She took the entertainment world by storm with the release of the debut season of the HBO comedy, Insecure, and she’s set to do it all again on the 23 July with the launch of the second season!
The amazing American actress, director, writer, producer and web series creator, Jo-Issa “Issa” Rae Diop is famously known for being the mind behind the YouTube web series, Awkward Black Girl. A cultural phenomenon, Issa has proven that women of colour are unique and equally strong in their own way – even if they’re a bit shy or awkward! Her humour, intelligence and charm is what sets her apart from most young actresses in Hollywood, and she’s already paving a road of success that’s sure to leave a lasting impression for years to come.
In honour of her success and the release of Insecure season 2, we’re zooming in on the fabulously quirky Issa Rae.
Her name is a combination of both her grandmother’s first names: Joyce and Isseu.
Issa was born in Los Angeles, in the United States, but later grew up in Potomac, Maryland (known for being a wealthy area) before she and her family ended up returning to the California area. Upon returning to her hometown, Issa was ridiculed in school for having a proper, ‘White’ accent.
Earlier this year, the comedian was honoured by the City of Los Angeles for her work with HBO.
Over the past few months, she was nominated for multiple acting awards, such as the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy and the MTV Movie & TV Award for Next Generation artists.
She authored a New York Times best-selling memoir called ‘The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl’, and is often praised by A-list celebrities, such as Kerry Washington and Pharrell Williams, for her influential work.