Luvvie Ajayi (born Ifeoluwa Ajayi on January 5, 1985[1]), also known as Luvvie Ajayi Jones, is a Nigerian–American author, speaker, and digital strategist.[2] Her book, I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual, was a New York Times best-seller.[3]
Luvvie Ajayi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ifeoluwa Ajayi January 5, 1985 |
| Nationality | Nigerian–American |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign |
| Occupation(s) | Author, digital strategist |
| Notable work | I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual Professional Troublemaker: The Fear Fighter Manual Rising Troublemakers: A Fear-Fighter Manual for Teens |
| Website | awesomelyluvvie |
Early life
editAjayi was born in Nigeria; she moved to Chicago with her family when she was nine. She attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, then the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying psychology.[4]
Career
editAjayi began her career in marketing and digital strategy, and started blogging in 2003. Her site AwesomelyLuvvie.com amassed a following, particularly for Ajayi's recaps of television shows like Scandal, drawing the attention of Scandal showrunner Shonda Rhimes.[5] In 2016, The New York Times reported that Ajayi had an audience of approximately 500,000 between her personal Twitter feed and the Awesomely Luvvie website.[6]
Ajayi published her first book, I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual, with Henry Holt & Co in September 2016; it debuted at number five on the New York Times best-seller list.[6] Ajayi has said the inspiration for the book came after she learned a journalist had plagiarized several paragraphs of her writing—and when confronted, he said he was unaware he should have credited her work.[5] Consequently, a "return to ethics—a return to a higher level of behavior for oneself and others—becomes the central idea of Ajayi’s book," in The Root's description, but the "collection of witty essays is less about pointing fingers and more about building a positive, healthy self and society."[7] The Chicago Tribune called the book "whip-smart, take-no-prisoners hilarious."[4] Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers have acquired I'm Judging You to adapt as a cable comedy series through their company Shondaland and ABC Signature.[8]
In 2016, Ajayi was the first writer invited to speak at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and her event sold out.[6]
In 2018, Ajayi launched two podcasts: "Rants and Randomness with Luvvie Ajayi"[9] and "Jesus and Jollof," cohosted by Yvonne Orji.[10]
In 2021, she published Professional Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual, another New York Times best seller.[11]
Ajayi was selected to be the opening speaker for the 2022 Public Library Association conference and was the closing speaker for the 2022 American Library Association conference.[12][13]
Personal life
editAjayi is a member of Delta Sigma Theta and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences
Bibliography
edit- I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual (2016, Holt McDougal)
- Professional Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual (2021, Penguin Life)
- Rising Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual for Teens (2022, Philomel Books)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "It's My Birthday! About Thankfully Turning 30 - www.awesomelyluvvie.com". www.awesomelyluvvie.com. January 5, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ Wallace, Christina (March 13, 2017). "It's Time To End The Pay Gap For Speakers At Tech Conferences". Forbes. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ "Print Paperback Best-Sellers". The New York Times. October 2, 2016.
- ^ a b Stevens, Heidi (September 13, 2016). "Chicago's Luvvie Ajayi is 'Judging You,' and it's painfully hilarious". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ a b Workneh, Lilly (September 15, 2016). "Luvvie Ajayi Is Judging Us All In Her New Book And We're Thankful For It". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ a b c Newman, Judith (November 4, 2016). "Luvvie Ajayi: The Internet's Newest Comic Phenom". The New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ^ Wabuke, Hope (August 21, 2016). "Luvvie Ajayi Is Only Judging You Because She Wants You to Do Better". The Root. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 7, 2017). "Shondaland To Develop Luvvie Ajayi's Book 'I'm Judging You' As Cable Series". Deadline. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ^ "Luvvie Ajayi: Can Creating Discomfort In Others Help Change The Status Quo?". NPR.org. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "Don't Miss Yvonne Orji and Luvvie Ajayi's New Podcast 'Jesus and Jollof'". OkayAfrica. July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER: The Fear-Fighter Manual". Luvvie Ajayi Jones. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ Wesloh, Bettina (March 24, 2022). "Opening Session with Luvvie Ajayi Jones #PLA2022". Association for Library Service to Children.
- ^ Dankowski, Terra (June 28, 2022). "Making Trouble". American Libraries Magazine.