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Anjelah Johnson-Reyes
Anjelah Johnson.jpg
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 famous American actress and stand-up comedian. She was also an NFL cheerleader before becoming a star!

Anjelah was a cast member on the TV show MADtv. She created funny characters like Mỹ Linh/Tammy, a nail salon worker. Another popular character was Bon Qui Qui, a sassy fast-food employee. Bon Qui Qui became very famous even after Anjelah left MADtv!

Anjelah's Journey to Comedy

Anjelah started her career as a cheerleader. In 2002, she joined the Oakland Raiders cheerleading team, the Oakland Raiderettes. She was even named "Rookie of the Year" and performed at Super Bowl XXXVII!

In 2005, Anjelah moved to Los Angeles. A friend suggested she try a joke-writing class. She loved it and started taking improv classes. Soon, she was performing her own comedy shows. Her funny impression of a Vietnamese nail salon employee became very popular on YouTube.

Becoming a Star on MADtv

In 2007, Anjelah joined the TV show MADtv. She was a featured performer, meaning she had smaller roles at first. Because of a writers' strike, she often had only a few lines.

However, Anjelah created her own character, Bon Qui Qui. This character was a rude fast-food worker. Bon Qui Qui quickly became a huge hit! Her videos also got millions of views on YouTube. In 2008, Anjelah was nominated for an ALMA Award for her comedy on MADtv. Years later, in 2013, she even brought Bon Qui Qui back for a skit with fashion designer Alexander Wang.

Comedy Specials and Movies

Anjelah got her own one-hour Comedy Central special in 2009. It was called Anjelah Johnson: That's How We Do It. She also appeared in several movies. These include Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and Our Family Wedding. She even lent her voice to the animated movie Marmaduke.

Anjelah Johnson 2016
Johnson as Bon Qui Qui at the McAllen Convention Center in 2016

Anjelah also appeared on the talk show Lopez Tonight. In 2011, she became the "TC Girl" for the Mexican restaurant Taco Cabana.

Her second stand-up special, Homecoming Show, came out on Netflix. It was filmed in her hometown of San Jose, California. In 2015, her third special, Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy, was also released on Netflix. It was filmed in southern California.

Anjelah's Life Story

Anjelah Johnson was born and grew up in San Jose, California. She comes from a devout Christian family and still practices her faith. Her background is Mexican and Native American.

Growing Up and Hobbies

From age 8, Anjelah was a Pop Warner cheerleader. She also played soccer and softball. She was active in track and loved hip hop and break dancing. In high school, she started acting. She especially enjoyed imitating different accents. Later, she studied speech communications at De Anza College.

Family Life

Anjelah married musician Manwell Reyes on June 11, 2011. Manwell is part of the music group Group 1 Crew. For a while, they said they didn't plan to have children. However, they loved spending time with their nieces and nephews. On December 29, 2022, they shared exciting news: they were expecting a baby! Anjelah gave birth to their daughter, Rosalie Harlow Reyes, on June 14, 2023.

Awards and Achievements

Anjelah has received recognition for her talent:

Year Association Award category Result
2002 Oakland Raiderettes Rookie of the Year Won
2008 ALMA Award Outstanding Female Performance Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anjelah Johnson para niños

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