Jae Nichelle

Jae Nichelle, a powerful poetry slam champion, began competing in poetry slams at 15 years old, becoming one of the inaugural winners of the 2014 Youth Speaks' national "Raise Up" competition at 17. Now, her spoken word poems have been featured by Write About Now, Speak Up Poetry Series, and Button Poetry.

Jae is the author of God Themselves (Andrews McMeel, 2023) and the chapbook The Porch (As Sanctuary) (YesYes Books, 2019). She was a finalist for a 2023 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship and won the inaugural John Lewis Writing Award in poetry from the Georgia Writers Association. Jae’s performance style has been called mesmerizing, raw, and even seductive as she captivates audiences around the globe with her voice.

As a spoken word artist, Jae does poem commissions for brands, voice-over work, commercials, workshops, and readings.

Press/ Recognition

“101 Black Women Poets in Mainly White and Mainly Black Rooms” in The LA Review of Books

“Black poet, author raises her voice at WSU Vancouver workshop” in The Columbian

“Meet Jae Nichelle” in Voyage Houston

“A Conversation with Jae Nichelle” in The LA Review of Books

Jae Nichelle on the The Poetry Question Podcast

“Ends with a Smile,” an Interview with Jae Nichelle in Superstition Review

“Jesus Saves” featured on The Slowdown Podcast

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