- Daughter of Afshin Shahidi, a photographer, and Keri Shahidi, an actress. Her father is Iranian-American. Her mother is African-American.
- Yara plans to become a historian, specializing in world history, while continuing to pursue her love of acting.
- A student of the martial art form, Tang Soo Do, Yara has earned her black belt.
- Is a first cousin, once removed, of rapper Nas. Yara's maternal great-grandparents, Ella Mae and Charles Rufus Jones, were Nas's maternal grandparents.
- Older sister of actor Sayeed Shahidi.
- On the NPR podcast "Code Switch," Shahidi described her heritage as "half-black, half-Iranian". She also described the meaning of her name, Yara Sayeh Shahidi: "the literal translation is: Yara means 'somebody close to your heart'; Sayeh means 'shadow'; and my last name, Shahidi, means 'witness.' My name means 'somebody close to your heart shadow witness.'".
- Graduated from Harvard University, with a bachelor's in social studies [2022].
- Had her first starring role as an adult in The Sun Is Also a Star (2019), as Natasha Kingsley, opposite Charles Melton as Daniel Bae.
- Received the "Generation Next Award" at the 10th annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood event, February, 2017.
- Her family moved to California because of her father's work.
- In two different series she has played characters named Chloe Johnson and Zoey Johnson.
- Friends with Rowan Blanchard.
- Was considered for the role of Kayla in Tom & Jerry (2021).
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