Rayona

Rayona is a fictional character from the novel "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett. The story follows the lives of identical twin sisters, Stella and Desiree Vignes, who grow up in a small, light-skinned Black community in Louisiana. One twin, Stella, chooses to pass as white, severing ties with her family and past. Rayona is Stella's daughter.

Growing up, Rayona is unaware of her mother's true racial identity and her family's history. She is raised by Stella in a predominantly white suburban environment, and her life is shaped by the secrets Stella keeps. Rayona experiences typical teenage struggles and anxieties, amplified by her mother's increasingly distant and secretive behavior.

As the narrative progresses, Rayona begins to question the inconsistencies in her mother's life and the reasons behind her emotional unavailability. Her journey of self-discovery becomes a significant thread in the novel, as she grapples with her own identity and the hidden truths surrounding her parentage. The novel explores the complexities of race, identity, family, and belonging through Rayona's evolving understanding of herself and her mother's choices.