Countess Vaughn ''guided'' Mo'Nique through her first starring television role on The Parkers
In the Nineties, many Black creatives turned their primary talent into a household name. Mo'Nique began her career as a standup comedian in her hometown of Baltimore. People knew her as "the funny woman" with a big personality who made the audience laugh until they cried. It wasn't long before supporters saw her on television in shows like Showtime at the Apollo and Def Comedy Jam.
On those stages, she solidified herself as a rising queen in comedy. However, when she was younger, telling jokes never crossed her mind. She just wanted to be fashionable and fabulous.
"I thought I was always very cute in schools, so telling jokes was very juvenile to me," she told The Fresno Bee in 1999. "I just wanted to be cute and fabulous and sit there and let the little boys look at me. I never realized I was funny until my brother, who is now my manager, told me I was funny."
Younger Mo'Nique sounded much like her character, Nikki Parker, on her hit series The Parkers. The role was her first time starring in a television series and the beginning of what turned out to be a legendary acting career.
Countess Vaughn, who played Kim Parker, Nikki's boy-crazed daughter, had been in the television and film industry since she was 3 years old. Her expertise and support were instrumental in helping Mo'Nique feel comfortable filming the show, highlighting the strength of their partnership.
"[I] had a great partner who guided me through the whole thing," the actress added.
Countess's character first appeared on Moesha, which The Parkers was a spinoff of. The Parkers pilot aired as an episode of Moesha, and since then, fans have been watching reruns of the classic series, feeling nostalgic and appreciative of its impact.
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