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Her captivating command of the pole left many of us intrigued, perhaps even tempted, to explore pole dancing ourselves after witnessing the mesmerizing performances at Mercedes Sunday. But it wasn’t just her physical prowess that kept us hooked. Mercedes is a character of depth—empowering, complex, relatable, and deeply human.
These are qualities that Brandee embodies both on and off the screen.
(L-R) Marque Richardson and Brandee Evans on 'UnPrisoned' Season 2
Courtesy: Hulu
A Memphis native, Brandee is no stranger to dance. She boasts an impressive career as a choreographer, having worked with renowned artists like Katy Perry, Monica, Ke$ha, and Ledisi. But while it has been a significant part of her journey, Brandee has her sights set on more—expanding her acting career beyond dance-inclusive roles. This ambition nearly led her to pass on the opportunity to appear alongside Kerry Washington in Hulu’s UnPrisoned, where she plays Ava, Mal's (Marque Richardson) new girlfriend.
“When Kerry Washington slid into my DMs, I nearly said no,” Brandee revealed with a laugh. “She mentioned pole dancing, and I told myself and my team that once I was done with Mercedes, I wasn’t going to do that again.” Fortunately, Washington assured her that the role would be vastly different, leading to what Brandee described as an invaluable masterclass in comedy under the guidance of Washington herself.
“Kerry is a force of nature,” Brandee reflected. “She’s everything you’d hope she’d be—strong, compassionate, and incredibly talented. Working with her was like a masterclass in acting.” This opportunity was no mere stroke of luck; it was something Brandee had manifested years earlier. But make no mistake–she credits her faith and praying hands for her success. “I’m praying, you know what I mean? I’m asking God for what I want and working for it too,” she said.
"When Kerry Washington slid into my DMs, I nearly said no."
(L-R) Brandee Evans, Kerry Washington, and Marque Richardson on 'UnPrisoned' Season 2
Courtesy: Hulu
This role marked Brandee’s first foray into comedy, and while she was eager to embrace the challenge, she found herself in the hands of an incredible mentor. “Kerry was always so kind in her critiques,” Brandee noted. “She’s not a diva by any means. She knows exactly what she wants, but she’s gentle and encouraging in bringing it out of you. That’s something I’ve taken with me to other sets—I want to lead with the same kindness and openness that Kerry showed me. It’s a lesson I’ll carry for the rest of my life.”
Brandee speaks with profound respect and gratitude for her peers and fellow actresses as many have shown her genuine sisterhood and support in an industry often notorious for its competitiveness. “Danielle Brooks sent me a prayer the other day, and I was just so touched. Those are the moments that people don’t see,” she shared. “I call Sheryll Lee Ralph my fairy godmother, and Loretta Devine is like my auntie. Being able to pick up the phone and seek advice from these incredible women is a true blessing.”
And she pays it forward.
Brandee Evans
Courtesy: Hulu
But her commitment to supporting others extends far beyond her career. As an advocate for health and wellness, she empowers women to prioritize their well-being. “Azaria [Carter], who plays my daughter on P-Valley, mentioned wanting to start a weight loss journey and get more fit. I told her, ‘Well, let’s work out together,’” Brandee recounted. But her dedication to healthy living goes beyond physical fitness, encompassing a holistic approach to wellness. “When she came to my house and tried to microwave something in plastic, I said, ‘Let’s use glass instead. At 20, I wasn’t thinking about that, but let me share some tips now so you’re not battling fibroids in your 30s.’”
Because she was.
While filming the first season of P-Valley, Brandee faced enormous stress—not only as a caregiver for her mother, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but also due to the physical demands of the role. Yet the impact on her body was far greater than she expected. “I was literally on my cycle every day while playing a stripper, which is far from ideal,” Brandee revealed. It was Harriet D. Foy, who plays her mother, who urged her to get checked for fibroids.
"I was literally on my cycle every day while playing a stripper, which is far from ideal."
Brandee Evans graces the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Ceremony.
Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE
The statistics are staggering—80% of Black women develop abnormal uterine growths by age 50, making them more likely to suffer from fibroids than any other racial group. But like many, Brandee was initially unaware of these growths and their debilitating effects, and the prospect of surgery was daunting. “I was scheduled to have a myomectomy on my birthday, but I thought about what it would mean for my career. How am I going to climb the pole? The healing process is similar to a C-section.” Determined to avoid surgery, she committed to healing herself naturally.
After a deep dive, she sought treatment at The Herb Shop of Vinings in Atlanta, which ultimately led to a remarkable recovery. “This man saves lives. His name is Jeff, and I call him my doctor.” Brandee shared. “I started detoxing my body with herbs and following his program. During my follow-up with the gynecologist, they said, ‘We don’t know what you’re doing, but your fibroids are shrinking.’”
Emerging on the other side of this journey not only fibroid-free but with a regulated cycle and a renewed outlook on life, Brandee is now focused on sharing her story and advocating for women’s health. “I know y’all want to hear about P-Valley, but I want to talk about regulating your period,” she said with a laugh.
Of course, she didn’t leave fans hanging when it came to what to expect in the upcoming season. “It is worth the wait. The world is about to go crazy. Oh, the world is about to lose it,” Brandee teased. “Y’all might be mad at us right now, but baby, it’s going to be worth it.”
All episodes of Season 2 of UnPrisoned are now streaming on Hulu.
Featured image courtesy of Hulu
And just how do you know that your tongue is in good condition? The main sign is that it’s a shade of pink (which can go from light to dark). Another sign is that your tongue doesn’t have any of the following 10 issues going on. If yours does — and especially if yours remains with these symptoms for more than a couple of days — don’t take it lightly. Because, even though your tongue is only aboutthree inches long (and a little over two inches wide), it’s a little thing that makes a really big impact. Therefore, you need it to be as healthy as possible at all times.
1. Red Tongue
Another word for a red tongue isa strawberry one. Strawberry tongues happen as the result of being vitamin B12 deficient, experiencing a food or medication-related allergy, or having an underlying illness. Another thing that can cause a strawberry tongue is TSS, which is the abbreviation for toxic shock syndrome (wild, right?). So if you know that you are low in vitamin B12 and your tongue appears red, consider taking a B12 supplement and/orconsuming foods that are high in the nutrient, like beef, tuna, eggs, salmon, and milk alternatives (like almond or oat).
If you suspect that something else might be the case, make an appointment with your doctor because you may need an antibiotic or a prescription-strength antihistamine. Plus, you may need your healthcare provider to confirm that you don’t haveglossitis, which is a condition that addresses tongue inflammation; it looks similar to a strawberry tongue, yet the treatment is sometimes different.
2. Yellow Tongue
If you’ve been noticing that your breath doesn’t smell as fresh as it usually does, stick out your tongue to see if it has a yellowish hue to it. If so, that could be the underlying cause, as a yellow tongue is oftentimes caused by poor oral hygiene and/or a build-up of bacteria. Now, while it should go on record that certain foods, drinks, medications, mouthwashes, and even smoking (tobacco) can temporarily “stain” your tongue, if that is the case, the color will fade; if not, you may have a bout of yellow tongue.
And if it is due to poor hygiene, simply brushing your tongue should remedy it. However, since a yeast infection of the mouth (yes, it happens) and underlying conditions like jaundice and diabetes could also be the culprit, don’t “Google” a home remedy here. If your tongue remains yellow after a few days — especially if you have other symptoms like vomiting, a fever, or blood in your stools — make an appointment to see your physician as soon as possible, just to rule out that nothing else is potentially going on.
3. Bumpy Tongue
Honestly, there are all sorts of things that can result in you havinga bumpy tongue. You could have bitten or burned it, which resulted in some sort of tongue injury, you could have a food allergy, or you could have some sort of oral infection or an STI/STD like syphilis (which has jumpeda whopping 80 percent over the past few years when it comes to new cases) or oral herpes or it could be something as simple (and hella common) as an old-fashioned canker sore.
If it is a canker sore (which is nothing more than a mild mouth ulcer), avoiding spicy foods for several days and rinsing your mouth with some baking soda and water should speed up the healing process. On the other hand, if the bump continues to grow or doesn’t go away within 7-10 days, your doctor may need to perform some blood tests to see why it is still hanging around.
4. White Coating on Tongue
Typically, if you happen to have a thin water coat on your tongue, you simply need to brush it. However, it would be irresponsible of me to not also bring up the fact that a white tongue could also be a sign of dehydration (especially from drinking too much alcohol), not consuming enough fresh fruits and vegetables, breathing through your mouth instead of your nose (which can “dry out” your tongue), damaging your tongue with a sharp object (or dentures) and/or smoking or vaping tobacco. The silver lining in all of this is you can pretty much resolve these with the help of a few lifestyle changes.
5. Sore Tongue
I don’t know what in the world makes people think that they need a condom for intercourse, and yet they can’t get an STI/STD from oral sex because that couldn’t be further from the truth. Pretty much any sex-related infection that you can get from intercourse, you can get from oral activity, so if you’re sexually active, not getting tested regularly, and your tongue has been feeling sore or you notice sores in your mouth, contact your doctor so that they can run some tests.
That said, it’s also important to keep in mind that ulcers, food allergies, smoking, nutrient deficiencies, certain medications, oral cancer, and various infections can lead to having a sore tongue too. Since the causes are so vast, when should you be particularly concerned? If your tongue develops lumps or blisters, changes color, or is also in pain, that’s your cue to see your physician. Please make sure that you do.
6. Green Tongue
If your tongue starts off looking white andthen ends up turning green, it could be due to a build-up of bacteria. However, another thing that it could be a sign of is oral thrush or even oral cancer. Since oftentimes this particular color is yeast-related, avoid trying to self-diagnose it. Instead, contact your doctor because there is a good chance that you may need the type of antifungal medication that requires a prescription.
7. Gray Tongue
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition; eczema is not, although it can produce symptoms that look similar to psoriasis, including an itchy rash. What a lot of people don’t know, though, is you can have psoriasis and eczema in your mouth. When it’s due to psoriasis, it’s oftentimes linked to what is known as geographic tongue, where spots and patches are on the tongue — and when those patches are actual lesions, sometimes they can appear to be gray in color.
Since eczema and oral cancer can also cause your tongue to look gray, it’s best to have your doctor or dentist take a look at it, especially if you have trouble eating or swallowing, too.
8. Blue Tongue
If yourtongue has a blueish hue (and it’s not because you ate something like a bowl of blueberries or had a blue or purple popsicle), the first thing that it’s probably a sign of is poor circulation. If that is the case, you need to head to an emergency room as soon as possible because blood circulation issues are absolutely nothing to play with. Something else worth taking note of is if you have some varicose veins on other parts of your body, it’s not totally abnormal to get a couple of them on your tongue as you get older.
Although that is not a medical emergency, you should still monitor them and bring them to your doctor’s attention at your next visit. Also, anemia can cause a blue or purple tongue, so if your tongue is that color and you’re constantly feeling tired or weak, you are lightheaded, you have shortness of breath, or an irregular heartbeat, put your physician on notice.Anemia is nothing to play with either.
9. “Hairy” Tongue
Did you know that your tongue is supposed to do some of its own shedding (not peeling but shedding)? Basically, the tongue's papillae are what gives your tongue its “rough” surface, and when those little bumps don’t get new cells, it can lead to what is known as a hairy tongue, which is simplya build-up of keratin that can make your tongue look “hairy.” Not only that but if your tongue gets to this point, food, bacteria, and yeast can accumulate and can turn your tongue into a totally different color.
Although more seniors than younger adults end up with a hairy tongue, it’s good to remember that it occurs due to poor oral hygiene and, although a tongue scraper (followed by consistent brushing of your tongue) should remedy the issue if a hairy tongue recurs, you should definitely make an appointment with your dentist or doctor. A hairy tongue, you should not have.
10. Peeling Tongue
Even something as small as a canker sore can feel like it’s big as hell when it’s on your tongue, so just imagine whata peeling tongue must feel like. More times than not, this is the result of oral thrush or physical damage that is done to the top layer of your tongue including constantly drinking or eating spicy or acidic foods. Although a peeling tongue tends to be more irritating than anything, if it’s accompanied by a fever, tongue swelling, or bumps that continue to grow or open up — you already know what I’m about to say.
You need your tongue, sis. Therefore, it’s important that you pay attention to when it sends signs that it’s not working at its optimal level. At the end of the day, whether you realize it or not, your overall health and well-being depend on it.
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Featured image by Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images