For The Sad Girls: Introducing Jacque Aye

In a world where vulnerability is often misunderstood and seen as a weakness, Jacque Aye and her platform Diary of a Sad Black Woman have redefined it as a powerful tool for strength and honesty. With over 32,000 subscribers, she has built a thriving community where oversharing is not only embraced but celebrated, and emotional expression is seen as an essential part of the healing process.

As a writer, creator, and passionate advocate for emotional expression, Jacque empowers her growing audience of "Sad Girls" to embrace their emotions and share their stories. Through her powerful storytelling and deep connection to mental health, she has cultivated a safe space where vulnerability is welcomed, allowing others to connect and find strength in their shared experiences.

Below, Jacque shares her personal journey, creative process, and the profound impact her work has had on both herself and her growing audience.

Q: Diary of a Sad Black Woman has grown into a powerful space for vulnerability and storytelling, with over 32,000 subscribers. What inspired you to start this newsletter, and how has it evolved over time?

I started my newsletter just as a space to share book updates after writing my first self-published Afro-surrealism novel (How to be a Better Adult)! I didn't expect much from either, really. I wrote the book as a creative outlet, and I thought I'd sell 100 copies and then be done. But both my fiction work and my newsletter grew and evolved in ways I didn't know I needed!

Soon, I was spewing my guts to thousands of people weekly as I processed my depression, anxiety, and grief. And as I worked through what it means to navigate the world as a neurodivergent woman. I ended up rebranding my personal newsletter into Diary of a Sad Black Woman because that's what it became. A public diary. An exercise in oversharing.

After two years of moping publicly, the fog of my depression lifted, and I realized I had curated a space for myself that helped me immensely. Now, I share that space with other "Sad Girls" who submit personal essays to be shared with others. And together, we uplift each other in an effort to normalize emotional expression.

Q: You describe yourself as an “Igbo gyal, ND writer, and incessant oversharer.” For those who may just be discovering your work, can you share a little more about yourself and what led you to the creative and mental health space?

My path is chaotic and winding and hard to define. But I've been creating, writing, and oversharing since I was a kid. I ran a blog in high school where I did the exact same thing I'm doing now. And no matter what I do professionally, from running a business to working in marketing, I always return to my roots—writing about feelings. And taking outfit photos, ha.

Q: Where did your passion for writing begin? Were there any defining moments or influences that shaped your voice as a storyteller?

As a Black girl from Kansas, my passion for writing started with my need for escapism. I've always felt othered. From my race to my sexuality to my strange crying spells and propensity for social mishaps, I've never felt like I belonged anywhere. I still don't. But being able to escape into fiction saved me and continues to save me. I wrote my first story when I was in third grade, and I just never stopped.

That feeling of otherness is what shapes my voice as a writer. I think I'm pretty good at writing characters who feel uncomfortable in their own skin and who live in their minds and overthink every social interaction. I also laugh...a lot. And finding humor in my woes helps lighten the load and lighten my fiction work as well. Because it can definitely get heavy.

Q: You’ve built a strong community of ‘Sad Girls’ who share their stories every Sunday. What have been some of the most powerful or surprising moments that have come from this space?

I think every story that's been sent to me has been so powerful, personal, and written so bravely. People have shared stories of transforming their rage into motivation, dealing with daily nightmares, and finding inspiration through spirituality. I love it all!

Q: You describe yourself as someone who “creates worlds, builds communities, and laments for a living.” What does that look like on a daily basis, and what fuels your creative process?

My day-to-day life is pretty boring! I'm a bit of a gremlin, so I stay in my room, writing and listening to music! Some days, I work on my comic book writing (Monster High). On other days, I work on Diary of a Sad Black Woman, scheduling posts to be published. And then, on magical, motivated days, I work on my novels and short stories.

My emotions fuel me! I write about what I think about, and I think about how I feel. Whether it's hating Corporate America or generational trauma or poems about capitalism and loneliness, whatever is on my mind makes its way into my work.

Ultimately, my hope is to find my fellow "aliens" and show them that they're not alone.

Jacque Aye’s journey as a writer and creator is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the importance of sharing our stories. Diary of a Sad Black Woman has grown into a place where healing and empowerment happen in real time. Through her words and the community she’s built, Jacque invites others to take part in the ongoing conversation about mental health, identity, and the courage it takes to be truly honest with ourselves and each other. To learn more about Jacque’s work and join her community, visit her website and subscribe to Diary of a Sad Black Woman.