Anjelah Johnson-Reyes (born May 14, 1982) is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and former NFL cheerleader. She was a cast member on the series MADtv during its 13th season. Her characters included a Vietnamese nail salon employee named Mỹ Linh/Tammy and a rude fast food employee turned music star named Bon Qui Qui (the latter of which has become popular outside of Johnson's short stint on MADtv).

Career She became a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders after joining in 2002. As a member of the Oakland Raiderettes, she was named Rookie of the Year and performed at Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego. She moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue a career in comedy after a friend suggested that she join a joke-writing class. She took improv classes and quickly began to headline her own shows. Her stand-up routine, comprising her impression of a Vietnamese nail salon employee, received many views on YouTube.

In 2007, Johnson joined the cast of sketch comedy show MADtv as a featured performer. Due to the impending writers strike, she was often given only a few lines in the scripts, as the writers had to produce more scripts at a faster pace. Her self-scripted character Bon Qui Qui, a fast-food employee who treats customers rudely, was popular and gained a similarly large YouTube following. In 2008, she was nominated for an ALMA Award for Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series for her work on MADtv. In 2013, she reprised her role as her MADtv character Bon Qui Qui for a skit released by Alexander Wang, a fashion designer. Johnson was given her own one-hour Comedy Central special, Anjelah Johnson: That's How We Do It, in 2009. She appeared in the film Our Family Wedding (2010) and voice for the live-action adaptation of Marmaduke. She was featured on the late night talk show Lopez Tonight, on TBS hosted by George Lopez. Johnson became the "TC Girl", a spokesperson for Taco Cabana, a Mexican restaurant, in 2011.

Johnson's second stand-up comedy special titled Homecoming Show premiered on Netflix and it was filmed in San Jose, California. On October 1, 2015, Johnson's third stand-up special, titled Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy, was filmed in southern California and released on Netflix.

Personal life Born on May 14, 1982, Johnson was born in San Jose, California and grew up there, in a devout Christian family and she is a Christian. She is of Mexican and Native American descent. She was a Pop Warner cheerleader beginning when she was eight, in soccer, softball, track, and in hip hop and break dancing. She began acting as a senior in high school and was especially interested in imitating different accents. She later studied speech communications at De Anza College in Cupertino, California.

Johnson and musician Manwell Reyes of Group 1 Crew married on June 11, 2011, in Half Moon Bay, California. On December 29, 2022 they announced they were expecting a baby in 2023. Johnson gave birth to the couple's daughter in June 2023.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role 2007 The Box 2009 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Julie Ortega 2010 Our Family Wedding Isabel 2010 That's How We Do It! Herself 2010 Marmaduke Afghan #2 (voice) 2013 Enough Said Cathy 2014 Moms' Night Out Restaurant Hostess 2014 The Book of Life Adelita / Nina (voice) 2017 The Resurrection of Gavin Stone Kelly Richardson 2020 The Opening Act 2023 Candy Cane Lane Shelly

Stand-up releases +YearTitleStudioFormats2009Anjelah Johnson: That's How We Do ItComedy CentralDVD/CD/audio & video download/streaming2013Anjelah Johnson: Homecoming ShowNetflix/TubiDVD/audio download/streaming2015Anjelah Johnson: Not FancyNetflixAudio download/video streaming2017Anjelah Johnson: Mahalo & GoodnightTubiDVD/CD/audio & video download/streaming2023Anjelah Johnson-Reyes: Say I Won'tTubiAudio download/video streaming2024Anjelah Johnson-Reyes: Technically Not StalkingYouTubeAudio download/video streaming2026Anjelah Johnson-Reyes: Ugly BabyYoutubeVideo streaming

Television Year Title Role Total episodes 2006 Love, Inc. Female Client 1 2007 On the Up Herself 2007–2008, 2016 MADtv Various characters 4 2008 Untitled Dave Caplan Pilot Maria 2008 The Movie Preview Awards Herself 2009 Comedy Central Herself 2010 Ugly Betty Wendy 2010 Lopez Tonight Herself 2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Mimi Season 8, Episode 4 ("The Smiley Face") 2016 MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion Bon Qui Qui 2018 Have You Been Paying Attention? Herself 1 2019 Superstore Robin Green 1 2022 The Real Dirty Dancing Herself 4 2023 Hell's Kitchen Herself Episode: "Just Bring the DARN Fish!"

Discography

Studio albums as Bon Qui Qui: Title Album details Gold Plated Dreams Released: January 20, 2015 Format: CD, digital download Label:Warner Music Nashville

Extended plays as Bon Qui Qui: The Come Up (2012)

Music videos as Bon Qui Qui: Title Year Director "I'm a Cut You" 2012 DG "No Boyfren" (featuring Tammy) 2013 "This Is How We Do It" (Benefit remix) 2014 Randal Kirk II "Shut Us Down" 2016 Diego Contreras

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

References

External links