Black & Viral
Elevating Black Voices Shaping Culture
Black & Viral, presented by the NAACP and The Webby Awards, is an event series that celebrates Black excellence online, while exploring what it takes to protect and uplift it.
Viral moments, cultural shifts, and new platform breakthroughs — Black creators and their work have been at the center of it all. They don't just participate in Internet culture; they create it. How can we build better pathways to amplify their influence and help create long-lasting careers?
Registration is closed for this event.
Our Panelists
Jordana Jarrett, Head of Brand Strategy, The Webby Awards
Jordana Jarrett is currently Manager of Editorial Strategy for The Webby Awards Group, which includes The Webby Awards, The Lovie Awards and The Anthem Awards. With seven years of experience in media and publishing, Jordana uses her passion for the Internet, and how we use it to make sense of our world, to share stories of creativity, culture and online innovation. Jordana has steered projects spanning print, digital, music (during a stint as a band manager) and more.
Brooke DeVard, CCO, Refinery29; Host, Naked Beauty
Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli is the Chief Content Officer of Refinery29, an award-nominated, multi-hyphenate business owner, marketing consultant, content creator, and host of the Naked Beauty podcast. At Refinery29, she leads editorial and content strategy across platforms, shaping the brand's creative direction and overseeing partnerships, original series, and global storytelling initiatives. A Stanford graduate and often referred to as "beauty's favorite podcaster," Brooke began her marketing career in London and has led brand and digital strategy for global companies including Ralph Lauren, Viacom, and Meta/Instagram. Since launching Naked Beauty in 2016, she has interviewed hundreds of leading cultural tastemakers, and grown a vibrant online community through @nakedbeautyplanet, where she explores beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and self-care with honesty, fun, and intention.
Kamie Crawford, TV Hostess & Producer, Relationsh*t
Kamie Crawford is a dynamic host, producer, model, and cultural force known for breaking barriers and redefining representation in media. Widely recognized for her role as the former co-host of MTV's Catfish: The TV Show and as the first female host of Paramount+'s Are You The One?, Crawford has solidified her place in entertainment with a bold, compassionate voice that resonates across television, podcasting, and fashion. She currently hosts and executive produces the hit podcast Relationsh*t with Kamie Crawford, a Webby award-winning series that dives deep into the complexities of modern relationships with humor, honesty, and heart.
Jeremiah Brown, TV Personality, Love Island USA
Jeremiah Brown is one of 2025's most notable reality television breakout stars, rising to prominence on season 7 of Peacock's hit series Love Island USA, where he quickly became a fan favorite. A model and self-proclaimed nerd, he blends a polished image with an authentic love of reading and gaming, earning a devoted following of over 3.3 million across platforms — including his book-focused Instagram community, Jeremiah's Reading Room, and the "JerBears" Discord. His momentum was cemented with a "Rising Star of the Year" win at the inaugural TikTok Awards US 2025.
Vanessa Mbonu, Vice President, Marketing, NAACP
Vanessa serves as the Vice President of Marketing at the NAACP, headquartered in Baltimore, MD. Since her time at NAACP, she has primarily been responsible for communicating the historic organization's federal advocacy and policy initiatives through digital campaigns, media relations, and integrated marketing. An experienced public relations and communications professional, prior to joining NAACP, she was an Account Executive at one of the Washington, D.C. metro area's fastest-growing PR firms and before that, she was a health reporter for AARP and AARP the magazine, the widest circulated magazine in North America. She is passionate about equity-centered policies which uplift the Black, immigrant, and disenfranchised communities.
Kayla Nicole, Media Personality, The Pre-Game with Kayla Nicole
Kayla Nicole is a bold disruptor and cultural connector — redefining what it means to be a modern woman in media through her work as a host, actress, entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and multi-platform creator. She is currently the creator and host of The Pre-Game with Kayla Nicole (Dear Media), a fast-rising podcast that blends humor, vulnerability, and real talk on everything from mental health to body politics to relationships. In film and television, Kayla has been seen in a handful of high profile projects over the last year including appearing in Kevin Hart's award-nominated Peacock series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist and starring as Simon LeBlanc in The Family Business New Orleans for BET, in 2024. In 2025, she proved her physical and mental toughness by winning FOX's Special Forces: World's Toughest Test season 3, showcasing raw resilience under extreme conditions.