Sasheer Zamata Joins Saturday Night Live: SNL’s First Black Female Comedian in 5 Years

Sasheer Zamata Joins Saturday Night Live: SNL’s First Black Female Comedian in 5 Years
Zachary Stieber
1/6/2014
Updated:
7/18/2015

Shasheer Zamata has joined Saturday Night Live (SNL) and is now the show’s only black female comedian.

Zamata was among those who received callbacks following an audition of female black performers in December, reported Deadline.

She trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City, and becomes the first black female member in five years, since Maya Rudolph left the show.

She will make her debut on January 18.

Zamata currently hosts a weekly variety show called School Night at ICBNY, performs at other times at ICBNY, and has a webseries called the Pursuit of Sexiness, according to her website.

“And I perform stand up wherever I can,” she said.