If you are unfamiliar with who Leslie Jones is, she is most well-known for her recent role as Patty in the new remake of "Ghostbusters." She also has been on "Saturday Night Live" for three seasons as both a writer and an actor. Most recently, Jones has been in the news for her involvement on the social media site Twitter. She has combated cyber-bullying while also using her social media as a way to connect with fans. Jones is able to be a sexy and empowering female figure who does not fit our society's typical mold. If you aren't already a fan, you will be at the end of this article! Here are just a few of the reasons why she's so incredible.
1. She's the oldest person to join SNL as a cast member.
Jones joined the cast at the age of 47 after having an unsuccessful comedy career until that point. The show was specifically looking for female African-American comedians and both she and Sasheer Zamata were picked up. In a segment on this season's Weekend Update, Jones discussed how failure can sometimes be a good thing and to never give up on your dreams. She is an inspiration to many people to continue following their dreams no matter how old they are.
She embodies female sexuality in an unconventional way.
Leslie Jones' humor is usually centered on how outgoing and sexual she is. She shows fans that it's completely acceptable for a female to be confident and own their sexuality. She also breaks the norm of a powerful and flirty woman that we usually see, which again shows female viewers that they can be sexy and strong no matter what they look like or how old they are. In both sketches and Weekend Update segments Leslie has owned her sexuality and has been the dominant female force that she is.
She is a social media queen.
Leslie Jones has a strong presence on social media, but especially on Twitter. Earlier this summer she received a lot of hate and racist comments on Twitter, but rather than ignore them and take the abuse, she fought back. Jones exposed the cyberbullies and helped raise awareness about how cruel people can be on the internet. Many celebrities and fans came to her side and supported her through tweets and videos. Jones also used Twitter as a platform to discuss issues with Hollywood fashion when a designer wouldn't make a dress for her size for the "Ghostbusters" premiere. As a result, designer Cristian Siriano told Leslie via Twitter that he would love to design a gown for her. Jones has also been in the news most recently for her support on Twitter for Team USA at the Olympics. She has been posting videos of her watching several different events while cheering them on from her couch. She gained so much attention from her tweets that NBC decided to send her to Rio so she could watch the action in person. Jones has used her social media to empower others and connect with fellow celebrities.
Jones is the awesome and strong female figure that we need in the media! If you don't already follow her on Twitter, you can do it here. Add some Leslie Jones to your life and I promise you won't regret it.
