A graduate of Yale University and an accomplished Black journalist, Ayesha Faines took the media by storm, working in several newsrooms as an anchor/reporter and often being featured on The Grapevine Show throughout her career, a web series where guests discuss Black community issues. On Friday, July 2, Faines suddenly died according to News4Jax, and is now remembered by family members, friends and colleagues.
An official cause of death has not been released to the public.
Faines’ career followed her as a news reporter for Jacksonville, Florida’s News4Jax and New York City’s My9TV/Fox station. According to Insider, she also founded “Women Love Power,” a digital brand that sought to educate women about gender politics, intersectionality and more. In her free time, she loved to participate in salsa dancing competitions.
News4Jax anchor Melanie Lawson remembered Ayesha as an incredible woman: “She was a wonderful friend and journalist…” https://t.co/DEQHncw1NI
— News4JAX (@wjxt4) July 7, 2021
Writing on her website, Faines said about the passion behind Women Love Power, “My goal is to help women prioritize their desires, and reach their wildest dreams, by leveraging their natural instincts. My unique expertise is exploring the subversive ways that women have acquired and wielded power throughout history,”
“I share my bold ideas about feminine power, archetypal mythology, gender politics and intersectionality with audiences all over the world as a writer, lecturer, and media commentator,” she continued.
Due to her knowledge about mythology, gender issues and more, Insider reported that Faines was featured as a guest speaker on multiple famed outlets, including MTV, Afropunk, Essence and Entertainment Tonight. Prior to her passing, she also wrote online for Zora Magazine, a Medium publication designed specifically for Black women.
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Remembered by a fellow news reporter, News4Jax’s Melanie Lawson said about the young and expert journalist, “Ayesha was such a bright light,” Lawson said. “She was so young when she came to News4Jax but very intelligent and mature beyond her years. When she spoke it was like listening to poetry. I was always so proud of her accomplishments after she left the station,”
“Ayesha was also a fierce supporter of women,” she added. “She never said a disparaging word about any woman so I wasn’t surprised to see her use her voice for women’s rights. She was a wonderful friend and journalist.”
