When it comes to representing for black female comedians, these women are not only funny, but they are about their business and building bridges for other black women to come up and succeed. They have been part of some of the most hilarious moments in TV and film, and several continue to hold their own in entertainment. Check out 13 femme phenoms slaying the comedy game:
Quinta Brunson
If you've never seen her self-produced series The Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date, you are truly missing out on some good laughs and relatable tea. Quinta Brunson, a writer, producer, comedian, and actress, has also produced and acted in BuzzFeed Video content and developed streaming series with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures. Her voice has recently been featured on Netflix's Big Mouth and Adult Swim's Lazor Wulf.
Tiffany Haddish
We are so here for our favorite "We Ready" sis who continues to glow up in Hollywood. From her start being consistently featured in works including Real Husbands of Hollywood, and The Carmichael Show, to her breakout role in Girls Trip and on to Night School, The Last OG and Self Made, Tiffany Haddish has done nothing but flourish and rise. She made history as the first black female stand-up comedian to host Saturday Night Live in 2017, and landed a big deal with Groupon as a spokeswoman. Today, the best-selling author is paying it forward with the launch of an internship program and has an upcoming project with legends Billy Crystal and Sharon Stone called "Here Today".
Amanda Seales
We loved her as the well-put-together mom and friend on Insecure, and she's a multi-hyphenate who proves that you don't have to box yourself into one lane. The former MTV VJ and The Real talk show host now leads the Small Doses podcast and Smart Funny & Black (SFB) Entertainment, and she does not hold her tongue when it comes to commentary. Amanda Seales recently partnered with Bumble to launch Dating in Boxes, an improv series about romance and social issues.
Ashley Nicole Black
An Emmy-winner in her own right, Ashley Nicole Black has career receipts that include writing for the TBS late-night show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and being a featured actress and writer for HBO's A Black Lady Sketch Show. She's also appeared on Comedy Central's Drunk History, and the 2014 film An American Education.
Jasmine Luv
Jasmine Luv got her start on social media more than four years ago, and after her videos went viral, she was named one of the "top influencers" by VH1 and an "It Girl" at the 2018 BET Social Awards. She now has more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram alone, has gained features in projects sponsored by companies like AT&T and has served as a red carpet host for the NAACP Awards.
Nicole Byer
Nicole Byer is super-funny as host of Netflix's Nailed It---which got her an Emmy nomination---and she's featured on the streaming platform's series Comedians of the World. She's also hosted a slew of podcasts including Why Won't You Date Me? and 90-Day Bae that will literally have you laughing all the way out loud.
Luenell
One of our favorite aunties has been showing us what true confidence is---rocking the hell out of Savage x Fenty lingerie both online and in a live show----and she recently appeared in an episode of Power Book II: Ghost, the spin-off to Starz's Power series. She's held down a successful career in comedy for more than 20 years and has been featured with the likes of Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name), Lady GaGa, Beyonce ("Telephone" video), Rickey Smiley, Master P (I Got the Hook-Up 2), Snoop Dogg, Martin Lawrence, Katt Williams and Kevin Hart. She's set to appear alongside Murphy again in Coming 2 America next spring.
LaLa Milan
When LaLa first hit the scene, you could not scroll through your feed without seeing a viral video featuring her crazy reenactments of pop culture and celebrity moments and her videos that make you laugh until you cry, and she's since grown her online following to more than 3.4 million. Her role as part of the cool and accomplished crew of Boomerang, a spin-off of the Eddie Murphy classic, was the perfect addition to the show, and she's always refreshing to watch hosting red carpet interviews. She's been a Savage x Fenty ambassador, did a legendary virtual table read directed by Sanaa Lathan and featuring heavyweights like Cedric the Entertainer and Wayne Brady, and now hosts a podcast called The Salon.
Sommore
One of the "Queens of Comedy", Sommore has sold-out shows and been featured in her own Netflix special Sommore: The Reign Continues. She's also been in cult classics including Ice Cube's Friday After Next, Family Reunion, and Soul Plane. She remains engaged with her more than 950,000 followers on Instagram, has been featured on shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The View. She continues to tour both domestically and internationally, keeping the grind and hustle going.
Jessica Williams
She got her claim to mainstream fame as the senior correspondent on The Daily Show and was co-host on the hilariously engaging podcast 2 Dope Queens with Phoebe Robinson. She also starred in Netflix's The Incredible Jessica James, and HBO's Girls, giving us depth, laughter, and a much-needed sprinkle of black girl magic. She will expand her role from the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in part 3 of the franchise, set to release in 2021.
Naomi Ekperigin
Naomi Ekperigin uses comedic savvy and tell-it-like-it-is candor to talk about issues that hit home, from racism to capitalism to the pandemic, and co-hosts Couple's Therapy podcast with her beau. The actress, stand-up comedian, and writer has appeared on MTV, VH1, and FX's Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, and her insights have been seen in Huffington Post and on VanityFair.com. She's also worked as a writer on Comedy Central's Broad City and Difficult People.
Sasheer Zamata
In 2014, Sasheer Zamata made headlines after becoming the first black woman to join the main cast of SNL since Maya Rudolph's 2007 departure, and she made a name for herself hosting with Drake and impersonating top entertainers like Rihanna, Solange, and Nicki Minaj. She's been a featured actress in Hulu's Woke and Netflix's The Last OG, and she now co-hosts a podcast with Nicole Byer called Best Friends.
Leslie Jones
Leslie Jones has been an Emmy-nominated comedian and a staple on the Saturday Night Live cast. She's also had her own Showtime special, Problem Child and has been a featured performer at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal and the Aspen Comedy Festival. She raised more than an eyebrow starring in the reboot of Ghostbusters in 2016, and owned the screen as a spirit-slaying part of a landmark all-female team. She now hosts ABC's reboot of Supermarket Sweep, adding quirky fun and excitement to the modern remake.
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'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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How Power Women Protect Their Finances With Smart Money Boundaries
No matter what it is, setting boundaries can be challenging, especially when those boundaries involve money. But if you want to sustain success and financial freedom, boundaries are important, both with yourself and with others.
Many wealthy successful women have mastered setting boundaries and prioritizing accountability so that they can ensure they remain that way. Let's face it: If you want a certain quality of life and you work hard to achieve that, you don't want to risk it by taking on habits that jeopardize your financial stability.
Be inspired to not only set money boundaries but keep them by taking heed to the common financial boundaries power women of today establish:
1. They pay themselves first.
Building consistent savings habits is important to wealth-building no matter how much you earn, and the practice is often one that continues even after you're well-booked and well-paid. Actress, producer, and philanthropist Queen Latifah has always been a proponent of this after learning from her mom to "save your money."
This is the epitome of the energy behind paying yourself first. You squirrel something away and take care of yourself by taking care of your future first, before paying any bills. You invest in yourself (within your means and with a budget in mind, of course).
2. They don't loan money without clear repayment rules and expectations are agreed upon.
It's awesome to be able to help people out by loaning them money, but when you don't communicate clearly about repayment (or what will happen if the money is not repaid) you set yourself up for a cycle of taking on other's debts and maybe even building more debt of your own.
Unless you're doing charity, set those boundaries early about when and how a loan will be repaid. And if you know you won't get the money back, rethink the loan altogether.
3. They create budgets that are realistic and reflect their current lifestyle.
In her book, What I Know for Sure, Oprah Winfrey wrote, “I hope the way you spend your money is in line with the truth of who you are and what you care about.” This is key for many successful women, especially when they're budgeting and investing.
Issa Rae told Money.com, "I don’t splurge just because. I will never have 17 cars. I will never have expensive jewelry. I don’t spend that much on my clothes, or shoes. I will spend money on a stylist, and a makeup artist, because those things feel necessary for work. But material things? No."
There's a clear indication that there are clear value systems sustained by what matters to them no matter how much they make, and budgeting is a huge part of that.
4. They consider the long-term effects of a rash purchase before proceeding.
It's totally okay to treat yourself, but if you find yourself impulsively buying things you don't really need or always living check to check because you've maxed out your credit card to take that sixth trip in one year, there's a problem that might put a damper on those financial freedom plans. (That is unless your trip is part of how you make your money, and it's a worthy investment into expanding your prospects.)
Successful women are conscious of the long- and short-term effects of purchases, small and large. They're always thinking about how one action can impact the bigger picture.
5. They are givers and believe in the reciprocity of that.
Many of us are familiar with the famous quote, "To whom much is given, must is required," and there's that undertone of service and charity that is a common thread for wealthy, successful women, especially those who run businesses or lead brands. Involving yourself in acts of service not only enriches your development and that of communities, but it increases your exposure, network, and credibility, often leading to more opportunities to make more money.
Most leading CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals are big on giving back, whether it is through resources, a nonprofit, money, or their time. "As you become more successful, it's important for you to give back. Even if you can't financially give back, kind words and sharing about other businesses on social media mean so much. Every little thing counts. Help out your friends and family with advice, encouragement, and support," said Angela Yee, award-winning radio host and entrepreneur.
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Originally published on August 16, 2024