I am very interested in female characters and bringing a new perspective to mediums where not necessarily that's been valued at all.

Like a lot of young women, I went through an entire period where I hated female characters - I didn't want to read about them! I thought I was going to be the cool girl who was not like other girls.

Support the female voice in all its forms. Support other female creators and work to make an environment that is inclusive and allows female-led projects to thrive organically.

I was always looking for the female characters in sci-fi and fantasy who were more than just the girlfriend.

I never expected I was going to travel the world playing gigs with my band and best friends. I have surpassed any dreams I had.

Even with protection, even with death threats, I can publish, I can travel and I can live the life that I want and not the one my parents want or some imam somewhere thinks I should live.

When you meet a new woman who does stand-up, it is instantly like, 'Yes! In the gang'. Because you know the logistics of the job: they travel a lot, it's lonely in dressing rooms, you know that they have bad gigs. That means they don't have to prove themselves to me.

Every black man in Chicago walks through the world differently, and I think what young black boys do is observe, and that's what gives them their road map.