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The Come Up Cast Announced by Freeform

Today, Freeform announced the new unscripted series The Come Up as one of three original nonfiction series the brand is releasing this year, all targeted at the network’s young adult audience. The Come Up is a glimpse into the wildest feelings and vibrant moments that define coming-of-age in a post-pandemic New York.

The series follows six young disruptors as they emerge from downtown New York to follow their dreams and pursue love and art on their own terms. The show follows the creative NYC underground, giving viewers an exclusive look into how the next generation of icons define themselves and how culture is created.

The cast comprises a group of ambitious, action-oriented, and diverse Gen Z New Yorkers whose careers are on the rise, including Taofeek Abijako, Fernando Casablancas, Ben Hard, Claude Shwartz, Ebon Trower, and Sophia Wilson.

The Come Up Cast Announced by Freeform

Each person is thriving in their respective fields: modeling, fashion design, photography, acting, and nightlife organization. Their bios can be found below.

“These six creatives emerge from downtown with a vitality and magnetism that’s infectious,” said Tara Duncan, president of Freeform and Onyx Collective. “They are pursuing love and art on their own terms, redefining what success means, and I am so excited for our audience to have a front-row seat to it all.”

The Come Up is produced by Cousins. Megan Sanchez-Warner (The Real Housewives of Orange County, Love and Hip Hop Hollywood) serves as the showrunner, and Jessica Chermayeff, Ana Veselic, and Anne Alexander are the executive producers. Chermayeff and Veselic also serve as series directors.

The Come Up premieres on Freeform on Tuesday, Sept. 13, with the first four episodes airing back to back. From there, two episodes will air each week. All episodes will be available to stream on Hulu the day after they air.

THE COME UP CAST

Taofeek - The Come Up

Taofeek (He/Him) – At 24, he is the youngest designer to have ever shown at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) with his fashion line, Head of State. Earlier this year, he was invited to dress two celebrities, Danai Gurira and Evan Mock, at the renowned Met Gala, and his career is taking exciting turns as he is now branching out into costume design for feature films.

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Taofeek immigrated to Albany, New York, at age 11 after his father, also a fashion designer, won the American visa lottery. Taking nothing for granted, Taofeek launched his first pieces out of his bedroom as a high schooler, deferred all acceptances to fashion schools, and earned a spot on the stage of NYFW and into the pages of Vogue.

For Taofeek, fashion is a vehicle for supporting his community. In addition to his fashion collections, he has spearheaded several initiatives to build schools in Nigeria or support local vendors in Albany. Taofeek is on the precipice of becoming the next household name in fashion and beyond.

Fernando - The Come Up

Fernando (He/They) – Brazilian-born Fernando Casablancas is on the cusp of becoming the modeling world’s next international star. Less than one year after his emergence on the modeling scene, he appeared in campaigns for top brands Balmain, Charlotte Tilbury, Wales Bonner, and Chrome Hearts.

During the fashion week season of fall 2021, Fernando took to the catwalk for Balmain and Bottega Veneta, and most recently, he walked for cutting-edge designer Ludovic de Saint Sernin. Fernando is breaking the mold as a non-binary talent by modeling both menswear and womenswear.

The world quickly took notice, and he was invited to attend the 2022 amFAR Gala in Cannes, an internationally acclaimed event to raise money for AIDS awareness and research. Beyond modeling, Fernando recently wrapped production on his first feature-length film and has been working on DJing and multimedia art projects.

Ben (He/Him) – Coming from San Antonio, Texas, Ben is quickly making New York his home. A rising performer, he is honing his skills as an actor, comedian, and dancer. The stage is where he wants to be, and New York is the place to take chances.

In spring 2022, he starred in Eastine Theater’s adaptation of “Cyrano de Bergerac,” did his first stand-up comedy performance at The Broadway Comedy Club, and acted in short films by friends. Ben can also be found behind the camera, taking street photography in New York and doing live videography and music videos for local musical artists.

Claude (She/Her) – A Tribeca native, Claude is a true New Yorker. She is a rising actress who studied the practical aesthetics technique at David Mamet’s Atlantic Theater Company, the Meisner technique, and graduated from Tufts in 2020.

Recently, Claude appeared in an off-broadway production at the Tank in February 2022, directed by Alton Alburo. A lover of fashion and a downtown fixture, Claude walked for Batsheva in NYFW Spring/Summer 2022.

Ebon (She/Her) – A budding entertainer on her way to becoming a multihyphenate in the public eye, she is a staple in Brooklyn nightlife as a sought-after party host and fixture of the rave circuit. She most recently threw a party for Pride 2022 and is a member of the Nosferatu collective, known for their show-stopping Baroque Ball in Summer 2021.

For Ebon, the well-being of the Trans community is paramount. As an active and crucial organizer of queer nightlife, she has recently participated in town hall panels to discuss club safety and accountability. Beyond nightlife, Ebon’s modeling career is quickly gaining momentum as she models for the likes of Milk Makeup, Parade, and Ganni.

Sophia (She/Her) – A photography prodigy who has been behind the camera since age 13. She’s shot campaigns for major brands like Google, Nike, Peloton, Converse, Fenty, Instagram, and Pepsi and established publications like Vogue, Elle, New York Magazine, i-D, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Hypebeast, Highsnobiety, Nylon and more.

Sophia shoots analog only and develops and prints all photos by hand in the color darkroom, a highly technical process that imbues her images with a signature look. Continuing to chart her own path, Sophia deferred her senior year at NYU to focus full-time on her artistic pursuits and career in true trailblazing Gen Z fashion.

Sophia is committed to changing the face of working photographers by being front and center in rooms that young Black women traditionally have been kept from. She is also pioneering work in the NFT space, including creating the first NFT for Instagram.

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