Mo’Nique is a multi-media powerhouse whose extensive body of work has captivated audiences across stand-up comedy, television, film, and literature. Her journey into comedy began over two decades ago when her brother challenged her to take the stage in their hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. Her inaugural performance was met with a standing ovation, affirming her comedic prowess and setting the stage for future successes on platforms such as “Showtime at the Apollo,” HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” “Apollo Comedy Hour,” HBO’s “Snaps,” BET’s “Comic View,” The Montreal Comedy Festival, and Uptown Comedy Club. Fueled by her passion and the support from her early performances, Mo’Nique made a bold decision to leave her job at the phone company, choosing to pursue a full-time career in entertainment. In 1999, her career reached new heights when she landed the starring role as Nikki Parker on “The Parkers,” a popular UPN television series about a single mother attending college with her daughter. Her portrayal earned her numerous accolades, including four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. Mo’Nique broke new ground in 2002 as the first female host of NBC’s nationally televised program, “Showtime at the Apollo,” where she dazzled audiences for three seasons. Her other notable television appearances include roles on “Ugly Betty,” “The Game,” “Nip/Tuck,” “The View,” and the BET Awards. Despite her Hollywood achievements, Mo’Nique has always stayed close to her comedic origins, exemplified by her involvement in The Queens of Comedy. The stand-up comedy film, released in 2002, toured nationally, received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Spoken Comedy Album, and cemented her status as a comedic icon. Beyond comedy, Mo’Nique has embraced her role as an influential voice for voluptuous women worldwide. This perspective was encapsulated in her New York Times best-selling book, "Skinny Women are Evil," in 2003, followed by "Skinny Cooks Can’t Be Trusted" in 2006, and the fictional teen novel "Beacon Hills High" in 2008, co-authored with Sherri McGee McCovey. In 2005, Mo’Nique created, produced, and hosted the ground-breaking beauty pageant, Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance, on the Oxygen channel. Celebrated as America’s first full-figured reality beauty pageant, the show became the highest-rated program in the network’s history and earned a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Variety Special. Mo’Nique continued her partnership with Oxygen by hosting the documentary "Mo’Nique: Behind Bars" in 2006 at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, where she filmed her stand-up comedy special "I Coulda Been Your Cellmate" for Showtime. This special was also released on DVD. Although she appeared in over a dozen films before her critically acclaimed role in "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire," her portrayal of Mary Jones, a disturbed and abusive mother, earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, along with a host of other prestigious awards including the Golden Globe, SAG, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA, and Image Awards. Her other film credits include "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins," "Farce of the Penguins," "Beerfest," "Shadowboxer," "Phat Girlz," "Domino," "Soul Plane," "Hair Show," "Three Strikes," "Baby Boy," and "Two Can Play That Game," with the latter earning her a NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. Mo’Nique starred alongside Whoopi Goldberg in the Showtime telefilm "Good Fences." Mo’Nique’s talents extended to the realm of late-night talk shows with "The Mo’Nique Show," which evolved from a nationally syndicated radio show in 2008 to a celebrated television series on Black Entertainment Television. Co-created with her husband, Sidney Hicks, through their production company Hicks Media, the award-winning show provided a platform for celebrities and extraordinary individuals to share their stories. In her personal life, Mo’Nique became a mother for the second time with the birth of her twin boys, David and Jonathan, in 2005, joining her eldest son Shalon, who is a writer on "The Mo’Nique Show." Balancing motherhood with her prolific career, Mo’Nique remains a dynamic force in entertainment, championing authenticity and empowering voices through her diverse projects and performances.