Helena Andrews-Dyer is an award-winning culture reporter covering the intersection of popular culture, race, politics and art in the nation’s capital. She’s written about Gabrielle Union's healing, Nicole Ari Parker's “breakout,” Sheryl Lee Ralph finally getting her flowers, how DJ D-Nice saved all of our lives, and the portrayal of black fatherhood in the film “King Richard.”  

In 2020, Helena was awarded two National Association of Black Journalists’ Salute to Excellence Awards for her longform Washington Post feature “This Isn’t Another Horror Story About Black Motherhood.”

Her third book, “The Mamas: What I Learned About Kids, Class and Race From Moms Not Like Me,” was published by Crown in August 2022. Helena’s second book, “Reclaiming Her Time: The Power of Maxine Waters” co-written with R. Eric Thomas, was published in 2020. Her first book, the memoir-in-essays “Bitch is the New Black,” was published in 2010. “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes optioned “Bitch is the New Black” as a feature film for Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Before joining The Washington Post Helena was a contributing editor at xoJane, a digital women’s magazine founded by Jane Pratt. Helena’s work has appeared in Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, Glamour, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Washington Post Magazine, Essence, and OUT among other national publications. Helena has appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America," NPR's "Morning Edition," Washington Post Live, CNN, MSNBC, SiriusXM, and NY1. 

She lives in Washington, D.C., with a husband whose laugh can be heard for miles and two equally carefree daughters.