Netflix’s A Different World is back with a whole new generation of Hillman students, and while they’re all playing college freshmen, the actors behind them are a little older than their characters’ ages. The new sequel follows Deborah Wayne and her friends as they start life at the fictional HBCU, with Deborah, Rashida, Shaquille, Amir, Hazel and Kojo making up the main group of new students. Netflix describes Deborah as entering her first year at Hillman, while the series follows the wider incoming freshman class. So, how old are the A Different World actors compared with their characters? Maleah Joi Moon – Deborah Wayne View this post on Instagram A post shared by mj ❦ (@maleahjoimoon) Real age: 24 Character age: 18 Age gap: 6 years Maleah Joi Moon plays Deborah Wayne, the youngest daughter of original characters Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert. Deborah is starting her first year at Hillman after being rejected from her dream school, Tisch, and is trying to figure out what she actually wants from college. Maleah just turned 24 last week. That means there’s a six-year gap between her and the 18-year-old freshman she plays. Alijah Kai – Rashida Duvall View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alijah Kai (@alijahkai) Real age: 22 Character age: 18 Age gap: 4 years Alijah Kai plays Rashida Duvall, a first-generation college student from Compton who is studying criminal justice. Rashida is basically the responsible one of the group, and she initially clashes with Deborah after the pair become roommates. Alijah, whose full name is Alijah Kai Haggins, is 22. So she’s four years older than her character. Cornell Young IV – Shaquille Johnson View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cornell Young IV👑 (@cytheiv) Real age: 26 Character age: 18 Age gap: 8 years Cornell Young IV plays Shaquille Johnson, the superstar quarterback who chooses to attend an HBCU rather than taking the more expected route. Shaquille is also Ron Johnson’s son, connecting him directly to one of the original A Different World characters. Cornell was born on February 14, 2000, making him 26. So, there’s a huge eight-year age gap between him and his character. Jordan Aaron Hall – Amir Rodale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jordan Aaron Hall (@jordanaaronhall) Real age: 23 Character age: 18 Age gap: 5 years Jordan Aaron Hall plays Amir Rodale, a psychology major from Harlem who arrives at Hillman only to discover there’s a housing shortage. Instead of getting his own dorm room, Amir ends up crashing on the community couch in Garvey Hall. Jordan five years older than his character, as he is 23. Kennedi Reece – Hazel Henry View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kennedi Reece (@kennedi_reece) Real age: 22 Character age: 18 Age gap: 4 years Kennedi Reece plays Hazel Henry, a small-town girl who has dreamed about attending Hillman for basically her entire life. Kennedi was born on November 15, 2003, making her 22. That gives Hazel and Reece a four-year age gap. Chibuikem Uche – Kojo Achebe View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chibuikem Uche (@chibuche) Real age: 26 Character age: 18 Age gap: 8 years Chibuikem Uche plays Kojo Achebe, a Ghanaian-Nigerian fashion merchandising student who is at Hillman partly to appease his parents. Cornell and Chibuikem were born only five days apart. So, Chibuikem is also 26 and is eight years older than the 18-year-old freshman he plays. For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Post navigation Next story
