Years active 1993 | ||
Nationality Mexican, Mexican American, Armenian, Puerto Rican, South Korean Members Lydia Nicole, Cha Cha Sandoval, Alexis Rhee, Karen Haber, Dyana Ortelli, Carlease, Christy Medrano, Sherri Shepherd, Loretta Cola, Cythina Levin, Jackie Guerra, Laurie Kaye, Sandy Brown, Lotus Weinstock, Cathy Melton | ||
Funny Ladies of Color was a comedy group in the 1990s formed by comedians Lydia Nicole and Cha Cha Sandoval-Epstein. The group was several women of varied ethnic backgrounds- African American, Latino, Armenian, Chicana-Jewish, South Korean, black Puerto Rican, and Filipino. Their popularity grew out of the uniqueness of their brand as a strictly minority crew.
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Cultural significance
The group formed out of response to their lack of steady work in Hollywood in correlation with their ethnicity. Their mission was to make a statement about diversity and minorities in the comedy industry. Each comedian capitalized on their ethnicity through their sketches commenting on their families, upbringings, and stereotypes they've experienced. This route was uncommon mainly because popularity among minorities was virtually nonexistent in the comedy community at the time. The group began a movement of change for all women in comedy, but especially women of diverse ethnic backgrounds.