Mo’Nique is an American comedian and actress. Dive further into the article to learn a little more about the life and profession of this celebrity and discover the reason behind her fame.
Personal Life
Monique Angela Imes was born on December 11th, 1967 in Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States of America. Her parents were Alice Imes and Steven Imes Jr., she had three siblings, out of which she was the youngest.
In 1985, Monique completed her schooling at Milford Mill High School in Baltimore County. She pursued her further studies at Morgan State University. Before Monique ventured into acting, she briefly worked as a customer service representative at MCI Communications in Maryland. During this time, she also would perform stand-up comedy shows and open mics at the Downtown Baltimore Comedy Factory Outlet.
Career
She ventured into the entertainment industry with her debut in the stand-up comedy show ‘the Queens of Comedy, for which she received a Grammy nomination. Gradually, she made her move into films and television series. She is widely known for her role as Nikki in the series The Parkers. Monique tackles a lot of race issues in her stand-up comedy shows, she is seen leading well-known stand-up shows, such as Thank God You’re Here and Showtime at the Apollo. Other well-known works of hers include Phat Girls, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Bessie, Precious and Domino. She has also had her own talk show known as The Mo’Nique Show.
Marital Life
Mo’Nique has been married thrice. Her first marriage was with a sportswriter named Calvin Watkins in 1990, whom she had met during her time at a broadcasting school. The duo parted ways as the marriage was abusive. In 1997, she then married a barber named Mark Jackson, with whom she had a divorce in 2001. She then entered an open marriage with Sidney Hicks in 2006, prior to that in 2005 she gave birth to their sons.
Awards and Recognitions
Throughout her career, Mo’Nique has been nominated 66 times for her performance in Precious, out of which she has won an award 52 times. Some of the prestigious awards she has received are four NAACP Image Awards for Most Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, a Primetime Emmy Award and several Bet Awards.
Net Worth
As of 2024, Mo’Nique’s net worth is estimated to be about 13 million US dollars. Her network is gathered from all her performances in stand-up shows, films and television series.
Netflix Movie: My Name is Monique
Mo’Nique has her stand-up comedy special titled ‘My Name is Monique’ on Netflix. This entertainment piece portrays her life and all that has happened throughout. It was in this comedy special that she revealed that she was into women.
Fun Facts About Monique
- Before venturing into film acting, Mo’Nique took up several theatrical roles.
- Mo’Nique has appeared in nearly 30 movies throughout her acting career.
Conclusion
Mo’Nique is well known for her talent and her creativity when it comes to delivering a standup or acting on screen. Besides her professional endeavours, she also takes up the role of a doting mother. She is also a philanthropist and advocate for body positivity quite often. All in all, she is not just a seasoned comedian and actor but an exemplary individual as well.