Franchesca Ramsey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Franchesca Ramsey
Ramsey in January 2017
Born	Franchesca Leigh Ramsey (1983-11-29) November 29, 1983 (age 41) West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Other names	Chescaleigh
Alma mater	Miami International University of Art & Design
Occupation	Graphic designer actress writer comedian
Years active	2010–present
Spouse(s)	Patrick Kondas ​ ​ (m. 2013; div. 2019)​

Franchesca Leigh Ramsey (born November 29, 1983), also known as Chescaleigh, is an American comedian, writer, and actress. She is also a well-known personality on YouTube and has appeared on TV channels like MTV and MSNBC. Franchesca became famous after her YouTube videos about social topics became very popular. This led to a career where she writes, produces, and performs, often sharing her thoughts on important social issues.

Early Life and Education

Franchesca Ramsey was born on November 29, 1983. She grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida, as an only child.

She started using computers very early. She even had her own website when she was in high school in the 1990s. Franchesca went to a performing arts high school. Later, she studied graphic design in college. She had tried acting, but found it difficult.

In 2009, she moved to New York City. She moved with her future husband, who received a scholarship to study law.

Career Highlights

YouTube Success

Franchesca was working as a graphic designer when one of her YouTube videos became very popular in 2012. This video led to interviews on the BBC, Anderson Cooper, and NPR.

Her YouTube channel features funny skits and song parodies that often talk about current events and social topics. She also had another channel called chescalocs which focused on natural hair.

In 2008, Franchesca won a contest called the People/YouTube Red Carpet Reporter contest. This helped her channel gain many more viewers. In 2015, she became the host of an MTV News web series called Decoded. On this show, she discusses topics like fairness and cultural issues. Many of her videos have been shown on MTV, The Huffington Post, CollegeHumor, Jezebel, and Glamour. In 2017, Decoded won a Webby Award for Public Service and Activism.

Dealing with Online Challenges

Franchesca Ramsey has sometimes faced difficult situations online, including unwanted messages and harassment. She is one of several African-American women who have experienced organized online abuse.

After winning the YouTube contest in 2008, Franchesca started receiving racist messages. A person began sending harassing emails to her work and even tried to harm her employer's computer systems. This person also posted personal details about her, making it seem like they were watching her.

Franchesca worked with YouTube staff to try and stop the harassment. She was asked for her ideas on how YouTube could improve. She suggested being able to block users by their internet address and only allowing channel subscribers to comment. Even though YouTube did not make these changes, Franchesca has learned to handle online negativity.

In 2013, she spoke at a SXSW event about how minorities are often targeted online. She said she tries to ignore these messages or make fun of them.

Franchesca was one of five YouTubers to receive a US$25,000 grant from John Green's Creators for Change project. This project helps people share important messages and build online communities that stand against hate speech and harassment.

Franchesca says her many years online have helped her ignore online harassment. She continues to speak on important issues. She advises others to choose their battles when facing online prejudice and to find ways to educate people. She believes it gets easier with practice.

Television Appearances

In early 2016, Franchesca Ramsey joined Comedy Central's The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore as a writer and a regular guest.

She has also appeared in other television series. These include Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, Broad City, and Superstore.

In April 2017, Comedy Central announced they were working on a new comedy show that Franchesca would star in and help produce.

Podcast Hosting

Franchesca hosted a podcast called Last Name Basis with her husband, Patrick. On the podcast, they talked about their lives and the world around them. The podcast started in January 2015 and ended in March 2019, with a total of 112 episodes.

Published Book

Franchesca Ramsey's book, Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist, was released in 2018. It is a collection of essays where she describes how she unexpectedly became involved in activism after her YouTube videos gained attention.

She wrote the book to help others navigate the online world. She shares her own mistakes and explains why people sometimes act negatively online. The book offers advice for dealing with online abuse, like taking breaks from the internet. She also shares that she regrets engaging with online harassers instead of ignoring them.

Personal Life

Franchesca Ramsey married Patrick Kondas in 2013. They divorced in 2019.

Filmography

Music Videos

See also

In Spanish: Franchesca Ramsey para niños