Photo: Courtesy of Alexis Wilkinson.Alexis Wilkinson is known for being funny. So funny that she was elected president of the lauded Harvard Lampoon this past December, setting her up for a whirlwind winter of interviews and press ops (she's the first African American woman to lead the prestigious title). Get used to hearing her name — the Lampoon is known for sending its staff straight to Saturday Night Live and other humor outlets.
Of course, Wilkinson is hardly a one-trick pony. She recently wrote an essay for xoJane about what was really going on during the post-election media frenzy. She was dealing with the passing of her roommate and best friend, Angela, who died suddenly in a car accident on her way home from a Harvard Mock Trial trip.
The two women were roommates since they were freshman at Harvard (Alexis is now a junior), and Angela was there when Alexis was first rejected from the Lampoon and her eventual succession. One of her last texts to Alexis read, "I love you so much Alexis. Now go out there and be funny." (Feel free to go grab a box of tissues.)
Wilkinson's essay is a candid ode to best friendship and how excruciating it can be to deal with the death of loved one. She wrote, "[Angela] always used to say I was the strongest person she knew. Tears with sadness mixed with those of shame, feeling like I had already let her down by being unable to stay strong in the face of it all." But, we think that real strength comes from being willing to share her story. (xoJane)