Issa Rae

Issa Rae, born Jo-Issa Rae Diop on January 12, 1985, is an American actress, writer, and producer. She gained recognition through her YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl and has since continued to develop her YouTube channel, featuring content created by black individuals. Rae's breakthrough came as the co-creator, co-writer, and star of the HBO series Insecure (2016–2021), earning her nominations for Golden Globe Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards. Her memoir, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl (2015), became a New York Times bestseller. Rae is also known for her roles in films such as The Hate U Give (2018), Little (2019), The Photograph (2020), The Lovebirds (2020), and the television series A Black Lady Sketch Show.