Beyond Black Beauty is a Canadian-Belgian youth drama series, which premiered in 2024.Ronda Racha Penrice, "‘Beyond Black Beauty’ brings together an 1877 classic novel and a Black family in Baltimore". NBC News, October 16, 2024. Inspired by the influential novel Black Beauty, the series stars Kaya Coleman as Jolie Dumont, a young woman with a passion for horses and a dream of competing in equestrian events at the Olympic Games.
Premise After growing up in Liège as the daughter of wealthy Belgian industrialist Cédric (Gilles Marini) and his American wife Janelle (Sagine Sémajuste), who trained her in the English riding style, her life is upended when her parents split up and her mother takes her back to her own more modest family roots in Baltimore.
Initially unhappy, she finds new meaning and opportunity in the situation when she connects with Beauty, the seemingly untrainable wild horse at the family ranch run by Janelle's sister Yvonne (Lisa Berry), and begins to learn more about rodeo culture and Western riding.Joel Keller, "Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Beyond Black Beauty’ On Prime Video, Where A Teen Riding Champion Moves To Baltimore And Finds A Connection With An Unruly Horse". Decider, October 15, 2024.
Production The series was produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment, Leif Films and Saga Film,Kelly Townsend, "Family Channel acquires Beyond Black Beauty". Playback, February 22, 2024. and was filmed principally in and around North Bay, Ontario.Chris Dawson, "New series filming in North Bay and they need your help". Bay Today, July 11, 2022.
The series has been noted for highlighting the Black cowboy culture that has gained prominence in the 2020s.
Distribution It premiered March 15, 2024, on Family Channel,Joelle Tomlinson, "Calgary actor reins in lead role in ‘Beyond Black Beauty’". Global News, March 5, 2024. and launched in October 2024 on Amazon Prime Video in the United States.Kathia Woods, "'Beyond Black Beauty' deviates from typical Black girl portrayals — in a good way". The Philadelphia Tribune, October 17, 2024.
Cast Kaya Coleman as Jolie Dumont Gilles Marini as Cédric Dumont, Jolie's father Sagine Sémajuste as Janelle Dumont, Jolie's mother Lisa Berry as Yvonne Parrish, Jolie's aunt Ashton James as Lemond Parrish, Jolie's cousin Gina James as Ronnie Parrish, Jolie's cousin Akiel Julien as Alvin Shipp Yanna McIntosh as Doris, Jolie's grandmother Justice James as Lil Man Mark Taylor as Rashaad, Yvonne's former boyfriend with whom she tries to rekindle a relationship Serge Dupire as Eckert Dumont, Jolie's paternal grandfather
Episodes
Awards Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result Canadian Screen Awards 2025 Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series Matthew J.R. Bishop, Leif Bristow, Agnes Bristow, Carla de Jong, Borga Dorter, Amanda Fahey, J.J. Johnson, Alicia K. Harris, Blair Powers, Christin Simms, Jay Vaidya, Carmen Pilar Golden, Patrice Theroux, Hubert Toint, Alexis Grieve Alex Nino Gheciu, "‘Universal Language,’ ‘Wynonna Earp: Vengeance’ top night 2 of Canadian Screen Awards". CityNews, May 31, 2025. Best Supporting Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Lisa Berry "Canadian Screen Awards: Television Program Categories". Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, March 26, 2025. Akiel Julien Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Alicia K. Harris"The Promise of a New Day" Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Kara Harun, Cheryl Meyer"Everybody Hurts" Best Photography in a Drama Program or Series Amy Belling"If You Love Me" Best Makeup Roxanne DeNobrega"This Used to Be My Playground" GLAAD Media Awards 2025 Outstanding Kids and Family Programming "If You Love Me" Nicholas Sokic, "Canadian series, films earn GLAAD Award nominations". Playback, January 22, 2025.
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