This Is How $10 And A Vision Started The Comedic Career Of Jasmin Brown
Whether you know her as Watch Jazzy, Toya Turnup, Reggie The Mechanic, Termite, or Jasmin Brown, this comedian, actress, and writer is the best friend we've always wanted.
With her hilarious skits, outspoken personality, and dedicated vision, Jasmin Brown is proof that real success comes from working hard and staying true to yourself, even if that isn't often promoted in the media. *Kanye shrug*
Raised in West Palm Beach, Florida by Caribbean parents, Jasmin has always had a vision for her life. That vision, alongside her active imagination and $10 allowance, was the beginning of her career in television and comedy, and she didn't even know it yet.
"I used to get paid $10 a week in allowance, and I would buy different wigs and would have different personalities. I would play dress up and be these different people, so that's how my love for creating characters came about," Jasmin shared.
As she grew older, Jasmin added a number of charismatic characters to her roster and continued to gravitate toward her affinity for entertainment. Despite her solid plan on becoming a dramatic actress, her funny persona led her to the world of comedy. She told xoNecole:
"I didn't even have interest in comedy, people just thought I was funny because that's always been my personality. I say what I want to say, and I speak my mind, but it was never like I was cracking jokes and I wanted to do comedy."
Like Jasmin, most of us spend our entire lives planning who we're supposed to be. To our surprise, sometimes the universe has bigger plans for us than we ever could have imagined for ourselves. She continued, "Honestly, in my mind, I wanted to be this serious actress like a Viola Davis, that's how I wanted to be, and people were like, 'No, you're funny.' So it took me a while to really accept that."
In Jasmin's mind, she was going to be the next Annalise Keating, but ultimately, it was her amiable personality and witty banter that earned her a seat at the table. We all have hidden talents that have the potential to take us to the next level, and the young actress soon learned that sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Jasmin shared, "When I finally did, I agreed to host, and the headliner was late so I had to kill time because we didn't have anymore acts. After my set, the response that I got and the love that I got, it was a feeling that I never felt before and from then I was just like, yeah I'm in, where can I get more of this! And it's been like that for over a year now."
Fast forward years later, Jasmin has been featured on BET's 50 Central, is the owner of her own hair care line, and is headlining her own national comedy tour. In other words, the girl is booked and busy!
Whether it's the ratchet and outspoken Toya Turnup on her constant quest for rent payments (RENT DUE!), or the overly flirtatious Reggie The Mechanic on his constant quest for women, Jasmin Brown is a multi-talented comedian and actress with a creative gift like no other; and the world finally gets to see her talent after years of grinding.
But if it's one thing Jasmin attributes her success to, it's simply being herself. In an industry constantly conforming artists into being something they're not, Jasmin Brown knows exactly who she is and there is no changing that.
"One thing that I pride myself on is being truthful to myself. You're going to have a lot of people telling you where you should go and what you should do, but, this is MY truth, this is who I am. You have to look yourself in the mirror everyday and be comfortable with who you're presenting to the world. I'm happy about who I am."
"You're going to have a lot of people telling you where you should go and what you should do, but, this is MY truth, this is who I am. You have to look yourself in the mirror everyday and be comfortable with who you're presenting to the world."
Jasmin Brown has come a long way from playing dress up for her family and making videos from the front seat of her car, and our "best friend in our head" is just getting started! Jasmin concluded, "I just want to continue to inspire people to be true to yourself. It's okay to mess up, it's okay to not be like everybody else, all of it is fine. At the end of the day, just be yourself, whoever that person may be. Get people used to who YOU are. That's it"
Jasmin is currently working on a feature film, and producing a new drama series. You can also catch her as Toya Turn up on her nationwide comedy tour. Keep up with her journey at @WatchJazzy.
Featured image by K Rish Photography
Ashley McDonough is a writer and producer in New York City. When she's not busy writing or producing culturally conscious content, she is patiently waiting for Oprah and Stedman to adopt her. Keep up with her journey via social @Ashley_Milani or check out her work on www.AshleyMcDonough.org.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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According To TikTok, This Wellness Concoction Is The Cheat Code To Getting That 'Slip N Slide'
Being a woman is no easy feat. Don’t get me wrong, I love it here – I do! But, it’s not for the faint of heart. And, by faint of heart, I mean men.
Here’s the short list of things we navigate (in no particular order) that make me know God is, in fact, a woman: menstruation, men (good, bad, and ugly), motherhood, and maintaining the motherfucking magic in our relationships. We hold shit down. We get shit done.
There’s simply no denying that, at our best, women are godly! We’re also imaginative, crafty, and intuitive when we allow ourselves to be. We listen to and know our bodies like no other. Though, with Western medicine and generally being displaced from our roots, I think many of us have become out of touch with what’s natural to us and for us. However, I believe we’re attempting to return to what feels right–what feels natural.
TikTok has made it a bit easier as we’ve been able to hear first-person accounts of natural remedies such as okra water and its benefits for all things womanly, and then some. You’ve seen what I’m talking about–all the hype around okra water providing additional vaginal lubrication for women and also, its ability to make for easier labor for expecting mothers.
@charleanleonora We unlocking new levels of self care. Don’t sleep on this stuff and get my e-book! 🤎 #plantbased #naturalremedy #okrawater #womenhygiene
Benefits of Drinking Okra Water
@goldennn_xo6 I hope this helps 💕 #naturalbirth #homebirth #okrawater #okraforpregnancy #naturallaboranddelivery #fypシ #fyp #thefindguru
Between its believed contributions to digestive health and blood sugar control, drinking okra water has a lot going for itself in terms of possible health benefits. One of its most sought-after benefits is the helping hand it lends to those laboring children. Though there isn't a lot of science to support these claims, there’s lots of talk about how okra water can assist with the birthing process, with labor said to be easier through reduced pain, and the added lubrication is thought to help the baby "slide out" during the actual birth.
The believed increase in vaginal lubrication that the concoction is said to create is believed to be another benefit of regularly consuming okra water. Let me add there have been women warning against just how much additional lubrication (Smuckers, gushy-gushy, that wet-wet) it can cause. And, I would say heed this warning if you are someone who feels embarrassed by maybe the idea of squirting and excessive wetness.
The bulk of the knowledge around these particular health benefits is anecdotal, and while there does seem to be other health benefits, we can’t be certain of which ones and the quantity of nutrients being infused into the water in this form.
How To Make Okra Water
@maryamjhampton Replying to @RH How I make Okra Water! #okrawater #healthtips #womenshealth
Making okra water is a rather straightforward process. The simplest way is taking okra pods (frozen or fresh but preferably organic) and putting them in an encapsulated bottle with water to soak for up to 24 hours. Once you’ve made it, rest assured it will have a very thick and slimy texture–this is where it gets subjective. I could try it and tell you my experience, but I’ve seen some people say the flavor isn’t that bad while others say that they can’t handle the texture.
But, once you’ve made the okra water, feel free to mix it in with drinks like lemonade or a complimentary tea. And, as a pro tip, you can even add mint to infuse with your water to further enhance the taste. Though, I’m thinking when people are trying to enhance the taste it’s the texture they’re trying to distract from as many people seem to think the flavor is manageable–texture? Not so much.
You can also add okra water to smoothies, or make popsicles from it – the sky’s the limit when you’re an okra pod.
I know there’s this natural urge to be distrustful of things that haven’t been proven by…well…Western medicine. Though the research is not there in that regard, it seems to be common knowledge and a useful remedy amongst the African community.
I want to point out that our ancestors disseminated and passed along information for generations anecdotally. They shared their first-hand accounts of what worked and what didn’t work. So now, here I am, sharing the stories of others because this is how we get the recipes back! I do encourage everyone to do their due diligence when going the holistic route.
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Featured image by Westend61/Getty Images