La La Anthony

Alani Nicole "La La" Anthony (née Vázquez)[1][2] is an American television personality, New York Times best-selling author, businesswoman, producer and actress. In the early 2000s, La La came to prominence as an MTV VJ on Total Request Live. She was the host of the VH1 reality television reunion shows Flavor of Love, I Love New York, For the Love of Ray J, and Real Chance of Love, and was a dean on Charm School with Ricki Lake.

La La Anthony
La La Anthony for Motives
Born
Alani Nicole Vázquez

June 25, 1979 (age 41)
Alma materHoward University
OccupationTelevision personality, actress, author, businesswoman
Years active1996–present
Spouse(s)
Carmelo Anthony (m. 2010)
Children1

Anthony ventured into acting; her subsequent film roles include Two Can Play That Game (2001), You Got Served (2004), Think Like a Man (2012), Think Like a Man 2 (2014), November Rule (2015) and Destined (2015). After guest roles in several television shows, Anthony starred as Lakeisha Grant in the Starz original drama series Power. Anthony has also starred in the American reality television series La La's Full Court Wedding and La La's Full Court Life. She married NBA player Carmelo Anthony in 2010.

Early life

Anthony was born in Brooklyn, New York on 25 June 1981. Her parents are of Puerto Rican heritage born and raised in New York City. Anthony (who describes herself as an Afro-Puerto Rican[3]) has a younger brother and two younger sisters. As a young child, she was involved in many activities, but music was her main interest.[4] She went to Howard University, where she studied communications but did not graduate.

Career

La La Anthony 2012 (cropped)

At the age of 15, Anthony began her entertainment career in radio at WHTA-FM, HOT 97.5 in Georgia. After a short internship at that station, and while still in high school, she was given her own show, the wildly popular Future Flavas, alongside rapper/actor Ludacris.

At 19, Anthony got an offer from Los Angeles's 92.3 The Beat to co-host her own radio show, The B-Syde. After a successful run on radio, Anthony left the station in 2001 and joined the MTV family. Although she had no previous on-TV experience, Anthony became one of the network's premiere talents and went on to co-host two of their most popular shows, Direct Effect and Total Request Live. During her time at MTV, Anthony interviewed many high-profile stars including Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Will Smith and Angelina Jolie, among others.

In 2003, Anthony left the network to launch her own production company Krossover Productions and was a producer on Mike Tyson’s critically acclaimed documentary, Tyson. Directed by Oscar and Golden Globe nominee writer/director James Toback, Tyson was named the winner of the Regard Knockout Award in France and debuted to a standing ovation in 2009’s Cannes Film Festival. Anthony and Krossover Productions also produced a feature film with director/producer Brett Ratner, and a starring role in The Gun.

Anthony made her film debut in 2001 in romantic comedy Two Can Play That Game. She starred in the 2012 film, Think Like a Man, alongside Gabrielle Union and Taraji P. Henson and the 2013 film Baggage Claim alongside Paula Patton and Derek Luke. Anthony had guest starring roles in the CBS crime drama, "NYC 22" and the popular VH1 scripted show, Single Ladies. Other film credits include Urban Massacre (2002), Monster Island (2004), and You Got Served (2004).

In October 2011, Anthony made her stage debut in the off-Broadway production of Love Loss and What I Wore. Anthony also starred in and executive produced five seasons of La La's Full Court Wedding, one of VH1’s highest-rated shows, which chronicled the time leading up to her wedding to NBA star Carmelo Anthony.

On February 2, 2012, she launched MOTIVES by La La, at the Market America World Conference held at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Inspired to create a cosmetic line for women of color ranging in color variation, her cosmetic line consists of multiple mineral-based products for face, cheeks, eyes, lips and nails.[5]

In 2013, Anthony created a clothing line, "5th & Mercer", a capsule collection exclusive to Shopbop.com[6] and she continues to work on new designs for the line.

On January 28, 2014, Anthony released her debut book titled The Love Playbook in which she shares how she found love and success on her own terms. The book climbed to #1 on the Barnes & Noble Best Seller list and on February 7 hit #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list. Anthony's second book, entitled The Power Playbook was released in May 2015.

Anthony co-produced the Broadway production of Danai Gurira's Eclipsed in 2016.

On October 4, 2019, Anthony launched her clothing line La La Anthony Collection online.

Personal life

On Christmas Day 2004, Lala became engaged to basketball player Carmelo Anthony.[7][8] Their son, Kiyan Carmelo Anthony, was born on March 7, 2007.[9][10] They were married by Michael Eric Dyson on July 10, 2010, at Cipriani's in New York before 320 guests.[11][12] The ceremony was filmed by VH1 and aired as part of a reality series on the couple, titled La La's Full Court Wedding.[13][14][15] The couple's life together is chronicled on their continuation series, La La's Full Court Life.[16]

In April 2017, Anthony filed for separation from her husband after he was publicly accused of impregnating a woman employed at a gentlemen's club. However, in a June 2017 interview on The Wendy Williams Show, Anthony said that she and Carmelo are not officially divorcing at the moment. As of January 2019 she and Carmelo were back together again.[17]

Filmography/Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001Two Can Play That GameDJ
2002Urban MassacrePam Jackson
Total Request LiveHerselfTV series
2002–2006Direct EffectHostTV series
200350 Cent: The New BreedHerselfDocumentary
Sex and the CityMTV InterviewerTV series; episode: "The Post-it Always Sticks Twice"
The Real World: ParisHostTV series; episode: "French Kissing and Telling, The Real World: Paris Reunion"
2004You Got ServedHerself
Monster IslandHerselfTV movie
One on OneKendraTV series; episode: "Phatheadz"
Soul PlaneHerself
Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The InfernoHostTV series; episode: "Montezuma's Revenge: Inside the Inferno Reunion Show"
2005Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Sexes 2TV series; episode: "Battle of the Sexes 2: Reunion - Secrets from Elimination Hill"
2006Da JammiesAngeliqueVoice
Flavor of LoveHostTV series; episode: "Reunion: After the Lovin"
Chappelle's ShowHerselfTV series; episode: #3.2
Flavor of Love 2HostTV series; episode: "Reunion: After the Lovin"
2007I Love New YorkTV series; episode: "Reunion Show"
Flavor of Love Girls: Charm SchoolTV series; episode: "Reunion Show"
2008I Love New York 2TV series; episode: "Reunion Show"
Flavor of Love 3TV series; episode: "Reunion: After the Lovin"
2009For the Love of Ray JTV series; episode: "Reunion Show"
Charm School with Ricki LakeJudge/Dean
Real Chance of LoveHostTV series; episode: "Reunion Show"
2010La La's Full Court WeddingHerselfTV series
For the Love of Ray J 2HostTV series; episode: "Reunion Show"
GunMonaMovie
2011–2014La La's Full Court LifeHerselfTV series
2012Think Like a ManSoniaFilm
2013Baggage ClaimTanya
1982Neecy
Keeping Up with the KardashiansHerselfEpisode: "Agree to Disagree"
Law and Order: Special Victims UnitAnaEpisode: "Poisoned Motive"
2014Think Like a Man TooSoniaFilm
2014–2020PowerLakeisha GrantMain/Recurring Role
2015Chi-RaqHecubaFilm
UnforgettableDelina MichaelsTV series
2015November RuleStacey
2017The New Edition StoryFlo DeVoeTV movie
DestinedJada
Double PlayMicha
Daytime DivasIsabel CarlisleRecurring role
DeucesDetective Sonya Diaz
2018StarAngel's momSeason 2
2019BH90210ShayRecurring role
Music video
Year Title Role Notes
2018 "In My Feelings" Kiki Drake song
2019 "Hot Girl Summer" Herself Megan Thee Stallion song

See also

References

  1. "Alani La La Anthony". April 19, 2020.
  2. "La La Anthony". April 19, 2020.
  3. "*Exclusive Updated* La La Vazquez Settles Controversy "Is She Black Or Latina?"". bossip.com. December 13, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  4. "Meet the VJs: La La". VH1. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  5. "La La Anthony Launches Makeup Line, Continues to Be Completely Flawless". Glamour. February 1, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  6. "5th & Mercer | SHOPBOP". web.archive.org. January 22, 2015.
  7. "Nuggets' Anthony Proposes to MTV Host". Associated Press. January 1, 2005.
  8. "Hill collided withv cameraman during game". ESPN. January 2, 2005.
  9. Margaret, Mary (March 7, 2007). "LaLa Vazquez Has a Boy with NBA's Carmelo Anthony". People. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  10. Margaret, Mary (March 7, 2007). "LaLa Vazquez Has a Boy with NBA's Carmelo Anthony". People.
  11. "LaLa Vazquez, Carmelo Anthony Say "I Do"". Us Weekly. July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  12. D'Zurilla, Christie. "Carmelo Anthony, Lala Vazquez get married in New Yor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  13. Wihlborg, Ulrica (July 10, 2010). "LaLa Vazquez Weds Carmelo Anthony". People. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  14. "Melo, La La wedding series comes to VH1". The Denver Post. September 19, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  15. Roberts, Fletcher (February 24, 2011). "La La Vazquez, the Wife of Carmelo Anthony, Gets VH1 Show". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  16. Zaldivar, Gabe (February 23, 2011). "Just As We Thought, Melo and LaLa Vazquez Will Get New Series". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  17. Taylor, Derrick Bryson (June 27, 2017). "La La Has No Current Plans To Divorce Carmelo". Page Six. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
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