Nessa was born to Egyptian parents. She has two brothers. She grew up in Southern California but her dad's job frequently moved her family between California and Saudi Arabia.[3] She graduated with a degree in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley.[3]
Career
While in college, Nessa interned at San Francisco Bay Area Top 40 station Wild 94.9.[4] Eventually, she got her own show, "The Baydestrian Report," which covered news in the Bay Area.[4]
She first rose to prominence for her artist and celebrity interviews on Wild 94.9 and YouTube, which led to MTV seeking her out to be on Girl Code.[5][6] She has also hosted various MTV and MTV2 shows. She currently hosts "Nessa on Air," a successful hip-hop show during the drive time shift on New York City's top rated Hot 97.[7][8][9][10] Her show is the #1 hip hop show in the afternoons with 18–34 year olds and is syndicated nationally in over 15 markets.[11] In 2018, Nessa became the host of NBCUniversal's show, Talk Stoop for one season[12]
Activism
Nessa and Colin Kaepernick founded Know Your Rights Camp, a multi-city traveling youth empowerment initiative for disadvantaged youth.[13][14] In 2020, the organization expanded its reach with funds for COVID-19 and in June the creation of a legal defense initiative "for victims of excessive force by police terrorism and civil rights violations."[15][16][17]
In 2016, she led Plan B One Step's Perfectly Imperfect national campaign with her Girl Code co-host Carly Aquilino, encouraging young women to take charge of their reproductive health.[18]
New York City youth organizations
She hosts a yearly prom pamper party for underprivileged high school girls from New York City centered around female empowerment.[19][20] She mentors students from various organizations in New York City, including the Dream Charter School in Harlem and the Bronx, and she created a scholarship and mentorship program in March 2018 at the Lower East Side Girls Club.
Personal life
She gave birth to her first child in August 2022 with Colin Kaepernick.[21]
