Chaunté Wayans

“I’m a stud” Chaunté Wayans (yes, those Wayans) blusters about her prowess, and then qualifies it with “but I’m also a soft stud.”. The LA-based comedian has been finding her path through the thick underbrush of LA comedy scene while forging an even more difficult path through perceived Hollywood nepotism.

With over 15 years in comedy, Ms. Wayans has stories to tell, both good and bad. There was the former agent, gay himself, who pushed her to be more feminine, telling her to “show her tits” and wear heels. “Being in a LGBT+ world, I expect more. There was a time in my life where I questioned my sexuality,” she continued. “Growing up in religion I didn’t want to be wrong, but now I realise how much God/The Universe loves me.”

But there are also the good stories, like the show in Atlanta with Katt Williams. “Katt went offstage and he literally came up to me and gave me a gracious bow,” recounts Ms. Wayans. “Usually people tell me I am funny but don’t necessarily give me a chance. He told me to keep doing what I am doing. So many people pretend to not be themselves. He was actually one of the biggest people to make me want to push forward.”

She’s also made friends along the way, including long-time friend Tiffany Haddish. “Tiffany is one of those people who will call me out of the blue and tell me I am heavy in her heart. When she started getting famous nothing changed between us. She is always my friend.” Before she told me about the special, Tiffany asked me what’d I’d do for $X and I said, “I’d sell my soul,” Wayans recalls. “She let me know she’s taking her cut though.”