Anjelah Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anjelah Johnson-Reyes |
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|---|---|
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| Born | San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, film |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Genres | Observational comedy, surreal humor, satire |
| Subject(s) | Latin American culture, everyday life, sports, gender differences |
| Spouse |
Manwell Reyes
(m. 2011) |
| Children | 1 |
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is a talented American actress and stand-up comedian. She was also an NFL cheerleader before becoming famous. Many people know her from the TV show MADtv. On MADtv, she created funny characters like a nail salon worker named Mỹ Linh/Tammy. She also played a rude fast-food employee who became a music star, named Bon Qui Qui. This character became very popular!
Contents
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's Story
Her Early Life and Talents
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes was born and grew up in San Jose, California. She comes from a Mexican and Native American family. Her family is very Christian, and she still follows her faith today.
From a young age, Anjelah was very active. She was a Pop Warner cheerleader starting at age 8. She also played soccer and softball. Plus, she was good at track and field. She loved to dance, especially hip hop and break dancing.
When she was in high school, Anjelah started acting. She really enjoyed trying out different accents. Later, she studied speech communications at De Anza College.
Becoming a Cheerleader
In 2002, Anjelah became a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders football team. They are known as the Oakland Raiderettes. She was so good that she was named "Rookie of the Year." She even performed at Super Bowl XXXVII, which is a very big football game!
Starting Her Comedy Career
After her time as a cheerleader, Anjelah moved to Los Angeles in 2005. A friend suggested she try a joke-writing class. She loved it and decided to become a comedian. She took improv classes, which helped her think quickly and be funny on the spot. Soon, she was performing her own comedy shows.
One of her first famous comedy acts was an impression of a Vietnamese nail salon employee. This routine became super popular on YouTube.
Her Time on MADtv
In 2007, Anjelah joined the cast of MADtv. This was a sketch comedy show where actors play different characters in short, funny scenes. At first, she didn't have many lines because of a writers' strike. Writers had to create scripts very quickly.
However, Anjelah created her own character, Bon Qui Qui. Bon Qui Qui was a fast-food worker who was very rude to customers. This character was a huge hit! Just like her nail salon impression, Bon Qui Qui gained a massive following on YouTube.
In 2008, Anjelah was nominated for an ALMA Award. This award was for her amazing performance in a comedy TV series on MADtv. Years later, in 2013, she even brought Bon Qui Qui back for a skit with fashion designer Alexander Wang.
Stand-Up Specials and Movies
Anjelah's comedy career really took off. In 2009, she got her own one-hour TV special on Comedy Central. It was called Anjelah Johnson: That's How We Do It.
She also started appearing in movies. She was in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and Our Family Wedding. She even lent her voice to a character in the movie Marmaduke. Anjelah also appeared on the talk show Lopez Tonight, hosted by George Lopez. In 2011, she became the "TC Girl" spokesperson for the Mexican restaurant Taco Cabana.
Anjelah continued to release more stand-up comedy specials. Her second special, Homecoming Show, was filmed in her hometown of San Jose, California. It premiered on Netflix. On October 1, 2015, her third stand-up special, Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy, was also released on Netflix. This one was filmed in southern California.
Her Family Life
Anjelah Johnson married musician Manwell Reyes on June 11, 2011. Manwell is part of the music group Group 1 Crew. In December 2022, the couple shared exciting news that they were expecting a baby. Their daughter was born in June 2023.
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's Work
Movies
Anjelah has been in several movies:
- 2009 – Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel as Julie Ortega
- 2010 – Our Family Wedding as Isabel
- 2010 – Marmaduke as Afghan #2 (voice)
- 2013 – Enough Said as Cathy
- 2014 – Moms' Night Out as Restaurant Hostess
- 2014 – The Book of Life as Adelita / Nina (voice)
- 2017 – The Resurrection of Gavin Stone as Kelly Richardson
- 2023 – Candy Cane Lane as Shelly
Television Shows
She has also appeared on many TV shows:
- 2007–2008, 2016 – MADtv as Various characters
- 2010 – Ugly Betty as Wendy
- 2010 – Lopez Tonight as Herself
- 2011 – Curb Your Enthusiasm as Mimi
- 2016 – MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion as Bon Qui Qui
- 2019 – Superstore as Robin Green
- 2022 – The Real Dirty Dancing as Herself
- 2023 – Hell's Kitchen as Herself
Music by Bon Qui Qui
Anjelah's character, Bon Qui Qui, even released music!
- Gold Plated Dreams (album, 2015)
- The Come Up (extended play, 2012)
Bon Qui Qui also made music videos:
- "I'm a Cut You" (2012)
- "No Boyfren" (featuring Tammy) (2013)
- "This Is How We Do It" (Benefit remix) (2014)
- "Shut Us Down" (2016)
Awards and Nominations
Anjelah has received recognition for her work:
- 2002 – Oakland Raiderettes – Rookie of the Year – Won
- 2008 – ALMA Award – Outstanding Female Performance – Nominated
See also
In Spanish: Anjelah Johnson para niños
