Jessica Jarrell’s Sweet 16: Teenage Dream
January 18, 2011 by Keith Kuramoto
Filed under feature overlay, podcast
It is a tried-and-true teenage dream at Moonlight Rollerway, tucked away from the pretension and belabored glamour that weighs down most Hollywood parties. For Jessica Jarrell, it’s about having fun and turning sixteen- two ideals that quickly permeate the festivities and become cornerstones of the evening. The rink itself- with all its youthful, cutely innocent neon and disco lights- in a way personifies Jessica’s positive, low-key attitude. The allure and pressure of having an over-the-top, gluttonous “Super Sweet 16” party was palpable for Jessica, but calmer heads prevailed and she stuck to her guns, remaining true to herself.
“My mom and I came up with it,” Jessica tells me of the genesis of holding the party at a roller rink. “I didn’t want to do the typical downtown party. We wanted to just do something fun and cool.” Such normalcy is a rare commodity amidst the young elite, yet between her grounded personality and every-girl image you’d never suspect that this is the same girl that tours with Justin Bieber and has racked up over 3 million hits on YouTube. I off-handedly mention that, en route to the party, I was an unwilling spectator to a young rollerblader (Aggressive In-Liner to all you Hipsters out there) crashing and burning halfway through a crosswalk (Writer’s note: this is an absolutely true story, by the way. The poor girl absolutely ate shit in front of half a dozen drivers with nothing to do but enjoy the show). Having not skated in years, her face drops, as if realizing for the first time that failing may be the most likely outcome, but it takes a mere wave and smile of a close friend to snap her back to her natural self.
The party also serves as a welcome reprieve for Jessica, who has been working non-stop on new material for an upcoming (untitled) album, this hot off of a grueling world tour in support of label mate and friend Justin Bieber. “I’ve been putting a lot of work into my artistry and this new album. We’re putting the final touches on it right now,” Jessica beams. When she says this, she speaks up; her smile gets bigger, and her hand gestures grow more pronounced. It becomes profoundly clear that she is not a girl who had her career foisted upon her by eager parents or manipulative A&R; she loves the process of creating and the buzz of performing. Like any other artist, she feeds off of the energy.
Nick Cannon's School Gyrls
We say our goodbyes and Jessica disappears into a crowd of awaiting guests, a veritable rolodex of tween/teen artists and actors including Diggy Simmons, Cody Simpson, Aaron Fresh, Nick Cannon’s School Gyrls, Mindless Behavior, Jacob Latimore, and Leon Thomas, amongst others. As the night carries on, the rink floor thickens with talent, some whizzing by gracefully, others doing whatever it takes to keep both feet on the ground- a sound concept for a room full of young people who have their entire careers – and lives – ahead of them.
See our pictures from the event below. (Taken by our writer Keith Kuramoto)
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The Birthday Girl Herself, Songstress Jessica Jarrell Looking Fly At Her Sweet 16
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R&B singer Aaron Fresh (Aaron Jamal Hinton) chilling at Jessica Jarrell's Sweet 16
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R&B Singer Aaron Fresh posing for Poptimal.com's cameras at Jessica Jarrell's Sweet 16
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Birthday Girl And Up And Coming Singer Jessica Jarrell Hanging Out At Her Sweet 16 Party
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Pop Singing Group School Gyrls: Sade Austin (Sha' Dizzle), Monica Anne Parales (Mo' Money), Lauren Brianna Chavez (L Dubs)
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Up And Coming Actress Madison Pettis (Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, Corey In The House) Sporting The Bob Marley at Jessica Jarrell's Sweet 16
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Singer/Actor Jacob Latimore (Like 'Em All/Vanishing On 7th Street)
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Suave Actor/Singer Leon Thomas (The Lion King (Broadway), Victorious, iCarly) & Friend
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Singers Cody & Alli Simpson Hanging With Birthday Girl Jessica Jarrell At Her Sweet 16
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Actress Mariah Wilson (Dreamgirls, Lincoln Heights) Looking Ready To Party
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Singer/Songwriter Mishon Ratliff
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