots. Despite growing up in a household where creative careers weren’t initially encouraged, she nurtured a passion for performance from an early age. From childhood performances in her mother’s clothes to a pivotal summer theatre camp experience that solidified her love for acting, Carlacia’s path was shaped by determination and bold choices.
While Carlacia keeps her personal life largely private, there have been no confirmed reports of a romantic relationship. Fans have speculated about a possible connection with her Outer Banks co-star Jonathan Daviss, but both actors have remained quiet on the topic.
Her journey wasn’t smooth — from leaving Florida Atlantic University (FAU) to pursue acting full-time to facing doubts about her path — Carlacia’s resilience has been a defining force. A life-changing Uber encounter with actress Kylie Bunbury reignited her passion for acting at a moment when she considered quitting. Today, Carlacia’s success stands as a testament to her dedication and unwavering belief in her craft.
Table of Contents
This is the story of how Carlacia Grant turned obstacles into stepping stones on her path to Hollywood.
Early Life and Family Background
Carlacia Grant was born on January 18, 1991, in New Haven, Connecticut to Carline Grant, her Haitian mother, and Karl Sr., her Jamaican father. Her parents moved to the United States seeking better opportunities, instilling in Carlacia from a young age the values of hard work and resilience. Her grandmother, whose dedication included working over 40 years without a single day off, significantly influenced her upbringing. Carlacia vividly remembers her grandmother’s words, “I’ve worked so hard to give you guys this opportunity,” motivating her throughout her childhood (The Untitled Magazine, 2021).
Growing up in a traditional Caribbean household in South Florida, pursuing a career in the arts was not initially encouraged. Her family favored stable professions like medicine or law. Despite this, Carlacia’s passion for performance was evident early on, as she often dressed up in her mother’s clothes and shoes, performing monologues and imitating TV broadcasters. Her grandmother recorded several tapes of these performances, including Carlacia pretending to announce herself as a news anchor, enthusiastically declaring, “Hi, I’m Carlacia, and you’re watching…”
Frequent Relocations and Cultural Exposure
Carlacia Grant spent much of her childhood moving along the East Coast. Though she lived in several states, including Georgia and Maryland, she considers Fort Lauderdale, Florida, her primary home. This exposure to diverse environments played a key role in shaping her adaptability and resilience.
During summers, Carlacia returned to Connecticut to stay with her grandparents, who encouraged her to stay active and engaged. It was during one of these summers, at the age of 13, that she attended a theater camp where she discovered her passion for acting. While initially auditioning for a minor role as “Drunk Guy #2” in the play Treasure Island, she was unexpectedly cast as the lead. Embracing this challenge, Carlacia excelled in the demanding role, which required her to narrate much of the play. The experience ignited her love for performing and sparked her desire to pursue acting professionally.
Determined to prove her dedication to acting, Carlacia entered a beauty pageant later that same year. Her mother, initially skeptical of her acting ambitions, agreed to take her more seriously if she performed well in the competition. Winning the pageant not only earned her her mother’s support but also opened doors to early modeling opportunities.
During her teenage years, Carlacia had a life-changing experience when she spent time in Paris, where she independently learned French to communicate with locals. Immersing herself in a new culture expanded her worldview and fostered her independence.
Education and Early Hustle
For her formal education, Carlacia attended Alcovy High School in Covington, Georgia, where she continued exploring her interest in performing arts. After graduating, she enrolled at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) to study communications. However, she struggled to connect with her studies, feeling disconnected from her true passion. After two years, she decided to drop out, a move that faced significant resistance from her family, particularly her father.
Determined to pursue acting, Carlacia moved to New York City, where she lived in Harlem and New Jersey. To support herself, she worked various jobs, including as a server at The Cheesecake Factory, an Uber driver and bartender. During this time, a turning point came when she coincidentally picked up actress Kylie Bunbury while driving for Uber. Bunbury’s encouraging words renewed Carlacia’s commitment to her craft and strengthened her resolve to succeed in acting.
Despite actively auditioning and taking acting classes, Carlacia struggled to secure roles in New York. Frustrated with her limited progress, she eventually relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, recognizing its growing reputation as a hub for television and film production.
While living in Atlanta and later in New Orleans, Carlacia took on multiple jobs to support herself, including door-to-door merchandising, waitressing, and working for DoorDash. These flexible roles allowed her to attend auditions and sustain her livelihood during her pursuit of acting opportunities.
Determined to balance her education with her acting career, Carlacia later resumed her studies and graduated from Florida State University in May 2023, earning a Bachelor of Science in Media and Communication Studies with a minor in English. Her academic journey was shaped by her love of literature and storytelling, which significantly influenced her artistic development.
Professional Career
Early Career and Breakthrough Roles
Carlacia Grant’s early career saw her navigating various acting markets. After struggling to secure representation in Atlanta, she eventually obtained an agent in New Orleans, which led to her first significant television role in Roots (2016), a historical drama based on Alex Haley’s novel. The series retold the history of African-American struggles and resilience, with Grant portraying Irene, a character whose storyline required her to navigate emotionally intense scenes reflecting historical hardships.
In December 2015, Carlacia expressed her excitement upon discovering she had been featured in Forbes in connection with her role in Roots. Sharing her reaction on Instagram, she wrote:
“Woke up this morning and realized I was in Forbes!! Holy cow!!”.
This milestone was a significant moment in her career, reinforcing her dedication to her craft. Grant has credited her experience in Roots as being particularly inspiring for its powerful depiction of resilience and history. This role solidified her determination to pursue acting despite earlier setbacks.
Following her success in Roots, Grant appeared in several television series, steadily building her resume. In 2016, she played Danielle Turner in the drama series Greenleaf on OWN, a character entangled in a family scandal that exposed deeper secrets. That same year, Grant played a recurring role in Game of Silence, a drama series on NBC, where she portrayed the daughter of Demetrius Grosse’s character.
In addition to her acting work, Carlacia Grant also gained recognition as a model. In August 2017, she was featured on the cover of Creative magazine.
She continued her career growth by portraying Trinity Jolson in The Resident (2019), a medical drama series on FOX, where her storyline explored themes of medical ethics and social injustice.
Outer Banks and Rise to Fame
Carlacia Grant’s career reached new heights when she joined the cast of Netflix’s hit series Outer Banks in its second season (2021). She portrayed Cleo, a bold and resourceful survivor from the Bahamas who quickly became a fan favorite. Initially cast in a recurring role, her charismatic performance and chemistry with the main cast earned her a promotion to series regular in Outer Banks Season 3 (2023).
Interestingly, Grant almost missed out on her iconic role in Outer Banks. After initially taping her audition, she went weeks without hearing back. Encouraged by her manager, she took the bold step of re-sending her audition tape, which ultimately secured her a callback. For her chemistry read, Grant added a Caribbean accent, which became a defining trait for her character Cleo. This creative decision played a crucial role in her selection, especially since the casting team later specified they were seeking someone who could portray a Caribbean background.
Grant’s portrayal of Cleo in Outer Banks received positive reception, with critics and viewers noting her strong on-screen presence, street-smart personality, and emotional depth. During her chemistry read, Grant demonstrated versatility by successfully improvising and adjusting to shifting direction on the spot, which contributed to her securing the role.
In addition to her acting performance, Grant undertook extensive preparation for her role as Cleo. To meet the physical demands of the character, Grant underwent combat training, learned to drive a stick shift, and practiced knife-twirling skills. While quarantining in Barbados before filming, she learned knife skills by watching YouTube tutorials and receiving guidance via FaceTime from a stunt trainer. Despite initial struggles, Grant successfully mastered the techniques, which became a memorable aspect of her character.
Grant has also expressed admiration for Cleo’s confidence and determination. While Grant identifies with Cleo’s self-assured nature, she acknowledged moments of self-doubt, particularly during the demanding combat training process. Reflecting on her preparation, Grant emphasized her commitment to persistence, stating that each rehearsal improved her skills until she fully embodied Cleo’s physicality on screen.
Her role in Outer Banks Season 3 demanded even greater physicality. Grant had to participate in several demanding stunt sequences, including a memorable elevator stunt where she had to jump four stories — a particular challenge for Grant, who is afraid of heights. Despite her fear, Grant successfully performed the stunt, relying on her ability to channel Cleo’s bravery.
Throughout the series, Cleo’s character underwent significant growth. While she was initially portrayed as a tough and independent survivor, Season 3 explored her vulnerable side and her integration into the Pogues friend group.
In November 2024, Grant participated in Poguelandia 2024, an Outer Banks-themed event, where she expressed gratitude to fans for their support. She also shared her passion for cooking during the event, describing the experience as a “dream come true.”
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Beyond her acting career, Grant has demonstrated her commitment to social causes. In 2021, following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, she used her platform to advocate for aid and highlighted her Haitian roots to encourage donations to Project HOPE. Drawing from her background as a Haitian American with extended family in Haiti, Grant spoke about the profound impact of natural disasters on her community and urged her followers to contribute to relief efforts.
In April 2019, Grant paid tribute to late rapper Nipsey Hussle, reflecting on his impact as a community leader and inspiration. She expressed her admiration for Hussle’s entrepreneurial mindset and his Grammy-nominated album, describing it as motivational and deeply meaningful to her. Grant acknowledged Hussle’s influence in teaching perseverance and resilience, emphasizing his belief that success is not a race but a marathon. Her heartfelt post highlighted the importance of self-belief, hard work, and giving back to the community, values she actively embodies in her own life.
Love Life and Relationships
While Carlacia Grant has maintained a relatively private personal life, there have been occasional speculations about her relationships. As of now, there are no confirmed reports of Grant being in a public relationship. However, fans have frequently speculated about her chemistry with some of her Outer Banks co-stars, particularly due to the close bond shared by the cast both on and off screen. Despite social media interactions fueling rumors, Grant has not publicly addressed or confirmed any romantic relationships.
Grant appears to prioritize her career and social activism, often sharing insights into her work, family background, and philanthropic efforts rather than her dating life.
Physical Appearance
Carlacia Grant possesses a distinctive and striking appearance. She has deep brown eyes that add warmth and intensity to her expressions. Her hair is naturally dark, often styled in various forms such as voluminous curls, sleek straight locks, or intricately braided styles adorned with gold embellishments, reflecting her West Indian heritage.
Grant has a radiant medium-brown complexion that glows on-screen and in her public appearances. Her body type is slender yet toned, complementing her bold fashion choices. Whether wearing a sleek black gown at a Vanity Fair event that accentuated her figure, a vibrant yellow beachwear ensemble showcasing her toned midsection, or a sharp green power suit reflecting her confident demeanor, Grant’s style consistently reflects elegance and self-assurance.
Her makeup choices frequently enhance her natural features, ranging from minimal glowing looks to striking bold designs that highlight her expressive eyes and full lips. Combined with her radiant skin and charismatic presence, Grant’s physical appearance contributes to her magnetic screen presence and fashionable public image.
| References: |
| https://www.photobookmagazine.com/features/carlacia-grant https://schonmagazine.com/interview-carlacia-grant/ https://untitled-magazine.com/exclusive-interview-carlacia-grant-on-her-breakout-role-in-netflixs-outer-banks-for-the-innovate-issue/ https://1883magazine.com/carlacia-grant/ https://www.self.com/story/best-thing-i-learned-in-therapy-carlacia-grant https://youtu.be/rCCo_-Q24zk https://youtu.be/XDG6oo2vYac https://youtu.be/sIbbVu06_Xw https://youtu.be/OoASrZHznRk |
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