Shoniqua Shandai

Shandai was born in New York City but grew up in Richmond, Virginia.^[1] She is a graduate of the Los Angeles City College and also took acting lesson at the Playhouse West Acting School.^[2]

One of Shandais first appearances on screen came in a one off scene in the The Back-up Plan starring Jennifer Lopez.^[3] She played the lead role of Zola in the short film Zola Jumps In. She played Gina Claymore in the horror film Violence of the Mind which won Best Drama at the San Antonio Q Fest^[4] One of her first lead roles in a full length film came playing Devine Wright in the battle rap film Bodied produced by Eminem^[5] Her biggest role so far has been playing Angie Wilson in the sitcom series Harlem starring alongside Meagan Good, Jerrie Johnson and Grace Byers.^[6] She along with the rest of the cast went to various Jazz clubs around the Harlem area, an experience which she described as proving the stereotype All New Yorkers are Mean was untrue.^[7] For her performance she was nominated for best supporting actress at the NAACP Image Awards.^[8]

Her favourite film growing up was The Little Mermaid and What's Love Got to Do with It. Shandai grew up without a father and felt unloveable as a child. She gained self confidence thanks to the book Fabulosity: What It Is & How to Get It by Kimora Lee Simmons.^[9]