KJ Smith is 39 years old as of October 2026, based on a birth date of January 13, 1987 that appears across entertainment databases and fan sites. She will turn 40 in January 2027. The actress, born Khaneshia Smith, has not put her birthday in an official biography, so the date is best described as widely reported rather than confirmed.
Smith is best known for playing attorney Andrea “Andi” Barnes in Tyler Perry’s BET series Sistas, and she is married to actor Skyh Alvester Black. Below is a clear summary of what is known about her age, career, marriage and height, along with the popular claims about her that do not hold up.
KJ Smith Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Khaneshia Smith |
| Known as | KJ Smith |
| Reported birth date | January 13, 1987 |
| Age | 39 (as of October 2026, based on the reported birth date) |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn (based on the reported birth date) |
| Profession | Actress |
| Best-known role | Andrea “Andi” Barnes in Sistas (BET) |
| Spouse | Skyh Alvester Black, actor |
| Height | Often listed around 5 feet 10 to 5 feet 11 inches (not officially confirmed) |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed |
How Old Is KJ Smith?
Using the January 13, 1987 birth date repeated across most profiles, KJ Smith turned 39 in January 2026 and turns 40 on January 13, 2027. The quick way to work out her age in any year is to subtract 1987 from the current year, then subtract one more if her January birthday has not yet passed.
Why other sites list a different age
You may see her listed as 36, 37 or 38 elsewhere. There are two usual reasons:
- Stale pages: many profiles were written years ago, when Sistas first made her famous, and the age was never updated.
- Copied numbers: some sites copy figures from each other without checking a primary source, so one mistake spreads quickly.
Actors often keep personal details such as exact birth dates private, and casting profiles are not always public. When a birth date comes only from secondary sources, the honest label is “reported”, which is the approach used throughout this article.
KJ Smith’s age at key career moments
The table below uses her reported birth date to show how old she was at major points in her career. It is a handy check when an older article quotes an age that no longer matches today.
| Year | Milestone | Age that year (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Cast as Andi Barnes; Sistas premieres on BET in October | 32 |
| 2022 | The Sistas spinoff Zatima premieres | 35 |
| 2026 | Current year | 39 (after her January birthday) |
| 2027 | Turns 40 on January 13 | 40 |
KJ Smith’s Career: From Early Roles to Sistas
Before her breakout, Smith built her résumé with guest and supporting parts in television and independent projects, the usual route for working actors. Her career changed in 2019 when she was cast as one of the four leads in Sistas, a scripted drama created, written and directed by Tyler Perry for BET.
About Sistas
Sistas premiered on BET in October 2019. It follows four single Black women in Atlanta as they handle careers, friendships and relationships, and it quickly became one of the network’s most-watched scripted shows, earning renewal after renewal. Like other Perry productions, it is filmed at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta and releases long seasons split into parts, which keeps its main cast in front of viewers for much of the year.
Playing Andi Barnes
Smith plays Andrea “Andi” Barnes, a sharp, successful attorney who is often the most driven member of the friend group. Andi’s storylines deal with ambition, complicated romance and the pressure of being a high-achieving woman in a demanding profession. The role is the one most viewers associate with her, and it is the main reason searches for her name, age and personal life have grown.
The show centers on four friends, Andi, Sabrina, Danni and Karen. Each has her own career and romantic storylines, and much of the drama comes from how their individual choices affect the friendship.
| Character | Role in the group |
|---|---|
| Andi Barnes | Ambitious attorney, played by KJ Smith |
| Sabrina | One of the four lead friends |
| Danni | One of the four lead friends |
| Karen | One of the four lead friends |
Working in a Tyler Perry production
Perry writes and directs his BET dramas himself and is known for fast production schedules at Tyler Perry Studios, the large campus he built on the former Fort McPherson Army base in Atlanta. For actors, that model means long seasons, a heavy workload and steady screen time.
Sistas has also grown into a wider franchise. The spinoff Zatima, which premiered in 2022, follows two supporting characters from the original series. A franchise like this keeps its cast visible to a loyal audience, which is one reason interest in the lead actresses, including questions about KJ Smith’s age and personal life, has stayed high.
Ensemble dramas also let actors develop a character over many seasons. Andi has been through career highs, heartbreak and difficult personal decisions, which gives Smith a much wider range of material than a single film role would.
Marriage to Skyh Alvester Black
KJ Smith is married to Skyh Alvester Black, an actor who is also part of the Sistas world. Their relationship grew out of working on the same Perry production, and their wedding was covered by entertainment outlets and shared with fans on social media, making them one of the better-known real-life couples connected to the show. Beyond what they choose to share publicly, the couple keeps most of their home life private.
Real-life relationships between co-stars tend to draw a lot of attention. For a very different example of a long public life in entertainment, see our profile of Jerry Hall, whose relationships have been covered for decades.
KJ Smith’s Height and Appearance
Smith is tall, and fan sites usually list her at about 5 feet 10 or 5 feet 11 inches, roughly 178 to 180 cm. As with her birth date, she has not confirmed an exact figure in an official biography. Claims about precise weight or body measurements that circulate online are unsourced and are best ignored.
What About KJ Smith’s Net Worth?
Her net worth is not public. Some sites print figures such as $1 million or $2 million, but none explain how they reached them. Series regulars on cable dramas are paid per episode under union (SAG-AFTRA) contracts, and pay varies widely with the network, the actor’s experience and the number of episodes they appear in. A long-running show like Sistas can provide steady income over many seasons, but without knowing her contract, spending or taxes, any figure is guesswork.
We apply the same caution across our entertainment coverage. Our breakdown of Jelly Roll’s net worth shows how income sources can be explained clearly even when the final figure has not been disclosed.
Claims About KJ Smith You Should Not Trust
Because she is popular but fairly private, a lot of low-quality content has been written about her. Several claims that appear on other pages do not hold up:
- Emmy nominations or major critics’ awards: there is no record of KJ Smith receiving a Primetime Emmy nomination or a Critics’ Choice award.
- Roles in unrelated shows: some sites credit her with parts in series she has no documented connection to. Check a reliable credits database before trusting a list of roles.
- Business certifications and corporate awards: these belong to unrelated companies with a similar name.
- Exact net worth, weight and measurements: none of these have been confirmed by her.
How to Check Facts About Actors Yourself
- Start with the network’s official cast page and press releases, which confirm roles and character names.
- Look at the actor’s verified social media accounts for milestones they choose to share, such as weddings or birthdays.
- Use established entertainment news outlets that name their sources.
- Compare the date a page was published or updated with the age it states; an old page will show an old age.
- Be skeptical of any page that lists height, weight, net worth and family names with no citations at all.
What Is Next for KJ Smith
As long as Sistas continues, Andi Barnes remains her signature role, and the show’s reach gives her a platform for future film and television work. Many actors from Perry’s ensemble casts have used their shows as a springboard to other projects, so fans following her career should watch BET announcements and her official social channels for new roles.
Where to start watching
If you are new to her work, begin with the first season of Sistas, which introduces Andi and the friendship at the heart of the series. Episodes air on BET and are usually available afterward on BET+ and other on-demand services, though availability changes by region and over time. Watching from the start makes the long-running storylines easier to follow and shows how much the character, and Smith’s performance, has developed since 2019.
Bottom Line on KJ Smith’s Age
KJ Smith is 39 as of October 2026 and turns 40 in January 2027, based on her widely reported January 13, 1987 birth date. She is best known as Andi Barnes on BET’s Sistas and is married to actor Skyh Alvester Black. Her height is only estimated and her net worth is not public, so treat any precise figures on those as unverified.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is KJ Smith?
Based on her widely reported birth date of January 13, 1987, KJ Smith is 39 as of October 2026. She turns 40 in January 2027.
When is KJ Smith’s birthday?
Her birthday is reported as January 13. She has not confirmed the date in an official biography, so it is best treated as widely reported rather than verified.
Who does KJ Smith play in Sistas?
She plays Andrea “Andi” Barnes, a successful attorney and one of the four main friends in Tyler Perry’s BET series Sistas. The show premiered in October 2019.
Who is KJ Smith married to?
She is married to actor Skyh Alvester Black, who is also connected to the Sistas cast. Their wedding was shared with fans on social media and covered by entertainment outlets.
How tall is KJ Smith?
She is usually listed at about 5 feet 10 to 5 feet 11 inches, roughly 178 to 180 cm. She has not confirmed an exact height.
What is KJ Smith’s real name?
Her birth name is Khaneshia Smith. She works professionally as KJ Smith.
