10/29/2024
Italy Ja’rae Lee, 19, is a proud student at New York University, in her second year. She’s majoring in acting and during the week she’s focused on her studies and school work. But on the weekends and in the summer months, she’s lighting up poetry stages and making a name for herself as one of the brightest upcoming spoken word talents in the tri-state area.
This past summer, Italy came in first place in the Parle Endeavors Teen Poetry Slam Series, a New York City wide competition which spans three rounds and features teens from all over the city competing for up to $1,000 in prize money. Her knack for wordplay and storytelling is that of a veteran, but she has only been doing poetry about a year. The opportunities are endless for her and while education is still a priority, you can catch her putting in this work with a busy calendar on her off days from school.
Interviewed by
