In Her Campus’ series Next Question, we rapid-fire interview emerging Gen Z talent about what it’s like to rule over the internet. This month, actress Dara Reneé is in the hot seat to answer our burning questions.
For Disney star Dara Reneé, her hair is much more than just hair. “I feel like your hair is your antennae. You should be able to do different styles, different colors — anything that you feel is a way to express your identity and to express yourself,” Reneé says in an exclusive interview with Her Campus.
Reneé first graced television screens in 2018 when she landed the role of Savannah in the Disney Channel reboot of Freaky Friday. The role was one of the first where she was able to fully embrace her natural hair, which is something that proved tough for Reneé at first. “I had a lot of people tell me, ‘Oh, you’re not going to book jobs with your natural hair. You need to straighten it. You need to get a weave,’” she says. “Although those styles are great, I don’t want to have to do anything. I want to wear my curls, and I want to be proud of them.”
Since Reneé was “so adamant” about wearing her natural hair, it took her a while to book acting gigs. “Finally, I got Freaky Friday, and I got to wear my natural hair,” she says. “It still was rough because I got bullied online for it and it wasn’t fully accepted. Just like now, it still isn’t. We’re still fighting for it — but it was rough.”
After she started landing acting jobs, Reneé was inspired to show young girls — particularly Black girls — that they are beautiful in whatever hairstyle they choose to wear. She offers advice for those who are hesitant: “Know that you can be yourself whichever way you decide to wear [your hair]. Don’t have fear of people talking about you, because people are always going to talk,” she says “Embrace your natural curls, your locs, whatever you decide to wear because life is too short to be something that somebody else wants.”
In October 2023, Reneé was appointed as Pantene’s newest Next Healthy Hair Ambassador. The partnership promotes healthy, strong hair for all hair types. Products in this line include Pantene’s New Pro-V Miracles series, which is available in three formulas with the sole aim of recovering damaged hair.
Reneé’s signature fro, hairstyles, and authenticity are on full display in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Reneé plays Kourtney on the she and while in this role, she’s ventured outside of her comfort zone, sharing her personal experiences and utilizing them to convey her character’s emotional depth.
During the third season of the show, Kourtney sang a ballad called “Here I Come,” which Reneé helped write. The song highlights her own challenges with anxiety — a subject many Gen Zers can relate to.
Just like Kourtney’s love of performance, Reneé adores musical theater and holds it close to her heart — her mother owns a performing arts studio for children in the Baltimore area. “I’m grateful that I had musical theater as an outlet to learn different genres and different ways to use my voice,” Reneé says.
So, what’s next for Reneé? The multihyphenate will play Ulyana, the baby sister of Ursula, in the upcoming Descendants: The Rise of Red, which hits Disney+ in July 2024. Among the cast are legendary performers Rita Ora and Brandy. When asked what it was like working alongside these two icons, Reneé couldn’t help but fangirl. “There’s just so much talent in this movie. We couldn’t have asked for two more powerful women to be starring in it.” Make that three.
These responses have been edited for length and clarity.
What are some hair care products you can’t live without?
One of my favorite hair products of all time is [Pantene’s] Miracle Rescue Deep Repair Conditioner. Also, the Infinite Lengths Pro-V Miracles Shampoo.
What’s your favorite song to listen to at the moment?
I’ve been on The Color Purple because I absolutely adore Fantasia. Both her and Cynthia Erivo’s versions of “I’m Here” have been on repeat. For pop, Beyoncé’s Renaissance has always been on repeat. And, weirdly enough, “It’s Raining Men” from The Weather Girls.
TikTok or Instagram?
TikTok. I mean, no shade to Instagram at all.
If you could perform in a musical with anyone famous, who would it be?
I would have loved to be in Wicked with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. They have impeccable voices, and it’s absolutely fantastic.
What are you manifesting for 2024?
Positive energy, love, and happiness. I’m manifesting laughter among my community and so many others.
What is your favorite self-care practice?
My favorite self-care practice would have to be my hair. I have so many hair routines that take the whole day. Shout out to Pantene — they’ve cut down my wash day from five hours to two.
If you could take a dream vacation right now, where would you go?
I’ve always wanted to visit Ghana. I feel like it’s absolutely beautiful there. With the people and learning so much more about the culture and the many different festivals, I just feel like I would have so much fun.