Quinta Brunson: A Pen, A Dream, and Humble Beginnings

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Photo courtesy of Newsroom.

By Niyah Martin, Intern

Quinta Brunson has captivated Hollywood and charmed the entertainment industry with her genius flair. Her witty humor, intriguing pen, and down to earth demeanor have attracted loyal fans from all over the world. She is a woman full of talent; writing, acting, producing and the list goes on. Her career has grown exponentially since the 2021 release of the hit ABC sit-com, Abbott Elementary. Since the show’s iconic debut, Brunson has been thrust into the spotlight. From Golden Globe and Emmy awards to beauty brand deals, she has become a force to be reckoned with. However, Brunson hasn’t always been on top, it all began with a dream.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Brunson struck an interest in comedy. To pursue her dream, she enrolled in Second City in Chicago, Illinois. Second City is a famous comedy improv program most known for launching the careers of actors and comedians like Tina Fey and Steve Carell. After the completion of her studies, Brunson moved to Los Angeles, California in 2013.

Brunson kickstarted her career in unusual fashion. She began posting short skits on social media apps like Instagram in 2014. Her series “The Girl Who’s Never Been on a Date” quickly gained traction amongst viewers and left everyone wanting more of her. Taglines like, “He got money!” spread like wildfire and the series eventually went viral. The success of her Instagram series inspired Brunson to reach for more. After appearing in a few Buzzfeed videos, Brunson began to catch the attention of the company. Eventually, Buzzfeed offered her the position of junior producer. Her job would now consist of producing a series of episodes monthly. This opportunity was a huge step in Brunson’s career.

Since her start at Buzzfeed, Brunson has produced and starred in more than ten popular television shows, such as New Girl and A Black Lady Sketch Show. However, in 2021, Brunson’s life would change forever.

Abbott Elementary has captured the hearts of viewers all around the world. The show follows the staff and faculty of Abbott Elementary, a predominantly black, underfunded elementary school in Philadelphia. In typical sitcom fashion, the students get into sticky situations and the teachers try their best to assist. In doing so, the faculty learn some tough lessons themselves. However, what sets Abbott Elementary apart from the comedies that came before them is that it puts a refreshing spin on modern day education by poking fun at failed policy initiatives and the flawed but dedicated adults in the building.

The undeniable charm of the show has landed Abbott Elementary on top of television ratings. The first season was a huge breakout success with an average of 2.8 million viewers on live showings alone. By the end of the season, Abbott Elementary was recognized as ABC’s only comedy premiere to drive viewer ratings up, and aggressively at that. The season two premiere episode managed to draw in 10.4 million viewers and boost the show’s popularity by 44%. At airtime, the show maintains high status on trending pages on social media apps such as Twitter. Viewers have ravaged through the second season and expect a third season with great anticipation.

Brunson continues to turn heads with her career wins and unstoppable success. She sets an honorable example for young Black girls and boys. No dream is impossible to accomplish with hard work and consistency. She also reminds viewers to be true to themselves and their passions, for example, Brunson’s eccentric and unique approach to her career is what landed her with multi-million-dollar brand deals. While setting the standard for black excellence, Brunson will continue to climb the stairs of stardom, undoubtedly.

Check out Abbott Elementary on ABC, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. CT.

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