Drea Okeke is bringing Nigerian charm to America through her lively and often playful TikTok videos. She can be seen teaching Nigerian slang to celebrities on the red carpet to dressing up as SpongeBob. If this silliness isn’t enough for you, look out for her new game coming out this summer: Nonsense Slangs. When this influencer isn’t blowing up your social media she can be seen supporting education through expanding schools in Nigeria and giving away scholarships to first-generation African American college students. As an ex-engineer herself, she understands the value of a good education. Read on to learn more about Drea Okeke.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54, zissue 54.2Kira BuccaJune 10, 2024TikTok, education, influencer, game, board game, Culture, comedyComment

Jackie Hoffman Is Far From PC

I had never seen Jackie Hoffman perform live before, but I have enjoyed her characters on TV and films, most recently Uma Heller in Only Murders in the Building. She is often tight casted to play a mouthy older jewish woman, which is basically her personality — so it is a perfect match! What I wasn’t as familiar with is her Broadway background and her solo shows! This evening I learned that Jackie Hoffman can sing!!

Art, zIssue 48Kira BuccaMarch 29, 2023comedian, comedy, empowering women, ageless, broadway, singer, actressComment

Being A Hero Over The Generations

In celebration of Women’s History Month Joe’s Pub has an amazing cast of women coming to their stage! I had the pleasure to watch one of their monthly shows, Generation Women. This heartwarming show of female empowerment will have the audience laughing and crying in their seats in no time!

Britt Rentschler - Inspiring Through Stories

Britt Rentschler is an indie filmmaker and actress to keep your eye on. When she isn’t creating fun masterpieces, she is dedicated to encouraging young creative minds at Young Storytellers, and passionate about our democracy, volunteering at the LA LGBT center and Vote Forward. Read on to discover more about Britt’s creative process, her secret to writing compelling comedies, and the inspiring ways she gives back.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 46J. BellingerDecember 19, 2022filmmaking, film, movie, comedy, moviestowatch, indie films, women supporting women, LGBTQ rightsComment

The Queen of Comedy - Jiaoying Summers

Jiaoying Summers is more than a pretty face! She is a comedian, producer, CEO, and Founder of Summers Media. She does philanthropic work uniting Asia and the USA and is also a spokesperson empowering women and providing a safe space for all black, all women, all Latino, LGBTQ, and Asian to be themselves on her two open mic clubs in LA and Pasadena. Summers became a sensation on TikTok during the pandemic and talked with Jejune about giving a voice to the minority and the misrepresentation of the Asian community, and much more. Keep reading to know more about the Queen of Comedy.

Zarna Garg is Whipping Up Some Laughs

Comedian Zarna Garg, affectionally known as ‘Auntie Z,’ is a TikTok sensation. Encouraged by her son, Zarna downloaded TikTok early in the pandemic and uploaded some of her jokes to the platform. Within the first week, her jokes had garnered 3 million views. Before TikTok fame and stand-up, Zarna had passed the bar and became a lawyer before trying her hand in comedy. She encourages everyone, especially young Indians, to veer off the beaten path and try comedy, if that is where their heart is. Zarna also currently helps out with Comedy Cures and fundraises for Children's Hope India. Both are organizations near and dear to her heart where she can share her comedy to help out those in need. Continue reading our interview with Zarna Garg to learn (and laugh) some more!

Focus On The Good Things With Elizabeth Alderfer

Los Angeles-based actress Elizabeth Alderfer is the comic relief we have been waiting for. As a master in the comedy genre and an undying passion for entertaining she is sure to brighten your spirits. Elizabeth constantly adds emphasis to the good things in life and uses her acting skills to step into roles a such. Starting as a young dancer and introduced to acting, she quickly fell in love with the craft. Today you can see her in incredible shows like “Orange Is The New Black” and “The Good Wife”. Currently, she stars in “A.P. Bio”, a hit Peacock comedy series playing Lynette, an adorably hilarious payroll woman. So be sure to check those titles out and so much more Elizabeth has to offer. Apart from being an astounding actress who learns something different from each role she takes on, she also educates herself and aids various humanitarian organizations like No One Left Behind: an organization that fights for Afghan interpreters who have worked with our soldiers. Please continue reading below to learn more about this amazing human being, her love for acting, her fight against world hunger, and her quarantine pass time!

Creativity Never Stops for Lara Mamoun

What’s the best thing about creativity? You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. Despite being a multi-Award Winning screenwriter, this artist continues seeking creative challenges to become the best version of herself. The artist is Lara Mamoun! Aside from her directed film — My World — screened at Plaza Theater recently, the driven Atlanta screenwriter is simultaneously working with Netflix, directing her first feature film and assistant directing a dramatic all-Black production. Above and beyond, she expanded her horizons and dove into the Comedy and Music world, where she is a cast member of a live-sketch comedy show and is currently on the move to launch her first EP — Purple Skies. There is no stopping when it comes to Lara Mamoun and Jejune is here for it. Come check out our interview with Mamoun to learn more about her exciting creative journey as she pushes boundaries to become the best version of herself.

COVER - Welcome Tahj Mowry

Anyone looking for an actor to completely obsess over? Well ding ding ding, Tahj Mowry is your guy! Yes, you heard that right, the Tahj Mowry. Based in Los Angeles, this triple threat prodigy is nothing short of an icon. You may know him as the adorable kid from Seventeen again or TJ Henderson from Smartguy. Well not anymore. Tahj is all grown up and bringing bigger and better projects to the acting industry. One of Tahj’s recent flicks, “Welcome Matt”, further enforces this idea. “Welcome Matt” is a movie that represents how all of us have been feeling during the pandemic. He brings the important message of anxiety and mental health to the big screen and serves it with stomach crunching comedy suitable for the perfect movie night. Popcorn is a must!

Besides being a well-rounded actor making waves in the comedy and drama scene, Tahj also spends his time heavily invested in charitable organizations. You can find him sponsoring a child in the Dominican Republic through “Project Mañana”, by supplying necessities and education to those in need. Tahj often forgets he is refereed to as an influential seasoned actor, but we can’t see why. Jejune is excited to speak with Tahj about his upcoming projects, all of his awesome ways of giving back to those less fortunate, and his continued approach to exuding black excellence. Sit down, take a load off, and enjoy this powerful cover feature with Tahj Mowry.

COVER - Pride House LA Is Here To Stay!

Happy Pride Month! June is, without a doubt, the most colorful and unapologetic time of the year. Pride amplifies the LGBTQIA + community’s voice and uplifts the message of “loud and proud” queerness. Why cant it be pride every month?

Speaking of amplifying voices, TikTok has become an important vehicle for the LGBTQIA + community to express themselves. Many gay, non-binary, and gender varying influencers have built meaningful platforms on TikTok; proving it remains a safe place for LGBTQIA + youth and allies.

Kyle Matthew: Progress with Impact

Keep an eye out for Kyle Matthew! With multiple talents up his sleeves - actor, writer, and producer - Kyle is definitely making his name known. Why do I say that? Because he starred in two films which were premiered successfully in Burbank International Film Festival and SXSW Film Festival straight after finishing USC’s B.A. Acting Program. Now, more opportunities are on the horizon for him such as landing a guest star role in Disney's Bunk'd and taking the comedy world by storm. Let’s dive into our exclusive interview with Kyle on the footprints he is imprinting in the entertainment industry and working with Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Rachel LaiJune 15, 2021actor, Jewish, big brother, big sister, giveback, comedy, film industry, filmComment

Becky CJ: Losing Your Perspective, Finding Yourself

A loss of perspective makes us feel many different emotions, but, sometimes, we can learn that it is ok to lose something to help us discover new doors in our lives. South London-based Queer artist Becky CJ reminds us with her song Losing Your Perspective that we should lose our perspective to finding ourselves. The song is about falling in love with your best friend because when she and her current partner lost their perspective, they started to explore their relationship again. The song shows Becky CJ’s velvety vocals and her music that blends glitchy electronics and soft hues. We also knew her from hilarious Tinder Nightmares TikToks that she created from the awful tinder messages of people. We talked to Becky CJ about her music, TikTok videos, and queer representation in the music industry. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about her.

COVER: Adam Waheed - The King Of Comedy

If you don’t mind, I would like to tell you a little bit about Adam Waheed. This handsome Egyptian from New York City is a lot more than a pretty face. In fact, his good looks are almost an after thought in his comedy. He is known for playing innocent and playful roles where he is typically the ridiculous guy who leaves his ladies, friends, co-workers, or doctors completely flabbergasted. The shocking story behind Adam, and his massive social media following, is that he is a self-made man. He started out as wanting to be an actor, but there were just not enough roles for someone who looks like him. So, he took things into his own hands and started an empire of social media comedy. Cute, short skits that resemble videos one would see on sites like Funny or Die and CollegeHumor, with one small exception — Adam always casts a very diverse group of talent in all his videos. While the rest of the world is waking up to this, this is just natural for all of Adam’s skits. Adam’s skills don’t stop there. He has recently branched out to producing and acting in short films, like Tribes, and opening schools across the world for underprivileged kids. Adam certainly does it all. To learn more, please click here!

Tampon Rock Podcast - There Isn’t Just One LGBTQ+ Story To Tell

If you love a good binge-listen and looking for a new podcast to add to your queue, look no further. The ladies of Tampon Rock just completed their first season and let us tell you… it is binge-worthy. The scripted podcast follows two lesbian narrators, Chloe and Deja, as they luckily and unluckily navigate the Oakland love and music scene. There’s quirky music, there’s comedy, and (what we love most of all) there’s relatable and authentic storytelling. In our interview with the team behind Tampon Rock —Alysia Brown, Sarah Aument, and Sophie Dinicol— we discuss the importance of representation when it comes to telling Queer stories of all kinds. We dive into the show’s unique musical nature, the complexity of character creation, and recording during the pandemic. Want to know more? Please read our exclusive interview with the creators of Tampon Rock below.

zIssue 28, ArtForrest JohnsonJanuary 15, 2021podcast, comedy, music, new, queer, Black, LGBTQ+, lesbian, tampon rock, diversity, media, comedian, podastsComment

We Need Deep Latinx Storytelling - Chrissie Fit

Chrissie Fit is a star on the horizon of change. Chrissie is known for her work in the Pitch Perfect franchise as “Flo” and she has returned to the big screen in All My Life with Harry Shum Jr. and Jessica Rothe which premiered in theatres on December 4th, When we asked if she was involved in any humanitarian work, Chrissie responded: “I feel like I have my hands in everything!”. After speaking with the Cuban actress, it was easy to see that Chrissie brings a critical and inspirational lens to her work behind the camera and in her everyday life to promote a better and more diverse future. In our interview with Chrissie, she dives deep into what it means to have representation for Latinx communities in Hollywood and beyond. Chrissie talks about the intersectional nature of representation in film and television as well as representation at the polls for Latinx voters in the 2020 election. For more on Chrissie Fit, please read our interview below.

Natasha Behnam - Flipping the Script in American Pie: Girls' Rules

As a young actress, writer, and director, Natasha Behnam enjoys balancing human connection and empathy with a generous dose of awareness and fun in her creative pursuits. Natasha stars in Netflix’s new movie American Pie: Girls’ Rules, a gender-flipped new reimagining of the 1999 cult classic, American Pie. Playing the role of Michelle, an empowered young feminist, Natasha gives us all the details about this new woman-led sex comedy and her future within the genre. Alongside her Hollywood career, Natasha is passionate about supporting a variety of causes close to her heart, including body positivity, the Black Lives Matter movement, and immigrant and refugee rights, and frequently volunteers with South LA Cafe to help her local community. Please read our interview with Natasha to get a full slice of her thoughts on American Pie: Girls’ Rules and how she is spreading positivity on and off-screen.

Archer's Amber Nash - Playing a Blonde Bisexual Bombshell

“Holy Shit Snacks!” is the catchphrase of Archer’s Pam Poovey, a blonde bisexual bombshell who is making waves in pop-culture. When we got the chance to sit down with Amber Nash, the voice-over artist responsible for bringing the beloved character to life, we couldn’t help but think “Holy Shit Snacks” ourselves. In our interview with Amber, she tells us about her experience playing Pam throughout Archer’s 11 seasons and her new venture of acting on screen. We also got to speak to her about her role as a board member with Project Chimps, an organization that gives retired lab chimps a forever home on a secluded sanctuary. Bringing her passion to her work and philanthropic efforts, Amber Nash is a voice of wit and passion. Read our exclusive interview with Amber below.

Lance Alexander's Start As A Young Comedian

Meet Lance Alexander, a fourteen-year-old comedian who is living his dream by bringing smiles to others as an actor and volunteer. The rising star got his start in comedy when discovered at the age of 12. Moving from West Chester Ohio to Los Angeles as a young teen, Lance’s humorous personality and dedication to his craft helped in land roles on Raven’s Home and Teachers. Now, Lance plays Elvis Maybury, a lovable teen with a big heart on Netflix’s award-winning comedy, Family Reunion — his biggest role yet. When he isn’t preparing for behind-the-camera work, Lance spends time at Best Buddies, the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We speak to Lance about his role on Family Reunion, his work at Best Buddies, and comedy’s place in our current social reality. Read our interview with Lance to learn just how fluent in comedy this teen-wonder really is and where he’s going next.

Jax Malcolm: The Actor, Designer, & Athlete Takes on Hollywood

Jax Riley Malcom seemingly inherited his acting drive out of the void. At just five years old, Jax pondered as to why he wasn’t on television. Soon after, he learned that he would need an agent and would later land his first role for a Smart Power commercial. He went on to work with Comedy Central and IFC with credits including the Kroll Show, Comedy Bang Bang!, and The Birthday Boys.

The Californian born artist has made surmountable progression within the fields of athletics, fashion, and music. He was on the varsity swim team at his high school, competitive USA Swimming club swimmer, and a Junior Olympian / Championship team member. He also has a strong foundation in fashion design and styling. As a fashion designer, he recently came out with his collection Trident. Please read our exclusive interview to learn more about Jax Malcom.

Brandon Ash-Mohammed: A Place For Black Queer Comics

What does it mean to be a comedian in 2020? The etymology of comedy is derived from 14c., it was "narrative with a happy ending; any composition intended for amusement," from Old French comedie (14c.), "a poem" (not in the theatrical sense) and directly from Latin comoedia. Comedic styles have differed throughout the ages, some more performative in execution, some story driven, and others purely satirical.

Comedians have become the layman’s philosopher, they tackle topics, personal, relatable, controversial. They dissect our societal norms and provide a humorous analysis on our values. Brandon Ash-Mohammed is part of a new generation of comedians carving his own lane in stand up. For starters, he is the first ever queer black Canadian comedian to release a comedy album, Capricornication. Brandon is also the creator of The Ethnic Rainbow, Canada’s first and only comedy show for LGBTQ comedians of colour. Please read our exclusive interview to earn more about Brandon Ash-Mohammed.

Art, zIssue 25Jejune ContributorAugust 3, 2020comedy, performers, performing, gay, LGBTQ+, lgbtq, LGBTQ, lgbt, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, black rights, African AmericanComment