Ten Things to Know About Sasheer Zamata

Here's the inside scoop on late night's hottest new TV star.

Live From New York … It’s Sasheer Zamata! - Saturday Night Live was publicly skewered for failing to include a Black woman cast member at the start of its 39th season. So expect new hire Sasheer Zamata, the Internet comedic sensation who makes her debut this Saturday, to inject her bold brand of intellectual, feminist humor into the legendary sketch show.  One of the first things to know about Sasheer Zamata in our fact-finding mission is that she takes comedy very seriously. The Indianapolis native earned a degree in drama from the University of Virginia.  (Photo: NBC)

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Live From New York … It’s Sasheer Zamata! - Saturday Night Live was publicly skewered for failing to include a Black woman cast member at the start of its 39th season. So expect new hire Sasheer Zamata, the Internet comedic sensation who makes her debut this Saturday, to inject her bold brand of intellectual, feminist humor into the legendary sketch show. One of the first things to know about Sasheer Zamata in our fact-finding mission is that she takes comedy very seriously. The Indianapolis native earned a degree in drama from the University of Virginia. (Photo: NBC)

A Comedienne Reborn - Born Sasheer Moore, the comedienne changed her last name soon after completing college. Zamata means "double" in the Telugu language spoken in India. Her first name comes courtesy of an alien flower featured on an episode of Star Trek.  (Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for Comedy Central)

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A Comedienne Reborn - Born Sasheer Moore, the comedienne changed her last name soon after completing college. Zamata means "double" in the Telugu language spoken in India. Her first name comes courtesy of an alien flower featured on an episode of Star Trek. (Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for Comedy Central)

Classic Comedy Pedigree - After moving to New York City, Sasheer began performing with the Upright Citizens Brigade. The famed improv group was also the comedic launchpad of former SNL cast members Tina Fey (also a University of Virginia alum), Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell.  (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

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Classic Comedy Pedigree - After moving to New York City, Sasheer began performing with the Upright Citizens Brigade. The famed improv group was also the comedic launchpad of former SNL cast members Tina Fey (also a University of Virginia alum), Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell. (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

Funny Scribe - Sasheer is not just an improv artist and comedian, she’s also a published writer whose articles and essays have been published in Jezebel, Vulture and the New York Times. The 27-year-old has also been a featured stand-up comedian at art festivals around the country.  (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

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Funny Scribe - Sasheer is not just an improv artist and comedian, she’s also a published writer whose articles and essays have been published in Jezebel, Vulture and the New York Times. The 27-year-old has also been a featured stand-up comedian at art festivals around the country. (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

A Familiar Face - Like most working artists Sasheer paid her career dues by working in television commercials. Her pretty face might look familiar to small screen audiences who’ve seen her in ads for Target, Verizon Wireless and Apple.  (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

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A Familiar Face - Like most working artists Sasheer paid her career dues by working in television commercials. Her pretty face might look familiar to small screen audiences who’ve seen her in ads for Target, Verizon Wireless and Apple. (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

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Online Sensation - Sasheer’s signature humor style is in-your-face funny with a womanist slant. She starred in a Web series along with comic Nicole Byer called Pursuit of Sexiness. It followed best friends as they navigated the New York City dating land mines of trying to find “good men, easy money and free meals.”  (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

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Online Sensation - Sasheer’s signature humor style is in-your-face funny with a womanist slant. She starred in a Web series along with comic Nicole Byer called Pursuit of Sexiness. It followed best friends as they navigated the New York City dating land mines of trying to find “good men, easy money and free meals.” (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

Critics' Darling - Sasheer has been a standout force in media by capturing the attention of critics. Her Web series Pursuit of Sexiness was ranked among Variety’s Top Web Series of 2013. Also, citing that “her star is on the rise,” Cosmo listed Sasheer as a Funny Woman to Watch in 2014.   (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

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Critics' Darling - Sasheer has been a standout force in media by capturing the attention of critics. Her Web series Pursuit of Sexiness was ranked among Variety’s Top Web Series of 2013. Also, citing that “her star is on the rise,” Cosmo listed Sasheer as a Funny Woman to Watch in 2014. (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

Primetime Princess - Sasheer cut her comedic acting chops in prime time on a variety of shows. She’s appeared in hilarious sketches featured on FX’s Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell and Inside Amy Schumer on Comedy Central. She also starred on MTV’s Hey Girl and Would You Fall for That on ABC.  (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

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Primetime Princess - Sasheer cut her comedic acting chops in prime time on a variety of shows. She’s appeared in hilarious sketches featured on FX’s Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell and Inside Amy Schumer on Comedy Central. She also starred on MTV’s Hey Girl and Would You Fall for That on ABC. (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

Photo By Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram

She’s Every Woman - Saturday Night Live’s Black male cast members and guest stars can finally take off the dresses. Sasheer's comedic repertoire include amazing and original impressions of Michelle Obama, Beyoncé Knowles and Tyra Banks.   (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

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She’s Every Woman - Saturday Night Live’s Black male cast members and guest stars can finally take off the dresses. Sasheer's comedic repertoire include amazing and original impressions of Michelle Obama, Beyoncé Knowles and Tyra Banks.  (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

Love From SNL - Saturday Night Live cast member Jay Pharoah publicly rallied for the hiring of Sasheer. Amy Poehler called Zamata’s addition to the SNL family “awesome,” and Will Ferrell described the announcement as being “great and fantastic.” Sasheer is the first Black woman cast member since Maya Rudolph’s departure in 2007 to appear on the long-running series.   (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

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Love From SNL - Saturday Night Live cast member Jay Pharoah publicly rallied for the hiring of Sasheer. Amy Poehler called Zamata’s addition to the SNL family “awesome,” and Will Ferrell described the announcement as being “great and fantastic.” Sasheer is the first Black woman cast member since Maya Rudolph’s departure in 2007 to appear on the long-running series. (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)