Mica Burton

Mica Burton (born Michaela Jean Estelle Burton on July 8, 1994, in Los Angeles, California) is an actress, host, cosplayer, content creator, and streamer who has become one of the most prominent Black women in geek and genre entertainment. The daughter of actor and Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton and makeup artist Stephanie Cozart-Burton, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Michigan in 2016. Burton learned to sew from her grandmother as a teenager, beginning her cosplay practice around age 13 — and went on to become one of the few widely celebrated professional Black women cosplayers in a space that has historically centered white participants. She joined Rooster Teeth in 2016, working as head of streaming, editor, and secondary host for Achievement Hunter, before departing in 2018 after the company failed to support her when she received coordinated online harassment for speaking publicly about her experiences with racism. She has spoken openly about that experience as part of a broader conversation about the treatment of Black women in geek spaces. Her acting credits include the 2015 science fiction film Lazer Team and a recurring role as Ensign Alandra La Forge — the daughter of her father's beloved character Geordi La Forge — in Star Trek: Picard (Paramount+, 2023), which she obtained through a standard audition process. She has also appeared on Critical Role as the aasimar character Reani, and hosted the Overwatch League. As a content creator, she maintains an active presence on Instagram and Bluesky and has built a community around gaming, D&D, and equestrian life alongside her entertainment career.