Teens at the top

TALENTED and at the top of their game, a growing group of teens is making grown-ups sit up and pay attention.

Before they can legally drive in some cases or even vote, these teens are on their way to the top, and there's no end in sight!

From barely teen to nearly 20, they are living their dreams and demonstrating the best of their generation.

Among these trendsetters, who represent not only themselves but unsung teen standouts everywhere, are 13-year-old supermodel Gerren Taylor; academic stars like the winners of the NAACP ACT-SO competition, and TV stars Aaron Meeks (Soul Food), Kyla Pratt (One on One), Raven (That's So Raven) and Camille Winbush (The Bernie Mac Show).

These teens know the pathway to the top is paved with hard work, dedication, desire and, of course, talent. And they don't intend to be disappointed.

Raven, 19, first wowed television audiences as adorable little Olivia Kendall on the long-running hit series The Cosby Show in 1984. Born Raven-Symone Christina Peterman in Atlanta, she currently stars in the Disney Channel's original hit comedy series That's So Raven. She began her career in the entertainment industry at the age of 3. She also appeared as Nicole in Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and as Eddie Murphy's rebellious daughter Charisse in Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Dolittle 2. The multifaceted teen, who has been nominated for two NAACP Image Awards, is also a recording artist and has an album coming out this year. Her other film credits include The Cheetah Girls, Circle of Life and the upcoming All-American Girl and Sparkle.

Aaron Meeks, 17, plays Ahmad Chadway in the Showtime network hit series Soul Food, currently in its fifth and final season. For his role in Soul Food, Meeks was honored with the "Outstanding Youth Performer" Award at both the 2001 and 2002 NAACP Image Awards and was nominated again in 2003 for Outstanding Supporting Actor. He began his career with the Cornerstone Theatre Co. in his hometown of Watts, Calif. He soon landed a recurring role in the TV series Diagnosis: Murder, and played the young Cassisus Clay in the TV movie, Ali: An American Hero, and in Showtime's Bojangles, starring the late Gregory Hines.

Kyla Prat. 17. co-stars in UPN's One on One, the No. 1 TV show with Black viewers last season. Pratt plays Breanna Washington, the smart and sassy teenage daughter of Flex Washington. A typical teenager in real life, Pratt enjoys shopping, dancing, singing and talking on the telephone. And she juggles her busy television production schedule with home schooling. Her other acting credits include Disney's animated series The Proud Family, for which she provides the voice of Penny Proud. The Los Angeles native began her show business career in 1995 after she was cast in several commercials and has been working steadily ever since. By age 12, she had accumulated close to 20 supporting and guest-starring roles on television series such as Friends and Family Matters. Her recent feature film credits include Like Mike, Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Dolittle 2, starring alongside Eddie Murphy as Maya Dolittle, a role that earned her two NAACP Image Award nominations, and Love & Basketball, for which she was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award. She won the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Favorite Rising Star award in 1999.

Gerren Taylor is a normal teenager with an extraordinary after-school job. At the age of 13 she has become one of the most sought-after supermodels to hit the fashion scene. She is one of the youngest models ever to participate in New York's fashion week, modeling for designers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs and Betsey Johnson. An amazing 6 feet tall, with legs that are the envy of her elders, Taylor is stunning. But her mother insists that school is her first priority, even insisting that when she fell behind in pre-algebra, she stop working until her grades improved. Taylor wowed audiences last year at L.A. Fashion Week when she Was only 12, modeling in seven shows. She has already graced the runways of the world's top designers and is set to become the first African-American model to ever appear in a print campaign for Marc Jacobs. Called the "next Naomi Campbell," the modeling sensation, who lives in Los Angeles, has come a long way from the time when the kids in her class called her names like "Giraffe" and "Bean Pole." Her mother and grandmother encouraged her to walk tall and be proud of her height. The model, who is also interested in an acting career, has done national commercials and will be featured in America the Beautiful, a documentary by director Darryl Roberts.

Camille Winbush, 14, co-stars as Vanessa on the popular Fox TV series The Bernie Mac Show, now in its third season. Already a veteran actor, she made her first television appearance at 2, with a recurring role on NBC's Viper, followed by a regular role on Minor Adjustments, and a recurring role on the hit WB family drama 7th Heaven. Winbush has a recurring role on Strong Medicine and co-starring roles on That's Life, The Norm Show, NYPD Blue and Any Day Now. Her film credits include a lead role in Ghost Dog opposite Forest Whitaker, as well as roles in Eraser with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dangerous Minds with Michelle Pfeiffer. A classically trained pianist and singer, Winbush is also an entrepreneur who fulfilled a dream when she opened her own ice cream parlor, Baked Ice, last summer in Pasadena, Calif. The Southern California native is actively involved in all aspects of running her business, from hiring staff to scooping ice cream for her patrons.