Tuesday night, Insecure mastermind Issa Rae received the Star Power Award during the 2017 Black Girls Rock! Awards.
Rae accepted the award from co-star Jay Ellis, who plays Lawrence on the HBO hit series, joking that she “would never cheat on [him] in real life.”
The actress and showrunner thanked many in the audience before reflecting on her pre-teen years as a boy crazy awkward black girl.
“For a long time, much like Yara said, I defined myself by what I wasn’t, which constantly set me up for failure and disappointment,” Rae said. “And, my life changed when I focused on what I was good at, what I liked most about myself and what made me stand out.”
Rae’s Insecure was renewed for a third season earlier this month and the actress is set to star in the upcoming film Empress of Serenity, which was announced earlier this year.