Skai Jackson is going to be a mother!

The former Disney star, 22, is expecting her first child with her boyfriend (whom Jackson has not publicly identified), PEOPLE exclusively confirms.

“I’m excited to start this new chapter in my life: embracing motherhood and diving into new acting projects. My heart is so full!” Jackson tells PEOPLE.

Jackson will next star in the feature film The man in the white van. She recently attended Comic-Con to support the film, which will be released in theaters on December 13.

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As she prepares to become a mother herself, Jackson is also close with her mother, Kiya Cole, who raised the actress as a single mother.

“(My mother) always taught me to stand up for myself, stand up for what I believe in and fight for what’s right,” she told PEOPLE in February 2023. “I thank her for that because without her I probably wouldn’t have done that.” I don’t have as much confidence as I do now.”

The former child star acknowledged that being a role model comes with “a lot of pressure,” adding, “At the end of the day, I see myself as the regular person that people just happen to like or enjoy.”

Still, she said, “It’s very important for me to convey the right message, be positive at all times and give my fans good advice. Let them know that they can achieve anything they want to do in life.”

Jackson, who is best known for playing Zuri Ross Jessie and its spin-off Stacked, released her book, Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clap Back in 2019 and appeared on Dancing with the stars in 2020.