ISSA RAE

b. 1988

Los Angeles, California

Actress, director, producer

Issa Rae put awkward black girls on the map, normalized rapping to yourself in the mirror, and created spaces for many of us to thrive.

It all started with her YouTube series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl,” which she wrote, directed, and produced. The series won a Shorty Award for Best Web Show in 2013. Then Insecure took the world by storm, and Issa hasn’t slowed down since.

On-screen, she’s also starred in The Photograph and The Lovebirds. Rae is also an Executive Producer for A Black Lady Sketch Show - the first sketch comedy written, directed, and stars all black women. Rae is also New York Times best-selling author with her memoir, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.