Ayanna Florence
Ayanna Florence is a spoken word poet, author, and creative from Chesapeake, VA. A born writer and performer, she prides herself in creating work that is thought-provoking, emotion-evoking, and fearless. Since her introduction to slam poetry at 16 years old, she has become one of the most decorated and prominent voices in the space, touring the nation as a self-made artist while continuing to share her love and respect for the craft. Ayanna is the 2023 Womxn of the World Poetry Slam champion, the 2023 and 2024 Slam Charlotte Grand Slam champion, the 2023 and 2024 Queen of the South, a 2x Southern Fried Poetry Slam Finalist, and much more.
As a queer black woman, Ayanna exists on the fringes and outside the box, and her artistry reflects this reality. She believes that living outside of the margins is an inherently revolutionary act that gives her a singular perspective on life and humanity. In both performance and prose, her artistry is raw, powerful, and poignant, magnifying issues that often go unheard such as the mental health crisis and the queer black femme experience.
Ayanna has been an avid participant in the theatre since the age of 3, majoring in Acting at Howard University, and actively incorporates her extensive theatrical experience into her poetic work. She debuted her one-woman show, “Moonchild,” in collaboration with BOOM Charlotte in 2023 and “Identity Crisis” at the Richmond Poetry Festival in 2024.
As dedicated to teaching as she is to learning, Ayanna has facilitated workshops at the likes of Harvard University and has created programming and poetry curriculum for middle and high school students across the country. She believes in the necessity of art in all spaces and the importance of accessibility to knowledge.
Ayanna is a “Write Bloody” book prize finalist, and her work has been published alongside legends such as Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez in “African Voices”. In 2024, she self published her debut chapbook, “Oceans”. Her forthcoming debut full length poetry collection, “all the ugly bits” (Button Poetry, 2026), seeks to relinquish the shame surrounding emotional vulnerability and to empower the sensitive black girl within.
Embraced as one of the most unique voices in spoken word and a standout in any room, Ayanna is proof that your greatest superpower is yourself. She believes in the power of walking in your purpose and loving yourself first, and is filled with eternal gratitude at the opportunity to instill that same belief in others through her work. Her confidence and conviction serves as both inspiration and reminder of what is possible when you dare to dream. Above all, Ayanna is passionate about using her poetry as a method of healing for herself and others.