If you spent any time watching ABC Family—now Freeform—back in the early 2010s, you definitely remember the chaotic energy of Buckner Hall. While the show focused on the life-altering mistake that brought Bay Kennish and Daphne Vasquez together, it was the supporting cast that really dialed up the drama. Specifically, one character who walked so the "villains" of modern streaming could run. Maiara Walsh Switched at Birth performance as Simone Sinclair is one of those roles that people still talk about on Reddit and TikTok today, mostly because she was just so good at being bad.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock to realize how much time has passed since we first saw Simone walk onto the screen with that perfect, intimidating prep-school smile. Walsh wasn't a newcomer to the scene; she had already made a name for herself as Meena on Cory in the House and as the spitfire Ana Solis on Desperate Housewives. But Switched at Birth gave her something different to chew on. She wasn't just a "mean girl"—she was a catalyst for some of the biggest messes in the show's history.
The Simone Sinclair Effect: More Than Just a Mean Girl
Most TV antagonists are one-note. They hate the protagonist for no reason, they wear pink on Wednesdays, and they eventually get a redemption arc that feels unearned. Simone Sinclair wasn't exactly that. She was Bay’s former best friend, which added a layer of betrayal to everything she did. When Maiara Walsh took the role, she brought a specific kind of "rich girl" intensity that made her scenes with Vanessa Marano (Bay) feel incredibly tense.
You’ve gotta remember the stakes back then. Simone didn't just gossip in the hallway. She actively blew up lives. The biggest moment—the one that still makes fans' blood boil—was her one-night stand with Emmett Bledsoe. At the time, "Bemmett" (Bay and Emmett) was the couple of the show. People were obsessed. Then Simone enters the picture, there’s a music festival, a lot of emotional tension, and suddenly, the unthinkable happens.
👉 See also: Questions From Black Card Revoked: The Culture Test That Might Just Get You Roasted
It wasn't just a random hookup. It was a calculated move that shattered the trust between almost every major character. Toby (Bay's brother) was dating Simone. Bay was dating Emmett. In one night, Simone managed to hurt both Kennish siblings and effectively end the show's most popular relationship. That takes a certain kind of narrative power.
Why Maiara Walsh Switched at Birth Appearance Worked
Walsh has this ability to play "composed but crumbling." If you look closely at her performance in Season 1 and Season 2, she isn't just playing a villain. She’s playing someone desperate for validation. She was the captain of the field hockey team and the queen bee of Buckner, but her home life was a mess of high expectations and lack of affection.
- She spoke English, Spanish, and Portuguese in real life, which added to her worldly, "it-girl" vibe.
- The actress brought a maturity to the role that made Simone feel older and more dangerous than the other teens.
- Even when she was doing something terrible, you could see the wheels turning.
Later on, the show tried to humanize her a bit. We saw her struggle with the fallout of her actions, especially after the cheating scandal went public. She became a social pariah at school. Watching her deal with the loss of her status was actually kind of fascinating, even if you wanted to see her get her comeuppance. It showed that the writers—and Walsh—knew that a character like Simone is more interesting when she's failing.
✨ Don't miss: The Reality of Sex Movies From Africa: Censorship, Nollywood, and the Digital Underground
The Return of Simone in Season 5
A lot of fans forget that Simone actually came back for the final season. After being a recurring character in the early years (2012–2013), she made a guest appearance in 2017. By then, the "switch" had long been public knowledge, and everyone had grown up. Seeing her as an adult gave the show a chance to provide some closure.
She wasn't the same girl who sabotaged Daphne’s basketball career or cheated on Toby. She was just... a person. It was a quiet moment of reflection for a show that usually thrived on high-volume drama. It reminded the audience that the "monsters" of high school usually just turn into regular adults who have to live with their cringey pasts.
The Legacy of the Character
Why do we still care about this specific character in 2026? It’s because Maiara Walsh Switched at Birth work represented a very specific era of teen drama. This was the "Peak ABC Family" era. The show was tackling massive themes like deaf culture, classism, and identity, but it still needed that soap-opera spice to keep people tuning in every week. Simone was that spice.
🔗 Read more: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
Without her, the stakes for Bay and Toby wouldn't have felt as high. She was the mirror that showed the Kennish kids how lucky they actually were, even if she was doing it by setting their lives on fire. Plus, Walsh's career since then—moving into directing and starring in things like Good Trouble—shows that she was always more than just the girl who broke up Bemmett.
Honestly, if you go back and rewatch those early seasons now, Simone is much more sympathetic. You see a girl who is clearly spiraling and has no healthy way to express it. It doesn't excuse her being a "backstabber," but it makes for great television.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to dive back into the world of the switch or keep up with the actress, here is what you should do:
- Watch the "Game On" Episode: This is Season 1, Episode 21. It’s the peak of the Simone drama and showcases Walsh’s best work on the series.
- Follow Maiara Walsh’s Directorial Work: She has shifted heavily into filmmaking and creative directing. Checking out her recent projects gives you a great perspective on how she's evolved since her Freeform days.
- Check out Good Trouble: If you miss the vibe of Switched at Birth, Walsh appeared in the spinoff of The Fosters, which carries a similar emotional weight and social consciousness.
- Re-examine the Buckner vs. Carlton Arc: Look at how Simone acted as a bridge between the two schools. It's a subtle part of the writing that often gets overlooked in favor of the romance drama.
The reality is that characters like Simone Sinclair are necessary. They are the friction that forces the protagonists to grow. Maiara Walsh didn't just play a role; she created a benchmark for how to be a memorable, complex antagonist in a series that was already packed with talent.