I'll admit that I can't help but write from a primarily white, atheist, North American perspective; write what you know, right? That said, if I want to properly write a character from a distinctly different perspective than my own, I tend to ask questions of friends who share that character's perspective or at the very least hit Google in search of cultural think-pieces. I want to make sure I'm getting things right, and to add flourishes that make the character seem more authentic. Diversity is a positive, and it's one that challenges and educates me as a writer.
I also made a pointed effort
in my first story to not describe how the characters looked, beyond how they dressed and wore make-up, and what their body shapes were (at the time
). No descriptions of hair or skin if I could help it. The intent is to use enough character work to let the reader fill in/trick them into deciding what the characters look like for themselves. I asked one of my preview readers if she had a mental image of Anna & Will, and she was about ready to sketch them up on the spot.
This answer has a much broader scope than the original question, especially given that I'm answering as a writer instead of a reader, but I hope you get what I mean.