Issa Rae

Jo-Issa Rae Diop credited professionally as Issa Rae is a prominent American actress, writer, and producer. She is renowned as the founder of Hoorae Media and recognized for her significant role as co-creator, co-writer, and star of the acclaimed HBO television series Insecure (2016–2021), landing her numerous Golden Globes Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards nominations. Rae commenced her illustrious career with her compelling YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl which drew massive attention. Her continuous innovation on her YouTube channel, featuring various short films, web series, and other content created by black people resulted in her 2015 memoir, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl becoming a New York Times bestseller. She has marked her footprints in feature films showing her versatility in drama, comedy and romance movies, which earned her nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Critics' Choice Movie Awards. Moreover, she has also catered her voice for animated movies, winning an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2020. This talented artist has made it to the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world twice, once in 2018 and again in 2022, and has made it to Forbes '30 Under 30' list in 2014. Besides her accomplishments in the entertainment industry, she is deeply involved in civil rights and women's rights movements, and actively works with organizations like the ACLU, BLD PWR, and Black Lives Matter.