Quinta Brunson's Transformation From BuzzFeed To Abbott Elementary

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Quinta Brunson is proof of why, sometimes, big risks are worth taking. The talented brains behind "Abbott Elementary" always knew the entertainment world was in her future, she just didn't know in what capacity. "I was too afraid to say out loud that I wanted to be an actor. It seemed like a far-fetched dream for a little girl in Philadelphia," she told Philadelphia Magazine. That little girl went on to enroll at Philadelphia's Temple University, but dropped out in her sophomore year after heavy encouragement from a teacher. "[She] gave me a scholarship right out of her pocket and said, 'You need to do comedy for a living.' So I planned my exit out of Temple, out of Philadelphia, and into my career," Brunson recalled.

Brunson soon found herself in Los Angeles. But making ends meet in one of the most expensive states meant working hard, so she landed an internship with Elle and got a gig at an Apple Store. However, Brunson's undeniable talent ensured it wasn't too long before she gained notoriety. She began posting her "The Girl Who's Never Been on a Nice Date" comedy series videos on Instagram and quickly gained an impressive social media following. But she said in a BuzzFeed Video that the Instagram money only stretched so far. "I need a J-O-B and a consistent stream of income so I can stabilize myself," she recalled thinking amid her newfound internet fame. That led a major media house to become interested in her and kickstarted her enviable career as an actor, writer, and producer living her dream.

Quinta Brunson's desire for job stability led her to BuzzFeed in 2014. "I was doing improv around L.A. and broke. Very, very, very broke," Brunson told People of her life at the time. She also mentioned in the same aforementioned BuzzFeed Video that she had a friend that worked at the company who asked her to take part in a Dorito taste test video. That not only earned her $200, but also a prestigious gig. She landed a content creation role with the media company and began appearing in several viral online videos, like "9 Perks of Being Short" and "TRUE LOVE STORIES."

But while working at BuzzFeed meant plenty of fun and creativity, there was also a lot to learn. "I learned ... about the internet as a business," she told Philadelphia Magazine. "I also learned a lot about what comedy does well in other countries, which is something I don't think people think about in America enough. I learned: the simpler, the better," she added. That lesson would take Brunson far in her future career.

By 2016, Quinta Brunson was one of BuzzFeed's most recognizable faces. She created, wrote, and starred in the series "Broke," a collaboration between BuzzFeed and YouTube Red, which was based on her experience of moving to L.A. and chasing her dreams. "That was a really cool turning point for me mentally, as someone who wanted to make sitcoms," she said in a BuzzFeed Video. The rising star followed up with another online series, "Up for Adoption," and had become so well-known on the internet she made it onto Forbes' 30 under 30 list in 2017.

Though BuzzFeed brought serious online fame to Brunson's door, she left the company in 2018. "It was time to leave when my ambitions kind of became different than just working a nine-to-five," she explained in her "Why I Left BuzzFeed" video, sharing she wanted to pursue her comedy writing career more but was repeatedly having to take time off from BuzzFeed to do it. "For me, it felt like college and you have to graduate from college. And I think it was really just time for me to graduate," she said, but clarified she looked back fondly at her time with the internet company.

After putting BuzzFeed in her rear-view mirror, Quinta Brunson signed with the talent and literary agency ICM Partners and expressed her excitement to explore more sides of her career. "They understand the brand I've built and my goals. Because I do writing, stand-up and etc. — the agency sees all parts of me. They help make all of my different 'lanes' harmonize together. Which is not easy to do," she told ESPN. Part of that new career move included her own Facebook Watch series, "Quinta vs. Everything," which were reminiscent of her viral Instagram videos. "I wrote the sketches, then helped with the production. I was a part of pretty much every aspect of the project," she said.

Brunson also tried to make the move to TV, but suffered two major setbacks. She was initially announced for The CW comedy "The End Of The World As We Know It," but a full series never came to fruition. The same happened for the star's CBS comedy "Quinta & Jermaine." She admitted that she found the process of making TV shows much slower, saying, "Transitioning to television has been ... interesting. Traditional media moves so much slower than the internet. In the past, if I had an idea, I would shoot it the next day," to Philadelphia Magazine.

The then-rising star did see some success on the small screen in 2018 though. "My first official acting job was on the show 'New Girl,'" she told People, referring to the sitcom led by twee trailblazer Zooey Deschanel in which Brunson starred in one episode. "That was the biggest deal to me because I loved 'New Girl'," she said.

After two unsuccessful attempts to break into TV as a lead star, Quinta Brunson had more luck in 2019. She appeared in three episodes of the drama series "iZombie" and the comedy "Single Parents" alongside former "Gossip Girl" star Leighton Meester. Brunson also voiced a character in multiple episodes of the adult cartoon "Big Mouth" as well as writing for and lending her voice to the adult cartoon "Lazur Wolf."

The actor and comedian really got her foot in the TV door when she appeared on the first season of the HBO comedy "A Black Lady Sketch Show" with Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, and Ashley Nicole Black. Brunson told W Magazine she got a call directly from Thede asking her to join the cast. "It's kind of wonderful to be a part of a big engine, and just a wheel in the machine helping things go. I really enjoy that," Brunson said. The multi-hyphenate was also open about the important social impact the series had as the first sketch show to be written, directed, and star solely Black women. "It's important for us, to have this space in comedy that is real and not completely whitewashed [or] on the other end of the spectrum, just a stereotype. This show was a step in the right direction," she told Fast Company. 

Brunson left "A Black Lady Sketch Show" after Season 1. Deadline put her 2021 departure down to schedule issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily for us though, Brunson had even bigger projects in the pipeline.

Though the world shut down for much of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Quinta Brunson still had good news to share. The actor posted on Instagram in July 2020 to announce she was engaged. "More good news," she captioned a selfie that showed her with a gold, diamond ring on that special finger. She didn't confirm her fiancée's identity, but the lucky man was revealed to be Kevin Jay Anik. Brunson and Anik quietly tied the knot in October 2021, but opted to keep their relationship away from prying eyes and didn't share an announcement or photos from their big day on social media. 

She opened up to People about why their romance predominantly stayed behind closed doors. "I don't talk about my relationship that often, because it's something that I like to keep sacred and safe," she explained. "Nor do I bring him out to be analyzed or attacked by the world."

Though the happy couple preferred to keep their relationship out the spotlight, Brunson offered a small insight into their romance during an interview with Oprah Winfrey Network on the Oprah Winfrey Network. She explained some of her past partners hadn't embraced all of her, but shared (via Business Insider), "My husband, that's what I mean by him being the biggest support, that there is no need to dim me at all. That allows me to love him fully and be the person that I want to be, and am meant to be."

The scheduling conflict that kept Quinta Brunson away from "A Black Lady Sketch Show" appeared to be the recurring acting gig on Season 3 of the comedy "Miracle Workers," which she landed in spring 2021. But that wasn't the show that would catapult her to mainstream success. That title belongs to her most successful gig yet: "Abbott Elementary."

The comedy series, a mockumentary set in a fictional school, not only starred Brunson, but saw her take on an executive producer and writing role too. TV Insider reported the pilot episode, which debuted in December 2021, increased viewership by 300% in the first 35 days since it debuted, with 7.1 million people watching the first episode. "To have only had a few episodes [air] and just for it to be an abundance of love, conversation, and just enjoyment of the show is just so, like, I don't know. I am just so happy, so overwhelmed," she told Harper's Bazaar of how well the comedy was received. In 2022, she and "Abbott Elementary" were nominated for Primetime Emmys in the Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series categories. She also won her first Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

Brunson was using her newfound platform to break down barriers. Her "Abbott Elementary" character, Janine Teagues, often wore her natural hair, and Brunson told Allure she'd been on a journey to embrace her natural locks. "It's fun because it's one that teaches you a lot about yourself and gives you a lot of respect for your hair. That's a beautiful experience," she said. She was also clearly comfortable showing her bare face to the world, as Brunson proved she's flawless going makeup-free.

The overnight success of "Abbott Elementary" catapulted Quinta Brunson to mainstream stardom and led to several other projects. In 2022, she released her first book, "She Memes Well: Essays," and signed a major deal with Warner Bros. that cemented her status as a media mogul. Variety reported the deal would not only see her continue her work on "Abbott Elementary," but would also allow her to create, develop, and produce other content across the company's various networks and streaming platforms. Brunson also landed her first major movie role playing Oprah Winfrey in "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."

The accolades continued to roll in for the golden woman of TV and comedy too. In 2022, she landed on Time's list of 100 Most Influential People and People's People of the Year list. She also earned her first Critics Choice Awards nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2023 and won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award at the Primetime Emmys. 

Her increasing familiarity with big award shows was obvious in her stylish wardrobe, as Brunson began wearing some stunning red carpet looks. She'd started working with stylist Bryon Javar and attended her first New York Fashion Week in 2023. The actor told Harper's Bazaar she hadn't truly considered herself a fashionista before because she's so petite. "So it's really cool to be invited and part of me feels like I have a civic duty now to show up for the small girls at the things I get invited to," she explained. Also in 2023, she realized her long-time dream of appearing on "Saturday Night Live" — and she would go on to host the show again in 2025.

Quinta Brunson embraced a fresh new look in 2024 and received a major accolade. Temple University, her alma mater, presented her with an honorary degree in Fine Arts in recognition of her impressive career. "I am simply honored," she told Temple Now.

Brunson also underwent a dramatic haircut, swapping longer locks for a pixie style — a huge short hair trend in 2024. She debuted her new look at the Primetime Emmys, admitting she'd wanted to make the change for a long time. "Like, I have never felt better. I just feel very much like myself. It's like a piece of me that I was trying to get for a long time," she said on "Today with Hoda and Jenna" (via People). She also spoke to Bustle about her dramatic 'do and how it felt representative of her life at that moment. "When I finally cut it off, there was something very liberating about it. You can still change and evolve and start over. Cutting my hair helped remind me that I am an artist first," she said. "It's a transitional time. I think it's true for me and my personal life, and it's how I feel about myself, my career, and the world," she added.

Part of that transition included the star expanding her career further into movies. That same year, she was announced for a new movie take on Dr. Seuss' "The Cat In The Hat" alongside Bowen Yang and Bill Hader. The movie was announced with a 2026 release window.

After years of personal and professional highs, Quinton Brunson suffered a rare public low in 2025. News broke that March that she had filed for divorce from Kevin Jay Anik. People reported the two didn't confirm their date of separation in legal papers but put their split down to "irreconcilable differences." The talented writer and actor opened up to Bustle about the difficulty of living a public life, admitting she didn't plan for her breakup to make headlines. "I didn't announce anything. I think people have this idea that people in the public eye want the public to know their every move. None of us do. I promise you," she said.

Her personal life had a blow, however, work-wise, "Abbott Elementary" was still going strong. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed 6.64 million viewers watched the Season 5 premiere, and Michelle Obama even admitted that it helped settle the most relatable relationship battle with Barack Obama. She told Entertainment Weekly the comedy was one of the former first family's favorite shows. Brunson had big plans beyond the series though. "Right now, I'm receiving scripts, and waiting for that moment that feels like, 'Oh man, this is exactly what I've been looking for,'" she told Bustle. "'Abbott' has been so successful, and I want to use that success to get other people's projects off the ground," she explained.

At the 2026 Actor Awards, Quinta Brunson walked the red carpet in a gown that represented her new era. "It feels like very much where I am right now. There's a seriousness to it, a playfulness to it, but the black and white, for some reason, really speaks to me. I feel like it's becoming, for me, a very black-and-white world—my decision making, how I have to look at things—but still fun," she told Vanity Fair, giving us Marilyn Monroe-esque hidden meaning outfit vibes.

The strategic fashion move came around three months after Brunson was forced to clap back on social media though. She hit the headlines after fans believed she'd posted a pregnancy announcement on Instagram. The speculation stemmed from a mirror selfie that appeared to show her with a baby bump. "Not preggers. Sweater in odd position. Not 2026 already getting my a**," she wrote on Instagram Stories (via People).

But while a baby wasn't in Brunson's immediate future, she'd been open about her desire to become a mom one day. In her 2018 interview with Philadelphia Magazine, she revealed her 10-year plan. "I see myself ... still making shows and finding new ways to tell stories. And, hopefully, with a baby," she said. At least in the work stakes, Brunson is dead set on making her prediction come true. "Abbott Elementary" was renewed for a sixth season in 2026 with the star still at the helm. With all the success she's seen so far, and the bets she's repeatedly taken on herself that seriously paid off, the sky's the limit for this multi-talented, multi-hyphenate in her career and private life.