Momona Tamada, takes on the iconic role of Claudia Kishi in the reboot of the 1990 TV series, The Baby-Sitters Club, based on the popular books by Ann M. Martin. The role of Claudia made an indelible impression on this Vancouver-raised teenager, as it did for many Asian-Americans. For Momona, who was raised by Japanese parents, originally watching Claudia on-screen was life-altering. This beloved character, arguably the most popular in the Club, spawned a Netflix documentary (The Claudia Kishi Club) as well as a podcast.

Momona confesses that the weight of this career-defining role was not lost on her. “I definitely feel the pressure, for sure, because Claudia is so iconic. Also, growing up, I looked up to the few Asian actors that I saw on screen,” she says. “And so being able to be that for younger generations and beyond is so cool. I’m always trying my best to be setting good examples for people.”

Momona is a serious, hard-working student. “I’ve never had any problems with my grades, but it’s something that I know a lot of kids struggle with, so that’s one thing I definitely didn’t identify with Claudia.” When Claudia isn’t embroiled in her Vice Presidential duties in The Baby-Sitter’s Club, she turns her gaze to fashion, describing herself as a ‘fashion maven.’ Momona says, “I was interested in fashion but I wasn’t huge into fashion. But after portraying Claudia, her fashion sense definitely influenced mine. And made me think more outside the box when it came to fashion.

Momona is an award-winning dancer and has been competing since the age of four. She’s performed in the B.C. Summer Games Opening Ceremonies and with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet

To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and is soon to reprise her third film in the franchise, as well as playing lead roles in such critically acclaimed movies as The Main Event, last year’s The Terror, and Amazon’s The Boys.

Momona was raised with her younger brother, though it doesn’t appear he will follow in her thespian footsteps. “He’s a skateboarder, and he’s pretty good at it,” she says. “My mom is managing me now but she’s always been super artistic, which is where I get my creative side from. She used to be an esthetician and a nail artist, so she’s used to very detailed work. And my dad builds log homes, so he does a lot of work around the house.”

Alicia Silverstone, 43, who starred in the ‘90s hit normal’>Batman & Robin (1997) and, more recently, Bad Therapy (2020). Momona admits she was a little starstruck by Silverstone. “I loved watching her in Clueless. When I met her my jaw just dropped,” she recalls. “It was such an honor to work with her.”

Natalie Portman. She was my age when she did The Professional. She was incredible, as she still is now, so to work with her would be a dream come true.”

color:black’>The Baby-Sitters Club