When Jozanne Marie opens pre-orders for her new book, I Am Not A Nice Christian Girl on October 31st, she’ll be inviting readers into a conversation that’s been building for years, one about the pressure women face to perform niceness in religious spaces and, and what happens when they decide to stop.
I Am Not a Nice Christian Girl, set for release in early 2026 with a foreword by Oprah Winfrey, challenges the performative expectations often placed on women within faith communities. Drawing from her own journey as a Jamaican-born actress, award-winning author, and advocate, Jozanne Marie blends personal narrative with cultural critique to inspire women to embrace authenticity over approval. Her work spanning film, theater, and social justice continues to spark global conversations about faith, identity, and freedom.
From Stage to Social Justice
Marie’s previous memoir, “BEAUTIFUL, Unashamed and Unafraid,” received the Margins Book Award for Social Justice and Advocacy, one of only six books honored and earned recognition from Library Journal as a book for social change. The City of Los Angeles and Mayor Eric Garcetti honored her for work that inspires and uplifts the community. That memoir is currently being adapted into a feature film.
Her NAACP Award-winning solo show “BEAUTIFUL” earned Critic’s Choice from the Los Angeles Times and Best of the Week from LA Weekly, prompting her to launch the National Beautiful Campaign, a movement focused on empowering women worldwide to reclaim their stories and strength.
Recent sold-out performances in Montreal, presented by the Jamaican Consulate and High Commissioner Janice Miller, demonstrated her continued influence. George Grant of the Jamaican Consulate noted that Marie “has sparked a long-overdue conversation within the diaspora and is undoubtedly one of Jamaica’s most beautiful creations.”
Building Multiple Platforms
Beyond her work as a writer and performer, Marie serves as Co-CEO of Love Life Entertainment, a production company committed to transformative and boundary-pushing storytelling. She is also the founder of Run Tings, a luxury footwear brand that celebrates Jamaican heritage, bold creativity, and fearless leadership.
Her work in youth empowerment includes SPIT, a poetry workshop helping inner-city youth address gang violence and environmental justice. Her initiative Men Making a Change was presented to First Lady Michelle Obama. Marie served as a Board Member of the African Artist Association and Associate Programmer for the Bentonville Film Festival, founded by Geena Davis to champion women and diverse voices in media.
Her acting credits include “Tears of the Sun” with Bruce Willis and “Taming of the Shrew” at The Globe Theatre, along with national campaigns for McDonald’s, Kia, Wells Fargo, and Sprite, where she also contributed to campaign writing.
“I’m not here to be nice. I’m here to be real. I’m here to be free,” Marie writes in her upcoming book, a statement that captures her approach to faith, authenticity, and creative expression. For women tired of shrinking to fit religious and social expectations, her message is arriving at exactly the right time.
