• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood

'Insecure' Star Yvonne Orji On Inspiring The Next Generation Of Immigrant Children: "I Hope They Say 'I Can Do It Too'"

At ESSENCE's 10th Annual Black Women In Hollywood Awards, the actress discussed living out her wildest dreams and inspiring the next generation of immigrant families.
‘Insecure’ Star Yvonne Orji Proclaims She’s Living Out Her Dreams At ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood
Leon Bennett
By Lauren Porter · Updated October 26, 2020
5335831335001

Yvonne Orji has come a long way from her homeland of Nigeria.

Raised in Maryland by her immigrant parents, the Insecure actress shared that attending her first ever ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood event, for the tenth anniversary no less, is a dream come true. 

“I am so happy to be here because I have been dreaming of this moment,” said the star on the red carpet. “I have seen myself here before I got here and the fact that this year I get invited, I’m just so honored because all these people that I have admired and looked up to — they’re all here!”

Knowing that she’s an inspiration to little girls around the world is something she describes as “brazy,” a hilarious quip from her hit HBO show, because her Nigerian background didn’t expose her to the bright lights of Tinsel Town. 

Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest in hair, beauty, style and celebrity news.

“I didn’t grow up on TV, my parents were as immigrant as they come!,” she said jokingly.

“You must study, you must read your books! I grew up on books and the fact that I’m here in Hollywood living out my Hollywood dream…I hope the next generation of immigrant kids can say, ‘you know someone else is doing it, they’re not necessarily on a traditional path and they’re being successful on whatever they’re doing, I think I can do it too,’ so that’s a blessing because I need those people in my life.”

Well said Yvonne!

 

&body=https://www.essence.com/awards-events/red-carpet/black-women-hollywood/yvonne-orji-nigerian-immigrant-parents/" target="_blank" class="email">
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now