Ayanna Florence is a poet, creative, and teaching artist originally from Chesapeake, VA and currently residing in Charlotte, NC. She is a Brave New Voices alum, a Southern Fried Poetry Slam finalist, and has been performing spoken word across the country since 16 years old. Ayanna is the 2023 Slam Charlotte Grand Slam champion, the current North Carolina Regional Slam champion, a 2023 Queen of the South slam champion, and the 2023 Womxn of the World Poetry Slam champion. She is passionate about using her poetry as a method of healing for herself and others.