Karine Jean-Pierre is ready to take the stage.
The former White House press secretary for President Joe Biden is stepping into a new kind of spotlight as the host of this year’s 17th annual African American Film Critics Awards, revealed exclusively to Variety.
Jean-Pierre, 51, joins an impressive roster of earlier AAFCA emcees, following last year’s Amber Ruffin, the comedian who led the film ceremony, and “American Idol” Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks, who hosted the organization’s 2025 television honors. The ceremony, celebrating achievements in filmmaking, will take place Feb. 8 in Los Angeles.
Honorees this year include Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson and director Ryan Coogler, alongside animated feature breakout “KPop Demon Hunters.” Winners are selected by more than 100 members of the African American Film Critics Association.
Jean-Pierre is no stranger to making history. She served as the 35th White House press secretary from 2022 to 2025, becoming the first Black person and the first openly LGBTQ individual to hold the role. Hosting the awards marks a notable shift in trajectory for the veteran political adviser, and one she does not take lightly.
“I don’t want it to be about me,” Jean-Pierre tells Variety. “I’m playing a tiny part here. My job is to honor, celebrate and lift the brilliant artists who are being recognized.”
Jean-Pierre has long admired AAFCA’s mission and leadership, making it “an easy yes” to accept the hosting gig. “The AAFCA Awards have spent 17 years celebrating extraordinary contributions in film, and I am just so in awe of Gil Robertson and the team,” she says. “The mission is to honor storytellers who explore the many faces of humanity through diverse perspectives. Why not help lift that up?”
Despite being one of the most recognizable communicators in American politics, Jean-Pierre is adamant that the evening will remain focused on the artists. “One of the things I learned in the press comms world is don’t make yourself the news,” she says. “I want it to be light, enjoyable, smooth and let the stars shine.”
With politics touching nearly every facet of daily life, Jean-Pierre’s post-White House career has differed from her predecessors. One would have expected her to pivot into cable news or become a political pundit, a common next step for former press secretaries. When asked about whether that absence was a conscious choice, Jean-Pierre is direct, describing her career as one that has never been about following a prescribed route.
“I’ve always seen myself as someone who does things differently,” she says. “I don’t follow a set path or look at the people before me and copy their trajectory — that’s just never been who I am. I like to do things my own way and ask myself, ‘How can I make an impact? How can I be different?’”
Among those she’s excited to meet are several of the night’s honorees, particularly the cast and filmmakers behind “Sinners,” which she calls “one of the most brilliant pieces of work I’ve seen in a long time.”
“I’ve never met Michael B. Jordan,” she says with excitement. “And Ryan Coogler — just touching him would be amazing. He’s so incredibly brilliant.”
Jean-Pierre, who recently published her memoir “Independent,” says hosting aligns with a broader desire to tell stories beyond the political arena. While she plans to remain engaged in civic discourse after two decades in politics, she views this next chapter as an opportunity to expand her impact through storytelling and mentorship.
After spending 20 years in politics, Jean-Pierre says her focus is now on lifting up communities she cares about. Most recently, she acquired the rights to the stories of Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne, the first two Black women to serve in the White House press corps, and wants Hollywood to tell their stories. “The women asked presidents questions and were often ignored by the boys’ club, and yet so few people know their names,” Jean-Pierre says with passion. “I recently acquired their books, and I want to help bring their stories to life.”
In November 2023, while still serving as press secretary, she honored their legacy by dedicating the White House lectern in their names.
Her next career chapter, she says, will focus on telling stories that matter — potentially as a producer and writer — while continuing to mentor young people and develop new writing projects.
“My career has always been a zigzag,” she says. “I move toward what excites me and what feels meaningful, and that’s how I want to continue doing things: my way.”
Still, Jean-Pierre acknowledges that hosting an awards ceremony during a moment of political and cultural turbulence carries added weight.
“We need this right now,” she asserts. “We need an opportunity and a space to celebrate ourselves — to be seen in this way, and for little boys and girls in our community to see us in this way.”
As conversations around diversity and inclusion remain fraught, Jean-Pierre views events like the AAFCA Awards as essential.
“We cannot let our stories die. We must continue to be bold and tell those stories. There is real value in telling our journeys so that generations to come can see how brilliant we are.”
Gil Robertson, AAFCA president and co-founder, said he is “elated” to welcome Jean-Pierre into the organization’s family.
“She’s current, credible and brilliant,” Robertson says. “She has a background in journalism and has occupied positions at the very center of popular events. We love her energy and her vibe, and it’s what people expect from us — smart hosts who are part of the conversation.”
As Jean-Pierre prepares to take the stage, her approach stays rooted in service, just as it was behind the White House podium.
“My message is to continue to hold each other,” she says. “Telling our stories is more important now than it has ever been before.”