Malia Baker

Malia Baker is a Botswana-born, Canadian-raised actress and activist who brings warmth and depth to every role she takes on. She is best known for playing Mary Anne Spier in Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club, a performance that earned her a Family Emmy nomination and made her a fan favorite. She also starred as Gabby Lewis in Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? and as Chloe Charming in Disney's Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024). Beyond acting, she is a UN Girl Up Champion and was named one of Seventeen's Voices of the Year in 2020. Her fans admire her for using her platform to advocate for girls' empowerment and equality. Born on December 18, 2006, in Botswana, she moved to Vancouver as a young girl and has since built a diverse career spanning television, film, and producing. She has won one Leo Award and been nominated for a Family Emmy and a Kids' Choice Award. Her distinctive background and commitment to activism set her apart in the entertainment industry.[edit]

Baker was born in Botswana and moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, as a young girl. She fell in love with musical theatre after settling in Canada and began pursuing acting seriously. At age 12, she completed the Youth On Camera Acting Certificate program at the Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts, which gave her a strong foundation in screen performance. Her first on-screen credit came in 2018 with the Hallmark TV movie Hope at Christmas, where she appeared uncredited as Malia Weir. She then landed guest roles on popular TV series, including The Flash (as Alice Bolen in the episode "Time Bomb"), The Twilight Zone (as Young Anna), and A Million Little Things (as Little Girl). These early opportunities helped her build a resume that led to her breakout audition for The Baby-Sitters Club. She has described becoming "obsessed with the field" of acting after these early experiences.[edit]

Baker's big break came in 2020 when she was cast as Mary Anne Spier in Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club. The show was a hit with critics and audiences, and Baker's portrayal of the shy but strong-willed babysitter earned her a Family Emmy nomination for Outstanding Youth Performance. She returned for Season 2 in 2021 before the series was cancelled. That same year, she starred as Gabby Lewis in the second season of Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? revival. In 2022, she was nominated for a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Star. She then took on leading roles in the Lifetime movie Caught in His Web (executive produced by Whoopi Goldberg) and independent films like Spider & Jessie (alongside Jesse Williams, McKenna Grace, and Dacre Montgomery) and Harvest Moon (starring Paul Bettany, Carmen Ejogo, and Candice Bergen, directed by Mark Waters). In 2024, she played Chloe Charming, the daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming, in Disney's Descendants: The Rise of Red, released on July 12. Baker has also moved into producing, working as a producer on the award-winning script 12 Hours and as executive producer and star of the indie survival drama Hair of the Bear, the narrative feature debut of co-directors Alexandre Trudeau and James McLellan. Additional upcoming projects include Thena.[edit]

Baker is seen as a thoughtful and intentional young star who uses her platform for more than just fame. She often speaks about empowering young girls and promoting equality, aligning with her role as a UN Girl Up Champion. Her on-screen characters tend to be empathetic and earnest, like Mary Anne in The Baby-Sitters Club and Chloe in Descendants: The Rise of Red. Off-screen, she shares a mix of behind-the-scenes career posts, activist messaging, and personal reflections on Instagram. Fans appreciate her authenticity and her willingness to speak out on social issues. She does not have a widely recognized fandom name, but her followers are active and engaged. She was named one of Refinery29 Canada's Powerhouses of 2021, highlighting her influence beyond acting.[edit]

Malia Baker stands as a defining voice for her generation, anchoring the cultural conversation around young adult empowerment through roles that resonate globally. Her trajectory has been marked by steady ascent rather than viral explosion, yet her presence in major franchises like Disney's Descendants: The Rise of Red and Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club has cemented her status as a household name for millions. In August 2026, iFANN's Global Fame Engine evaluated her standing across international markets to determine her precise placement within the hierarchy of global celebrity. Malia Baker is currently EVALUATED_UNRANKED, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated this person, but they do not currently hold a placement in the published rankings (Global Top 1,000 or a Top-100 scope list). This assessment reflects a profile built on consistent work and advocacy rather than the chaotic spikes of internet fame or tabloid sensationalism. While she commands significant attention on social platforms with over a million followers on TikTok, her audience remains a broad viewership base rather than an organized cult following. There is no formal name documented for her fanbase; fans engage through standard channels without a collective moniker or specific rituals. Recent narratives have introduced new layers to her public image, including reports of a rumored love triangle involving co-star Malachi Barton and singer Kylie Cantrall, alongside discussions regarding her appearance in the lead-up to Descendants: Wicked Wonderland. These stories circulate widely in entertainment media but remain unverified folklore rather than historical milestones. Despite the lack of a ranked position, her influence extends through her work as a UN Girl Up Champion, where she leverages her platform for tangible activism. The absence of a numeric rank does not diminish her impact; it simply highlights a career defined by substance and longevity over fleeting trends.[edit]

Malia Simphiwe Baker carries a unique heritage, born in Botswana on December 18, 2006, before moving to Vancouver, Canada, a background she frequently celebrates in interviews. She won a Leo Award early in her career, though the specific category and project remain obscure to the general public. Beyond acting, she has taken on producing duties as a teenager, earning fees as a producer on 12 Hours and serving as executive producer of Hair of the Bear. Her activism is central to her identity as a UN Girl Up Champion, where she hosts dialogues with changemakers and contributes written pieces to various publications. Recent developments have added new chapters to her story. In 2026, she returned to the Descendants franchise for Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, facing the challenge of stepping into a legacy role with intense choreography and costuming demands. Media outlets also circulated a story about a rumored love triangle involving Baker, Malachi Barton, and Kylie Cantrall, sparking speculation that lyrics in Cantrall's song Space Between referenced Baker. Online communities have also engaged in discourse regarding Baker's physical changes, with some attributing visible weight loss to personal stress, though these claims lack verification. She remains one of the few actors her age to balance high-profile acting gigs with serious producing credits.[edit]

Baker's mother and father have appeared on her Instagram account, @maliabakermsb. She has a younger sister who occasionally appears in her social media posts. The family moved from Botswana to Vancouver when Baker was young, and they have supported her acting career. Baker has not publicly shared her parents' names or her sister's name. She completed her acting certificate at the Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts but has not disclosed details about other schools she attended. Her family's support has been a constant throughout her journey.[edit]

Baker starred alongside Alicia Silverstone in The Baby-Sitters Club. She also worked with Brandy and Paolo Montalbán in Descendants: The Rise of Red, and with Whoopi Goldberg on the Lifetime movie Caught in His Web. Her independent film Harvest Moon features Paul Bettany, Carmen Ejogo, and Candice Bergen, directed by Mark Waters. [edit]

Malia Baker has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationships. As a young actress, she has kept her personal life private, and no credible reports of dating, engagements, or marriages have emerged. As of 2026, she appears to be focused on her career and activism, with no public partner.[edit]

As of the mid-2020s, no well-sourced, independently verified net worth figure is publicly available for Malia Baker outside of editorial analysis. Research by the iFANN Editorial Team puts her estimated net worth at $400 Thousand. Her income stems primarily from her starring roles in television and film, including per-episode salaries for The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix and Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? . Film projects such as Descendants: The Rise of Red, Caught in His Web, Harvest Moon, and Spider & Jessie have further bolstered her earnings. Baker has expanded her portfolio into producing, collecting fees as a producer on 12 Hours and as executive producer of Hair of the Bear . Additional revenue likely flows from brand partnerships and speaking engagements tied to her activism with Girl Up. Her financial standing has grown steadily since her breakout in 2020, even though specific salary figures remain undisclosed. While various aggregators often speculate on her wealth, placing her in the low six-figure range, the iFANN estimate provides a grounded perspective based on her known professional activities.[edit]

Baker has won one Leo Award, though the specific category and project are not publicly detailed. She has been nominated for a Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Youth Performance for The Baby-Sitters Club and a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Star. [edit]