Brookhaven 8-year-old JaBria McCullum has been nominated for a BET Award.

She is one of eight children to be nominated for the YoungStars Award at the upcoming 2024 Black Entertainment Television Awards. The award show will be aired live Sunday, June 30, at 7 p.m. on BET.

McCullum recently appeared on an episode of the popular TV series “Abbott Elementary.” As the god-sister of actor, singer and model LaRon Hines, McCullum got her foot in the door of the entertainment industry by joining Hines in some of his popular TikTok and Instagram videos. 

Hines, a 22-year-old Brookhaven High alum, shot to fame during the 2020 pandemic with his social media presence, and has since had roles in such projects as “Reporting Live,” “Further Instructions,” and “Dirt Mechanics: Rebelistic.”

Hines’ agent reached out to see if he could represent McCullum, as well. Now The Mamie Martin Elementary honor roll student has an agent in New York and one in California. 

Hines coached his “little sister” for her “Abbot” audition, which got a response within a couple of hours after it was submitted. The casting director and producers of the show said she was their first pick for that part, and wanted to know when she could be in Los Angeles. 

“We have a home in Brookhaven and in California, also, so that’s how we were able to do that,” said Katrina Hines, mother to LaRon and godmother to JaBria. “She’s with me until August. Her mom is very supportive of her career, and lets me kind of spearhead it and take charge with that.” 

When the Hineses and JaBria arrived at the set, series star and executive producer Quinta Brunson met them, gave them a tour of the set, and later said she looked forward to working with them again in the future. 

After the episode aired, her segment went “super viral,” Katrina said, with national news outlets reaching out, publicity taking off, and congratulations coming from multiple sources. 

“Acting is one of many things she wants to do,” said Katrina. “Quinta asked her, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ and she said, ‘A teacher.’ … Quinta told her, ‘That’s excellent, but I see you doing so much more.’”

Katrina believes McCullum was nominated for the YoungStars award because of her TV appearance in connection with her presence on social media, modeling, book reviews, and work with Kaleido-scope Kids hair products (with LaRon). 

“She’s honored to be in that category,” Katrina said. “Beyonce’s daughter, and the rapper T.I.’s daughter are also nominated in that category.”

The film industry and Mamie Martin’s administration and teachers have worked well together to make sure JaBria stays up-to-date on schoolwork during the academic year.

“The school in Brookhaven has been wonderful working with her when she has to go,” said Katrina. “When she’s filming, the people here are in contact with the school, and they make sure she stays caught up. It’s the law here — she films for a couple of hours, then goes to school for a couple of hours. She has to maintain her A-B average, as well.”

Katrina said both the Hines and McCullum families are “super excited” for JaBria, no matter who wins the award. 

“For LaRon, I’m just thankful for him deciding to coach her on this. I met her family through our daycare in Brookhaven, and we’ve been her godparents since she was 3 years old. He’s always look-ing out for her, incorporating her in everything,” Katrina said. “They love each other.”