Afomia Hailemeskel is an American actress and educator best known for her role as Monica Morrell in the Netflix miniseries Morganville: The Series (2014) and her appearance in the A24 film A Ghost Story (2017).
She has also built a career as a content creator alongside her boyfriend Markian Benhamou on the Smile Squad YouTube channel.
Who is Afomia Hailemeskel?
Afomia Hailemeskel is an American actress and content creator based in the United States. Her IMDb profile lists credits across animation, television, and independent film spanning more than a decade.
She is best known for playing Monica Morrell in Morganville: The Series and for her appearance in the A24 independent film A Ghost Story.
Beyond acting, she works as a 2nd Grade Teaching Associate at The Wesley School. That position is listed on her LinkedIn profile and represents a parallel career in education that she maintains alongside her entertainment work.
She is also a co-creator on the Smile Squad YouTube channel, which she runs with her boyfriend Markian Benhamou.
Early Life of Afomia Hailemeskel
Afomia Hailemeskel was born in New York City, United States. She comes from an American family and grew up in the United States.
Details about her parents and siblings are not publicly available. She has kept her family background private throughout her career.
Her upbringing in New York gave her access to one of the most active entertainment and media ecosystems in the world. Her acting career started with a voice role in animation before expanding into live-action film and television.
Afomia Hailemeskel Age / Birthday
Afomia Hailemeskel is 35 years old as of 2026, born on June 6, 1991.
Her zodiac sign is Gemini, a sign often associated with curiosity, adaptability, and a strong communication instinct. Those qualities translate well across her work in acting, content creation, and teaching.
At 35, she continues to balance her acting career, her role at The Wesley School, and her social media presence.
Afomia Hailemeskel Ethnicity and Nationality
Afomia Hailemeskel is American by nationality. She was born in New York City.
She has an Ethiopian heritage, reflected in her Ethiopian name “Afomia Hailemeskel.” That heritage connects to a strong cultural tradition of storytelling, community, and education.
Her American upbringing and Ethiopian background together shape the identity she brings to her roles and her public-facing content.
Afomia Hailemeskel Height and Weight
Afomia Hailemeskel stands 5 feet 7 inches tall, which equals 170 centimeters.
Her weight is approximately 56 kg, which is equivalent to 123 lbs.
She has a slim body type and presents a warm, expressive presence on screen that translates across different genres, from drama to comedy.
Afomia Hailemeskel Career
Voice Acting and Early Work (2012-2015)
Afomia Hailemeskel’s acting career began with voice work in the animated television series Fairy Tail in 2012, where she provided additional voices.
That early voice role introduced her to professional production environments and gave her first credits in the industry.
In 2014, she took on her most recognized early role as Monica Morrell in Morganville: The Series. The show was a TV miniseries based on Rachel Caine’s bestselling vampire novel series “The Morganville Vampires.” Monica Morrell is one of the series’ main antagonists, a character with complex motivations and significant screen time.
In 2015, she appeared as a News Reporter in the short film Streams in the Wasteland. That same year marked her growing presence in the independent film circuit.
Film and Television Work (2017-2022)
Her most high-profile film credit came in 2017 with A Ghost Story, an independent drama released by A24.
The film starred Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara and received significant critical acclaim. Afomia’s role was part of an ensemble that explored grief and time.
In 2018, she appeared in Echos: Revival, another independent project.
The following year, she took on the role of Bailey in Raven’s Home, the Disney Channel spinoff of That’s So Raven. That appearance in a Disney Channel production gave her access to a broader family audience and represented a step into mainstream television.
In 2022, she played Torri in Walla Walla, adding another film credit to her growing resume.
Teaching and Content Creation (2022-Present)
Alongside her acting career, Afomia Hailemeskel has built a separate professional identity as an educator and content creator.
Her LinkedIn profile identifies her as a 2nd Grade Teaching Associate at The Wesley School. That dual career path sets her apart from typical working actors.
She and Markian Benhamou co-create content for the Smile Squad YouTube channel. Together they produce videos that cover everyday situations, humor, and lifestyle content.
Afomia Hailemeskel Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Fairy Tail | Additional Voices | Animated TV series |
| 2014 | Morganville: The Series | Monica Morrell | TV miniseries |
| 2015 | Streams in the Wasteland | News Reporter | Short film |
| 2017 | A Ghost Story | Supporting role | Film (A24) |
| 2018 | Echos: Revival | Character | Independent film |
| 2019 | Raven’s Home | Bailey | Disney Channel TV series |
| 2022 | Walla Walla | Torri | Film |
Afomia Hailemeskel Boyfriend
Afomia Hailemeskel is in a relationship with content creator Markian Benhamou. They made their relationship public on Instagram on April 10, 2022, when Markian shared a series of photos with her and wrote about his feelings for her.
The two co-create content for their Smile Squad YouTube channel, which focuses on comedy and lifestyle videos.
Their relationship became a regular feature of their social media content, with both appearing on each other’s platforms.
Afomia has kept most personal details of their relationship out of the public sphere beyond what they share through their joint content creation work.
Afomia Hailemeskel Net Worth
Afomia Hailemeskel’s estimated net worth is $300,000 as of 2026. Her income comes from acting, YouTube content creation, and her position as an educator at The Wesley School.
Her acting work spans from 2012 to at least 2022, covering voice roles, independent film, and Disney Channel television. Her YouTube work with the Smile Squad channel adds an additional revenue stream through ad income.
Her dual career as an actress and educator, combined with content creation, reflects a practical approach to building income from multiple creative and professional sources.
Afomia Hailemeskel Social Media
Afomia Hailemeskel is active on Instagram under the handle @afujams. Her account features personal photos, behind-the-scenes moments, and content tied to her relationship and creative projects.
She does not appear to maintain separate accounts on Twitter, TikTok, or other major platforms under a verified public handle.
She and Markian Benhamou also share content through the Smile Squad YouTube channel, which extends her presence beyond Instagram into long-form video.
Her business inquiries are directed to [email protected], which she has listed as her professional contact.
Summary
Afomia Hailemeskel has built a career across acting, education, and content creation, with credits ranging from the A24 film A Ghost Story to the Disney Channel series Raven’s Home and a current position teaching second grade at The Wesley School.
Her public profile expanded in 2022 both through Walla Walla and through the launch of her relationship with fellow creator Markian Benhamou on the Smile Squad channel.
