5 Things You Might Not Know About Jezebel Founder Anna Holmes

Anna Holmes founded the popular site Jezebel a half dozen years ago and it quickly grew into one of the most popular sites for women because it tackled both “traditional” topics like fashion and sex but also addressed political themes like abortion rights and racism.

Fusion’s Alicia Menendez will interview Holmes on Thursday’s show.

Before you watch, here are five things you should know about her:

1. She’s black

Holmes said in an interview with Fusion that people are often surprised to learn the Davis, California-native is African-American, or more specifically, biracial.

“It surprises some people,” she said. “They think I’m white.”

2. Her cat is named Frog

Because as a kitten he “bounced around” like a frog. Yep.

3. Politics was an acquired taste

She “found politics annoying” as a kid. Her parents talked about politics “in angry tones” when she was young and it stressed her out. It wasn’t until she hit her 30s that she became interested and realized that the actions of politicians in Washington had very real impacts on the people around her.

Holmes wasn’t ignoring politics until then, but she was “very self-absorbed, as many 20-somethings are.”

4. She’s into cars

Maybe it’s her California roots, but the New Yorker says driving is a way for her to relax.

5. Lather, rinse, repeat

Jezebel has tackled some controversial, conversation-driving topics over the years, from posts like ‘The Girl’s Guide To Having An Abortion‘ to the site’s ‘Photoshop Of Horrors Hall Of Shame.’ Holmes says she can’t pinpoint one Jezebel story that has had the most significant impact, but hitting people with certain themes, like reproductive rights, tends to generate discussion and move the conversation.

“Repetitiveness is the most effective,” she said.

Emily DeRuy is a Washington, D.C.-based associate editor, covering education, reproductive rights, and inequality. A San Francisco native, she enjoys Giants baseball and misses Philz terribly.