Tabitha Brown (actress)
Tabitha Brown | |
---|---|
![]() Brown in 2013 | |
Born | February 4, 1979[3] Eden, North Carolina, U.S. |
Education | Miami International University of Art & Design |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2002–present |
Spouse |
Chance Brown (m. 2003) |
Children | 2 |
Website | iamtabithabrown |
Tabitha Bonita Brown (née Thomas; born February 4, 1979) is an American actress and social media personality. She creates online video content incorporating veganism, humor and motivational speaking. Brown has over four million followers on TikTok and over four million followers on Instagram as of July 2021[update]. She has been described by HuffPost as "America's Mom"[4] and her content has been characterized by critics as being "comforting"[5] and "calming".[6][7][8][9][10]
Born in North Carolina, Brown studied fashion briefly before dropping out and pursuing acting. After developing chronic pain and fatigue, Brown switched to a vegan diet to help with relief. She created her Tiktok account in 2020 and began amassing followers shortly thereafter.
Brown has appeared in television shows such as The Chi and Good Morning America. In 2021, Brown was awarded the Outstanding Social Media Personality title at the NAACP Image Awards. Her first book, Feeding the Soul (because it’s my business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love and Freedom, was published the same year, and she published her first cookbook, Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations, the next.
Early life and career
1979–2007: Early years and career beginnings
Brown was born in Eden, North Carolina.[8][11] Raised in Stoneville, she grew up in Eden.[10] She began studying fashion design at Miami International University of Art & Design, but dropped out at age 19 and moved to Laguna Niguel, California.[12] After struggling financially, she returned to North Carolina, this time moving to Greensboro, where she lived for five years.[12][11][13]
In 2002, Brown got a job as the co-host of a local late-night show, where she interviewed celebrities who performed at Greensboro Coliseum Complex.[12] In 2004, with husband in tow, she moved back to Los Angeles where she tried stand-up comedy.[8] After failing to land as a TV actress, Brown spent five years working at a Macy's in Century City.[14][8] Six months after the move to California, Brown began traveling between North Carolina and Los Angeles to care for her mother who had developed ALS.[12]
2008–2016: Acting and performance hiatus
Brown had spent three years taking care of her mother.[10] Following her mother's death in 2007,[15] Brown began her career acting small roles in several indie films and direct-to-video films.[12][16] Brown subsequently developed chronic pain and fatigue and could not work for a year.[12] Brown was introduced to veganism after her daughter had suggested adopting it to help with her recovery.[12][17]
2017–present: Social media breakthrough
In late 2017, Brown was running out of disability insurance funds, which led to her becoming an Uber driver in October 2017,[10] in order to make ends meet as a "struggling"[18] part-time actress.[15] Her video review from December 2017 of a Whole Foods Market vegan BLT sandwich went viral, after which the company hired her as a brand ambassador to travel the country.[10][15] In early March 2020, she created a TikTok account on which she began sharing vegan recipes, cooking tips, family moments, and encouraging advice, amassing 2 million followers in the space of five weeks.[8][9] Brown had also been broadcasting live cooking shows and product reviews on Facebook live since early 2018.[19][20]
In late April 2020, Brown was signed to Creative Artists Agency.[21] In late June 2020, she began hosting All Love on Ellen Digital Network.[20][22] In 2021, Brown hosted the YouTube Original children's show Tab Time.[23] The same year, she launched a hair care line named "Donna's Recipe" after her name for her afro,[24] and she published her first book, Feeding the Soul (because it’s my business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love and Freedom, which became No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.[25] In 2022, she published her debut cookbook Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations,[26] launched a clothing collection with Target Corporation,[27] and appeared on Good Morning America.[28]
Brown's Youtube show Tab Time was nominated for two categories in the inaugural Children's and Family Emmy Awards, Outstanding Preschool Series and Outstanding host.[29]
Personal life
Brown is married to Chance Brown, a retired LAPD officer with whom she co-hosts Fridays with Tab & Chance on IGTV. Together, they have two children; Choyce and Queston.[14][17][30] They reside in Los Angeles, California.[31]
Books
- Feeding the Soul (because it’s my business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love and Freedom
- Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations
Filmography
Adapted from IMDb:[16][better source needed]
Film
As Writer
Year | Title | Writer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Love or Laughs | Yes | Co-written with Bo Starks |
As Actress
Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Bad Reputation | High School Student / Partygoer | Jim Hemphill | |
2008 | Outrighteous | Simone | Jill Maxcy | |
2009 | Thug Love | CeCe | Marcello Thedford | |
2010 | Helpless | Tabitha Johnson | Brent Huff | Short film |
2010 | Caution to the Wind | Veronica Paige | Douglas Herman | |
2012 | Laughing to the Bank | Various | Brian Hooks | |
2017 | I Am Still Here | Alicia | Mischa Marcus | |
2018 | All Between Us | Aubyrn | Jamie Jones | |
2018 | I Hate LA | Roxie | Reuben Johnson | |
2018 | A Stone Cold Christmas | Homeless Santa | Courtney Miller | |
2019 | Princess of the Row | Aunty Tammy | Max Carlson |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Lbs | Sabrina Wright | 3 episodes |
2013 | Fat Ass Anonymous | Sabrina | Pilot episode |
2014 | Black Boots | Dr. Freeman | Episode: "Revolutions" |
2015 | Family Time | Dr. Darlene | Episode: "What's Ours is Mine" |
2015, 2019 | Black Jesus | Theresa / Teresa | 2 episodes |
2016 | Sex Sent Me to the ER | Dr. Mary Manson | Episode: "Bedroom Eyes" |
2017 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Lorraine | Episode: "Felicity Huffman/Lea Michele/Stephen 'tWitch' Boss" |
2017 | Switched at Birth | Nurse Reed | Episode: "Four Ages in Life" |
2017 | CH Originals | Aunt Tiffany | Episode: "Disarming Conversational Land Mines" |
2018 | Vengeful | Dr. Darcel Anderson-Ramirez | Pilot episode |
2020 | Will & Grace | Female Officer | Episode: "What A Dump" |
2020 | Anatomy of Black Love | Self | TV documentary |
2020 | The Talk | Self | Episode: "Joel McHale/Tabitha Brown" |
2021 | The Chi | Octavia Matthews | 5 episodes |
2021- | Tab Time | Tab | 10 episodes |
2022 | The Tiny Chef Show | Herself | 2 episodes |
Psychic on The Conner Sept 22nd, 2021
Awards and nominations
Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Veggie Awards | 2020 | Favorite Vegan Social Media Personality | Herself | Won | [32] |
Streamy Awards | Food | Won | [33] | ||
NAACP Image Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Social Media Personality | Won | [34] | |
Children's and Family Emmy Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Preschool Series | Tab Time | Pending | [35] |
Outstanding Host | Herself - Tab Time | Pending | |||
Give Her FlowHERS Awards | The Self-Love Award | Herself | Won | [36] |
References
- ^ "Tabitha Bonita Brown (born 4 Feb 1979) – United States Public Records". FamilySearch. United States Public Records. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "Resume – Tabitha Bonita Brown". Nowcasting.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Tabitha Brown [@IAmTabithaBrown] (February 4, 2019). "It's my birthday!!!! Feb 4th [...] Omg I'm 40 THANK YOU…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Finley, Taryn (May 3, 2020). "How TikTok Star And Actor Tabitha Brown Is Becoming America's Mom". HuffPost. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Shapiro, Ari (May 20, 2020). "Viral Vegan Influencer Makes Comforting TikTok Videos During The Pandemic". NPR. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Abrams, Margaret (July 17, 2020). "Why Tabitha Brown is TikTok's best chef to follow". Evening Standard. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Jackson, Leigh-Ann (June 27, 2020). "She came to L.A. for fame. 20 years later, this auntie is a bonafide TikTok star". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e Blackmon, Michael (April 21, 2020). "How A Vegan TikTok Star Became A Daily Pick-Me-Up For Millions Of People". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ^ a b Zoledziowski, Anya (April 17, 2020). "TikTok Star Tabitha Brown's Vegan Recipe Videos Will Soothe Your Soul". Vice. ISSN 1077-6788. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e Murphy, Desiree; Behar, Deidre (July 21, 2020). "How Tabitha Brown Overcame Obstacles to Live Out Her Dream Life". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Tik Tok Sensation Tabitha Brown Remembers Her Triad Roots". Spectrum News. May 24, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e f g Garcia, Sandra E.; Rago, Rozette (May 13, 2020). "The Joy of Vegan Cooking, 60 Seconds at a Time". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Welch, Hailey (May 20, 2020). "How Vegan TikTok Star Tabitha Brown Started Her Viral Career". The Beet. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b McFeters, Chloé (March 14, 2018). "Interview with Actress and Vlogger Tabitha Brown". Chloé McFeters. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Bowie, Richard (May 31, 2020). "Black Wellness Matters: How Vegan TikTok Star Tabitha Brown is Healing Her Community". VegNews. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Tabitha Brown". IMDb. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Garrity, Kate (April 28, 2020). "TikTok Sensation, Tabitha Brown, Is a Vegan Chef and Mother of Two". Distractify. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Making Tomato Sandwiches—Because That's Our Business!—With TikTok Star Tabitha Brown on A Zoom of One's Own". Vogue. May 7, 2020. ISSN 0042-8000. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Raven, Robin (March 4, 2020). "Tabitha Brown Is On a Mission to Inspire You to Eat More Plants". Chowhound. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ^ a b Starostinetskaya, Anna (June 25, 2020). "Vegan Influencer Tabitha Brown Gets Own Show on Ellen's Network". VegNews. ISSN 1544-8495. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Axworthy, Nicole (April 29, 2020). "Vegan Influencer Tabitha Brown Signs With One of Hollywood's Top Talent Agencies". VegNews. ISSN 1544-8495. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Tomky, Naomi (June 29, 2020). "Tabitha Brown Is Finally Getting Her Own TV Show (and We Hope There's More Carrot Bacon)". The Kitchn. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "New Show: "COME ON IN, it's 'TAB TIME'!" Starring Tabitha Brown". November 19, 2021.
- ^ Starostinetskaya, Anna. "There's Now a Black Market for Tabitha Brown's McCormick Sunshine Seasoning". VegNews.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ Sewing, Joy (October 14, 2021). "Exclusive: 'The gentlest person on the Internet': Tabitha Brown, vegan influencer and author, visits Houston". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ Hines, Morgan. "Tabitha Brown's 'Lazy Peach Cobbler' is the perfect vegan, fruit-filled dessert for cozy nights". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ "Tabitha Brown Announces An Upcoming Collection With Target—Here's What We Know!". BET. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ America, Good Morning. "Author, actress and food influencer Tabitha Brown shares vegan chili recipe". Good Morning America. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ "Tabitha Brown Gets Emotional After She Scores Two Emmy Nominations For Children's Show 'Tab Time'". Black Enterprise. November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ "Everything about Tabitha Brown's husband and her children". TheNetline. September 24, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ^ Jackon, Leigh-Ann (May 27, 2020). "She came to L.A. for fame. 20 years later, this auntie is a bonafide TikTok star". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The Results Are In! Here are the Winners of the 2020 Veggie Awards". VegNews. April 2, 2020. ISSN 1544-8495. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "10th Annual Streamy Nominees & Winners".
- ^ "NAACP Image Awards: Three Things To Know About Tabitha Brown Winner of Outstanding Social Media Personality". BET.com. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Michael Schneider (November 1, 2022). "Netflix Leads Nomination Tally for First-Ever Children's & Family Emmys". Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Abraham, Mya (November 15, 2022). "Inside Femme It Forward's Inaugural 'Give Her FlowHERS' Gala". Vibe.
External links
- 1979 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American actresses
- American TikTokers
- American Internet celebrities
- People from Eden, North Carolina
- African-American actresses
- American veganism activists
- Actresses from North Carolina
- Entertainers from North Carolina
- American television actresses
- 21st-century African-American women
- 21st-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American women