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Amanda Seales facts for kids

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Amanda Seales
Amanda Seales on Adweek.jpg
Seales in 2019
Born
Amanda Ingrid Seales

(1981-07-01) July 1, 1981 (age 43)
Education State University of New York, Purchase (BA)
Columbia University (MA)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • poet
  • media personality
  • activist
  • podcaster
  • author
Years active 1992–present
Comedy career
Medium
Genres Stand-up comedy

Amanda Ingrid Seales (born July 1, 1981), formerly known by the stage name Amanda Diva, is an American actress. From 2017 to 2021, she starred in the HBO comedy series Insecure. In 2019, HBO released her first stand-up comedy special I Be Knowin. Then, in 2020, Seales launched Smart Funny & Black, a comedy gameshow that showcases Black culture, history, and experience. Seales was also one of the co-hosts of the syndicated daytime talk show, The Real.

Early life

Amanda Seales was born in Inglewood, CA on July 1, 1981. Her mother was born and raised in Mt. Moritz, Grenada. Her father is African-American. As a result, both she and her mother are dual citizens of the US and Grenada. She moved to Orlando, Florida, in 1989, where she later attended Dr. Phillips High School. She graduated from SUNY-Purchase, then acquired a master's degree in African-American studies with a concentration in Hip hop from Columbia University.

Career

Film and television

Seales's first film was a minor role as Katy in the 1993 movie Cop and a Half. The next year Seales was featured on the Nickelodeon sitcom My Brother and Me (1994) as Deonne Wilburn. In 2002 she appeared on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam. Seales became publicly known as "VJ Amanda Diva" on MTV2 Sucker Free Countdown on Sundays. In 2016 she appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series Insecure, as Tiffany DuBois. Also in 2016, Seales began hosting her own show on truTV called Greatest Ever.

On January 26, 2019, HBO debuted her first stand-up comedy special I Be Knowin'. Bring the Funny is a comedy competition series that premiered on July 9, 2019, on NBC. Seales hosts, alongside judges Kenan Thompson, Chrissy Teigen, and Jeff Foxworthy.

Throughout 2019, Seales served as a frequent guest host for the syndicated daytime talk show The Real. On January 6, 2020, Seales was promoted from guest co-host to permanent co-host. She departed the series after six months of co-hosting, citing her dissatisfaction with the inability to openly speak on recent social issues as a reason. In September 2020, Seales accused The Real of stealing ideas from her show Smart Funny & Black, saying The Real's segment "Black Lives Matter University" featured a logo that closely resembled Smart Funny & Black's emblem.

In June 2020, Seales hosted the BET Awards 2020.

In February 2022, Seales was cast in the three-part documentary series Everything's Gonna Be All White, airing on Showtime.

Music

In 2007, Seales replaced Natalie Stewart of the musical duo Floetry on tour with Marsha Ambrosius, and in December of that same year Seales (as Amanda Diva) released her first extended play (EP) Life Experience. In 2008, she was featured on the song "Manwomanboogie" on Q-Tip's Grammy-nominated album The Renaissance. On March 3, 2009, Seales released Spandex, Rhymes & Soul.

Podcast

Seales hosts a weekly podcast titled Small Doses.

Game show

She created and hosts the touring variety game show, Smart Funny & Black, where her love of games and music, was used to serve as a safe space for the Black voice and celebrates the many contributions Black Americans have made to history and pop culture and more.

Radio

On April 18, 2022, Seales began co-hosting a new weekly radio show, Amanda Seales’ Smart Funny & Black Radio on SiriusXM, alongside Taj Rani and JeremiahLikeTheBible, featuring topics such as games, celebrity interviews and African-American culture.

Discography

EPs

List of extended plays, with selected details and year released
Title Album details
Life Experience
  • Released: December 18, 2007
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Spandex, Rhymes & Soul
  • Released: March 3, 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Madame Monochrome
  • Released: April 27, 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details and year released
Title Album details
F*******
  • Released: June 6, 2008
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Technicolor Lover
  • Released: May 29, 2012
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album Artist(s)
"Manwomanboogie" 2008 The Renaissance Q-Tip
"Get Right" 2010 Rebel Without Applause Johnny Polygon
"Blvd Broad"
"You Belong to Me" Catch-Up
"Beautiful Things" LIFE Kenichiro Nishihara
"Proud 2 Be" 2012 C**** on Steroids N.O.R.E., M-1

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s)
"Neon"
(featuring Johnny Polygon)
2009 Lyn-don McCray

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Cop and a Half Katy
2006 Freedomland Angry Female Tenant
2011 Identical Poet #2
2016 Ladies Book Club Helena TV movie
2018 The Story of Our Times Shancy TV movie

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1994–95 My Brother and Me Deonne Wilburn Recurring Cast
2002–05 Def Poetry Jam Herself Episode: "Episode #2.5" & "#5.8"
2010 Undateable Herself Main Guest
2011 Independent Lens Herself Episode: "Deaf Jam"
2012 MTV's Hip Hop POV Herself/Co-Host Main Co-Host
Made Herself/Made Coach Episode: "Professional Actress: Rita"
2013 Big Evening Buzz Herself/Panelist Episode: "Dido"
Master of the Mix Herself/Host Main Host: Season 3
Big Morning Buzz Live Herself/Panelist Recurring Panelist
2015 The View Herself/Guest Co-Host Episode: "Episode #18.85"
2015–17 Get Your Life Herself Main Cast
2016 Comedy Knockout Herself 1 episode
2016–17 Greatest Ever Herself/Host Main Host
2016–21 Insecure Tiffany DuBois Recurring Cast
2017 Hood Adjacent with James Davis Herself Episode: "Black Twitter"
@midnight Herself Episode: "Episode #4.42" & "#4.136"
Gay of Thrones Herself 1 episode
2017–20 The Real Herself/Co-Host Guest Co-Host: Season 4, Main Co-Host: Season 6
2018 Black-ish Barbara Recurring Cast: Season 4
Animals. Tia/Waitress 1 (voice) Episode: "Rats"
2018–19 Hip Hop Squares Herself/Panelist Recurring Panelist: Season 5-6
2019 Bring the Funny Herself/Host Main Host
Camp Confessions Herself 1 episode
2019–21 To Tell the Truth Herself/Panelist Guest Panelist: Season 4-5 & 7
2020 Floored Herself/Guest Judge Episode: "Beware the Bears"
BET Awards Herself/Host Main Host
Hollywood Game Night Herself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Twitch & Shout"
Match Game Herself/Contestant Episode: "Episode #5.8"
2021 Fast Foodies Herself Episode: "Amanda Seales"
Finding Magic Mike Herself Episode: "A Talented Man"
2022 Real Husbands of Hollywood Herself Episode: "Wrestling While Black"
Everything's Gonna Be All White Herself Main Guest
Inventions That Changed History Herself Recurring Guest
Celebrity Game Face Herself/Contestant Episode: "Cedric The Entertainer Busts Kevin's Chops"
Wheel of Fortune Herself/Contestant Episode: "Amanda Seales, Snoop Dogg, Mark Duplass"
Mickey Mouse Funhouse Annie the Giant (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 1
Sherman's Showcase Faith Evans Episode: "Fashion!"
2022–23 25 Words or Less Herself/Contestant Recurring Contestant: Season 3-5
2022–24 Pictionary Herself/Team Captain Recurring Team Captain: Season 1, Guest Team Captain: Season 2
2023 See It Loud: The History of Black Television Herself Recurring Guest
The $100,000 Pyramid Herself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Will Sasso vs. Amanda Seales and Dulé Hill vs. Francia Raisa"
Name That Tune Herself/Contestant Episode: "Lightning & Glitter!"
Celebrity Squares Herself/Contestant Recurring Guest
Celebrity Jeopardy! Herself/Contestant Episode: "Quarter Final #9: Kyra Sedgwick, Mo Rocca and Amanda Seales"
Crimson Hearts Collide Kelsey Main Cast

Documentary

Year Title
2007 Beef 4
2008 Big Pun: The Legacy
2014 Bottoms Up
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