Youngmi Mayer

“Stand-up was the perfect medium for me because it required a lot of hard work for very little reward, and I hated reward.”
― Youngmi Mayer, I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying

“I realized that I have gained a following because I'm willing to openly admit the things that so many people spend their entire lives trying to cover up. A lot of people find it off-putting, but for others, it's a respite from an endless existence of shame. They see me displaying openly something they've been running away from all their lives and feel relief. I also receive a huge benefit from this relationship with people who relate to my material: it makes me feel like I'm not alone and that I'm not crazy. Well, I am crazy, but so are a bunch of other people.”
― Youngmi Mayer, I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying