Onyx Collective and OWN announce talent for “The Hair Tales”
Today, Disney’s Onyx Collective and OWN jointly announced the guests for “The Hair Tales,” from executive producers Tracee Ellis Ross and Michaela angela Davis. Oprah Winfrey, who also serves as executive producer, will be featured alongside Issa Rae, Chlöe Bailey, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Marsai Martin and Chika. The six-part limited docuseries will premiere later this year on OWN and Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories. Each episode will lead the audience through a revelatory journey of connecting the personal tales of phenomenal Black women to broader societal and historic themes.
Conceptualized by Michaela angela Davis and hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross, episodes will feature stories offering an honest and layered look into the complex culture of Black hair and, ultimately, Black women’s identity, creativity and contributions to society — all delivered with a rare mix of intelligence, humor, style, joy and justice.
“The Hair Tales” is produced by Culture House, Joy Mill Entertainment, Tetravision and Harpo Films. Oprah Winfrey, Tracee Ellis Ross, Michaela angela Davis, Tara Duncan, Raeshem Nijhon, and Carri Twigg serve as executive producers. Concept by Michaela angela Davis.
Over the course of her esteemed career, Oprah Winfrey has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world. As host of the top-rated, award-winning “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” she entertained, enlightened and uplifted millions of viewers for 25 years. Winfrey’s accomplishments as a global media leader and philanthropist have established her as one of the most influential and admired public figures in the world today.
Issa Rae is best known as co-creator, co-writer and star of the HBO television series “Insecure” (2016-2021), for which she has been nominated for multiple Golden Globe® Awards and Primetime Emmy® Awards. Additional credits include “The Hate U Give,” “The Lovebirds,” “Little” and “The Photograph.” She is also slated to join “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Rae has also launched HOORAE, a media company and umbrella banner to consolidate film and TV projects from Issa Rae Productions and her other media projects. HOORAE’s upcoming projects include “Sweet Life: Los Angeles,” “Rap Sh!t” and the “Project Greenlight” reboot. In 2021, Rae partnered with Sienna Naturals to work on a line of hair products. She has been vocal about her hair journey throughout her career.
Chlöe Bailey rose to fame as a member of the GRAMMY®-nominated sister duo Chlöe x Halle. The group caught the attention of Beyoncé and was immediately signed to her Parkwood Entertainment company. From splashing the pages of countless major publications, performing at the Super Bowl, BET Awards and Essence Festival and holding five GRAMMY nominations, Chlöe x Halle soared to global stardom. Chlöe Bailey continues to record with Chlöe x Halle while also pursuing a solo career. She debuted her first solo single, “Have Mercy,” which quickly became a bona fide radio smash and is also known for her role as Jazz Forster on the Freeform hit comedy “grown-ish.”
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) is an activist, a legislator, a survivor, and the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Throughout her career, Congresswoman Pressley has fought to ensure that those closest to the pain are closest to the power — driving and informing policymaking. In Congress, she has been a champion for justice and healing: reproductive justice, justice for immigrants, consumer justice, justice for seniors, justice for workers, justice for survivors of sexual violence, justice for formerly and currently incarcerated individuals, and healing for those who have experienced trauma. She has also turned her experience living with alopecia into action, becoming a leading voice fighting to raise awareness and support for the alopecia community across the nation. Congresswoman Pressley currently serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Committee on Financial Services. Prior to being elected to Congress, she served on the Boston City Council for eight years and was the first woman of color elected to the council in its 100-year history.
Marsai Martin is a rising star already on course to be a whirlwind sensation. Best known for her role as Diane Johnson on the ABC Emmy-nominated hit comedy “black-ish,” Martin’s performance has earned her 9 NAACP Image Awards and 3 BET Awards. Martin uplifts diverse and young voices through her production company, Genius Productions, which signed an overall deal with Universal. At the age of 10, she conceptualized and pitched a movie idea which became the feature film “Little.” As the star and executive producer on the film, she has become a part of Hollywood history as the youngest person to EP a major Hollywood film. Additional credits include her interior design series for Discovery+ “Remix My Space,” Universal/Dreamworks Animation “Spirit Untamed,” Paramount’s “Paw Patrol,” and will next be seen in the Paramount+ feature film “Fantasy Football.”
Onyx Collective and OWN’s “The Hair Tales,”Chika, born Jane Chika Oranika, is a rapper who rose to fame when her video “A Letter to Kanye Omari West” went viral in 2018, criticizing West for his public support of Donald Trump and endorsement of political commentator Candace Owens. She released her debut single, “No Squares,” in April 2019. Later that year, Chika featured in Calvin Klein’s #MyCalvins campaign, stating, “I think it opens up the floor for a conversation and dialogue regarding media representation and diversity. Bodies of different shapes and sizes shouldn’t be censored or hidden.” In 2020, she was included in XXL’s 2020 Freshman Class and was nominated for the GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist.