Shakira Ja’nai Paye on the Revival of “Demascus” and Its Introspective Narrative
In a hazy memory from years ago, actress Shakira Ja’nai Paye recalled the first audition she attended with her late father, which was for a spot in a Spic and Span commercial. She was around one-year old at the time, so the event could have ended up as nothing more than a distant story. Instead, it became the groundwork for not only her future career, but the way she thinks as a whole.
“It’s funny because the seed that [my father] was planting in me, I had already wanted, so by the time I was like six, I was saying to my mom ‘I want to be on television and do television [work],’” Paye told EnVi. Fast forward to 2025, and that same little girl from Baltimore has made a home and name for herself in Los Angeles. She has developed a comprehensive resume filled with screen appearances, voice acting roles, writing credits, and more.
With a coffee in hand and Sahara, one of her two cats, in frame, Paye connected with EnVi over Zoom to tell us all about her latest appearance in the sci-fi comedy series Demascus, the conception of her debut short film 32, and insights into how travel informs her work and worldview.
From Script-to-Shelf
Following her appearance in Netflix’s All Day and a Night (2020) and Calmatic and Lebron James’ House Party (2023) reboot, Paye booked a leading role in the comedy sci-fi series Demascus. AMC Studios announced the six episode series, written by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, in August 2021 as one of two projects underneath their script-to-series model. The model opens up writers’ rooms to develop series and move the concepts straight-to-screen.
Just seven months after the workshop, Demascus received an official series order from AMC in February 2022. At the time, it seemed like smooth sailing from there, but there was a storm brewing on the horizon. Upon the completion of production at the end of the year, AMC announced that they would cut Demascus, along with several other series, from the company’s line-up amid restructuring.
All of the cancelled series were shelved indefinitely, with hopes that a new network would pick them up. For years, it was unclear if the series that garnered so much anticipation would ever see the light of day. But, in July 2025, the OTT service Tubi revealed that they had acquired the series and set its premiere date for August 7th.
While reflecting on the period of uncertainty that came before the deal, Paye said that it was one of the most challenging things she’s had to endure in her creative journey. “[T]o have a project that you’re very proud of and work that you’re very proud of with Janet Hubbert and Martin Lawrence and just a wonderful cast…be sitting on a shelf waiting for another network to potentially purchase it [was tough],” she explained. “Once we found out that Tubi wanted to move forward with us, it was just a celebration. I [was] just excited for the world to see [Demascus].”
Demascus: A Journey of Self-Understanding
The comedy sci-fi mini-series follows a 33-year-old Black man (Okieriete Onaodowan), eponymously named Demascus, who is on a journey of introspection. As the show opens, audiences see Demascus in the middle of a therapy session. “What do you think is making you unhappy?” his therapist, Dr. Bonnetville (Janet Hubert), asks. Aside from the obvious struggles of being a Black man attempting to surmount the hurdles of modern society, Demascus expresses a frustration about how others perceive him. “Look, nobody knows me. My one dominant quality is I’m unknowable…I can be anybody or nobody.”
Upon this troubling revelation from her client, Dr. Bonnetville suggested that Demascus undergo a specialized approach known as DIRT (Digital Immersive Reality Therapy). This personalized experience allows for individuals to visit alternate versions of themselves, as a voyeur. The purpose is for clients to pinpoint subconscious commonalities that show up across each timeline and ultimately return to combat these issues in their home reality.
As Demascus traverses through various realities, one major commonality is the presence of Naomi (Shakira Ja’nai Paye), an alluring woman that does not exist in his primary reality. Despite never meeting before, the pair feels an undeniable connection, which causes additional internal rifts for Demascus, who is in a long-term relationship.
When discussing how her character fits into the narrative, Paye referenced the mythological character Lilith, who Jewish folklore often portrays as the first wife of Adam and the mother to thousands of demonic offspring known as succubus. In contemporary times, however, the once shunned figure has become a feminist symbol that illustrates independence, sexual liberation, empowerment, and resilience. Throughout short appearances in the series, Naomi carries an immense amount of weight in Demascus’ journey: she represents everything he is not.
“I like this idea that [Naomi] is flawed and human. She represents the dark, feminine energy — more so than any other character. She represents the power of having agency and believing in yourself,” Paye explained. “[T]he amount of space that she takes up in Demascus’s mind… shows you just how powerful women are and how strong her energy is.”
A Genre-Bending Life Lesson
Upon the release of the series’ official trailer, many prospective viewers expressed excitement and likened the narrative to that of the popular science fiction series Black Mirror. When discussing her thoughts on these reactions, Paye expressed agreement but clarified that the show is like a crossover between Black Mirror and the comedy drama series Atlanta.
“I feel like Black Mirror is focused [too much] on the screens and the sci-fi portion of [the story]. You don’t get the essence of the people and humanity,” she said. Although Demascus is pegged primarily as a science fiction series, the dramatic and comedic elements shine through, which gives way for audiences to understand all of the characters in a more visceral manner. “We only got six episodes, [but] they did a lot with [that]. As the show goes on, you start to feel these characters in the same way that you would [if you were watching] Atlanta, like the authenticity,” she said. “And we shot it in Atlanta,” she revealed with a laugh.
While further analysing the genre-bending narrative, Paye said the series being Black-led should not deter anyone from watching since the underlying message transcends matters of racial identity. “It is just powerful storytelling,” she explained “I feel very grateful to be a part of something that I personally would watch even if I wasn’t in it.”
She explained how during the audition period, the “dope ass” script made ripples across her social circle. The entertainment industry, often confines BIPOC stories to certain genres that continually encompass unrealistic and problematic stereotypes that foster an adverse type of thinking. Whenever a story like Demascus comes around, it leaves a lasting mark and inspires creatives to take a leap of faith. “I think it is important that these stories exist,” Paye stated. “And I’m excited because I feel like this project is going to help open doors for other folks who want to genre-bend and imagine worlds that aren’t the current reality that we’re living in.”
As her personal examination of the series came to a close, Paye shared the type of impact she hopes viewers leave with after watching the show. “I think one of the things Demascus is trying to discover is himself, and I think a lot of discovering yourself is an inside job as much as it’s an outside job. I just hope [the viewers] feel inspired to be and do anything that they want in this life,” she stated earnestly. “[The series is] about your mind and how powerful it is and how our thoughts can help create our reality. So I just hope viewers take away a little hope that they have everything they need inside of them.” Paye paused and with a laugh added, “And I hope they love the show and they tell everybody in their neighborhood to watch the show and we get all the views.”
Funneling Pain Into Performance
Outside of her acting career, Paye has dabbled in many other creative mediums, including screenwriting. In 2024, her self-written short film 32 made its debut at the American Black Film Festival in Miami. The thoughtful and empowering narrative offers the perfect follow up for viewers who enjoy Demascus.
While giving insight into the film, Paye revealed that the idea came to her in a time when everything felt like it was crashing down. After being on cloud nine while filming Demascus in late 2022, Paye booked a trip to Egypt as a celebration. This trip, which was meant to be nothing but fun, quickly turned disastrous. She was experiencing symptoms of pneumonia—the same illness that ultimately caused her father’s death. As if dealing with sickness and resurfacing grief wasn’t enough, Paye further revealed that it was around this time that she learned about the indefinite shelving of Demascus. Instead of letting the feelings of gloom define her, Paye thoughtfully crafted her affliction into a story that would act as both an homage to her father and a turning point for future endeavors.
To The World and Beyond
When she isn’t conquering new creative skills, the multi-hyphenate actress lets off steam by exploring the world. She has visited over 20 countries, including England, Brazil, Thailand, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Netherlands. In discussion about the upsides of traveling, Paye explained that it has positively impacted the way she approaches her professional work.
“[If you want to] tap into dynamic characters that are outside of yourself, you have to have a world that exists that’s not just being an actor. If you’re just being an actor, you aren’t being human. So in order to develop those human skills, I think traveling is important,” she explained.
“I’ve traveled solo, and I’ve traveled with friends. From figuring out how to get to places and not always speaking the language or missing a train here and there, or just learning how to communicate and get around in a new space, and also being open-minded and trying new food, [all of those experiences have] helped me become a better human, which inevitably helps me become a better artist.”
Out of all the destinations she’s marked off on her map, Paye noted that her favorite trip to date has been Greece. “It was just a really fun time,” she said. “I was with my girls and we went to Santorini and Anos and Athens. And I had just found out I had booked Demascus and I was also going to shoot a Baby Keem short film with Amandla Stenberg in Mexico as soon as I landed,” she revealed.
“I landed from Greece, stayed in the airport, and then I went directly to Mexico to shoot the short film The Melodic Blue. And I don’t know, I think just the joy of being able to be present with my girls in Greece, exploring, eating great food, swimming, and doing all this [fun] stuff was great. And then immediately getting to go work in a different country was the cherry on top,” she said.
As the interview came to a close, Paye opted to share a message of encouragement for EnVi readers. “I think in these trying times it’s good for [people] to be okay with the not knowing as a collective. [It is important to] show up, and do the work, but also not be so hard on ourselves. I personally am taking that [to heart], and I try to just take care of myself.”
Be sure to keep up with Shakira on Instagram and TikTok! Demascus is available for streaming via Tubi!
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