NXT 
Meet Irie. A rare and delicate discovery from Huntington Beach of all places. We recently did a shoot with her for our Cluster issue way back when [What Youth Issue 10], and we got to hang out with her. Then this other time we got mexican food with her and asked her silly questions. Like these:
WHAT YOUTH: What’s your nickname?
IRIE: Eyes, Yung ass Irie Jean
Let’s clear this up. What is your real full name? Everyone calls you “Jean.”
My full name is Irie Jean Calkins. It’s really embarrassing when I meet someone that has been following me on Instagram who thinks my name is actually Jean and I’m just a stoner or something who added “irie” in front as an adjective. Not chill. Especially since I’ve never smoked weed.
How did your parents come up with the name Irie?
My mom says she saw it on a license plate but I think that’s bullshit. They only had boy names so “Irie” was pretty last minute. My parents were really young when they had me and they were hippies. I saw in my mom’s year book that some people called her “mushroom queen” but she doesn’t know that I know that.
Where were you born and where are you currently living?
Born in Los Alamitos and I live in Huntington Beach right now.
Send us a selfie.
What do you wonder about?
Why I got asked to do an interview for What Youth when I’m not a pro surfer.
What is your routine?
Wake up, play with my dog, shower, lay naked in bed for 2 hours, then get ready, maybe go to LA for castings, maybe go to ballet, maybe go to the beach, maybe hang with friends, maybe hang with myself, maybe go on a walk/ hike, maybe go shopping, etc.
What’s been your biggest mistake?
Letting other people’s opinion of me get in the way of what I want to do. Dumb!!!
Best piece of advice you ever received?
No feeling is final. So when life is rough know that it’ll be over soon, and when it’s good enjoy it.
What skill do you wish you possessed?
I wish I was good at artistic things and could draw and paint and stuff.
