Issa Rae

TV Actress

Jo-Issa Rae Diop, credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, producer, and comedian. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl.

Full Name

Jo-Issa Rae Diop

Birthday

Jan 12, 1985

deathday

AGE

BORN

United States

BIrth SIGN

Capricorn

RElationship

Married

Height

5′ 9″

Net Worth

$4M

About

Issa Rae was born Jo-Issa Rae Diop on January 12, 1985, in Los Angeles, California. Her zodiac sign is Capricorn and her ethnicity is African-American. She was raised by a single mother who ran a day care center out of their home. Issa attended the prestigious all-girls school, Stuart Hall for Girls in Los Angeles. After graduating from high school she went to Stanford University where she majored in African and African-American studies and minored in political science. While at Stanford, Issa created her own YouTube web series called "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl."

In 2011, Issa graduated with honors and decided to pursue a career as an actress and writer. She moved to Los Angeles and wrote a television pilot that earned her a spot in the 2012 Women In Film Finishing Fund Fellowship. That same year she won the Shorty Award for Best Web Show. The following year she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist.

In 2016, Issa was cast in the HBO comedy series "Insecure" which she also created and executive produced with Larry Wilmore & Amy Aniobi. The show has been critically acclaimed since its debut and has earned several awards including two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (for Issa) as well as several Golden Globe nominations.

As well as being an award-winning actress and producer, Issa is also an author having written two books; an essay collection titled “The Misadventures Of Awkward Black Girl” which debuted at number six on The New York Times bestsellers list and “The Cake: A Memoir” which was released in 2021

Life Timeline

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1985</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Issa Rae is Born</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">On January 12, 1985, Issa Rae was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents are Dr. Abdoulaye Diop and Delyna Hayward.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2007</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Graduates from Stanford University</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Rae graduated with a degree in African & African American Studies and a minor in Political Science.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2011</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Launches YouTube Series "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl"</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Rae launches her YouTube series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl”, which will go on to become a cult classic.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2013</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">New York Times Bestseller</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Rae's memoir "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl" becomes a New York Times Bestseller.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2016</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">HBO Series "Insecure" Premieres</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Rae co-creates and stars in the HBO series "Insecure", which will run for four seasons.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2018</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Golden Globe Nomination</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Rae is nominated for a Golden Globe award for her performance in the TV series "Insecure".</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2020</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Creates Raedio Music Label</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Launches Raedio, a music label and creative agency.</p></div>

Why We Love Them

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">A.</span> She's Talented</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Issa Rae is a talented actress and writer. She has created her own show, Insecure, which she also stars in and writes for. She has been nominated for multiple awards for her work on the show, including an Emmy.</p></div>

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">B.</span> She's an Inspiration</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Issa Rae is an inspiration to many. Her career and success story prove that you can achieve your dreams through hard work and dedication. She is a great example of how to be a successful woman in the entertainment industry.</p></div>

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">C.</span> She's Funny</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Issa Rae is hilarious. Her sense of humor is what makes her show, Insecure, so popular. She always has something funny to say or do and her witty comments are sure to make you laugh.</p></div>

Interesting Facts

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">1.</span> First African American Woman to be Emmy Nominated</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Issa Rae was the first African American woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for acting in 2017, for her work on the HBO series Insecure.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">2.</span> Co-Created YouTube Web Series</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">In 2011, Issa Rae co-created the YouTube web series "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl," which gained millions of views and earned her two Shorty Awards.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">3.</span> Graduated From Stanford with a Degree in African & African American Studies</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Issa Rae graduated from Stanford University in 2007 with a degree in African & African American studies.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">4.</span> Published Author</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">In 2015, Issa Rae published her first book, a collection of essays called The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.</p></div>