Comedian Jessie Woo will have you burst into prolonged laughter with her skits. The Miami-bred funny girl of Haitian descent has carved out a specialty niche for herself by spoofing her Haitian-American upbringing. She caught the attention of many with her video “Dear Haitian Crush”, in which she re-imagines Alicia Keys’ “You Don’t Know My Name”, with an improvised Haitian accent. She laces the video conversation with references to Haitian culture and traditions, making the video amusing, all the while showing her gift for bringing ingenuity to her videos. In another video, she parodies dramatic mourners at funerals in the Haitian community. Playing the mourner, Jessie Woo bewails the fact that the Sister Natasha, the deceased was not given a ponytail, but another hairstyle. And the makeup job, she complains, is disastrous, and the complexion of Sister Natasha ruined by bad foundation.
In another skit entitled “A Haitian Mother’s Prayer”, Jessie Woo’s mom supplicates the Lord for her daughter to shun all the vakabons of the world. “Why you don’t make Jesus your boyfriend?” The mother cajoles at one point. Well, Amen.
And then there’s Cadoushka Jean-Francois, Jessie Woo’s alter ego. Cadouska is the sort of person you absolutely love to laugh with, but would probably prefer to love at a considerable distance. She spews sarcasm and nastiness most people would rather do without. Delightful, but toxic and a straight-shooter who speaks crooked, that’s Cadouskha! When Cadouska is asked by her friend to give her opinion regarding an outfit for an outing, she tells her friend that one of the potential outfits make her resemble “a walking garden”. How’s that for honesty!
Check out PART II of the interview with comedian Jessie Woo below!
Kreyolicious: What do your parents think about your career as a comedian?
Jessie Woo: I did not tell my mother what I was doing. Someone showed her the McDonalds video and she called me like, “Really Jessica? Why didn’t you tell me you were doing this?” She loves it and is very supportive. I was worried because I do not use squeaky clean language. I can be a bit vulgar depending on the video, but she loves it and she is optimistic about the things to come. She wants everyone to know that her baby is talented. [Laughter]
Kreyolicious: It’s been said that you are the sum of the five people you are around the most. Now, if you could be around five comedians for the rest of your life…whom would you choose and why?
Jessie Woo: I would definitely want to hang out with Jamie Foxx, Whoopi Goldberg, Tiffany Haddish, Mo’nique and Martin Lawrence.
Kreyolicious: What was the biggest three lessons you’ve learned in your life so far? And how do you apply them to your life?
Jessie Woo: One, God’s timing is better than yours. Two: Everything does not happen the way we want them to or WHEN we want them to, and that is okay. Three: Be true to yourself, always.
Kreyolicious: You post makeup tutorials at time…which are so fun to watch…and speaking of which…have you ever felt ugly…and if so…how did you get over that? If not, what advice would you give to those who lack confidence in their looks?
Jessie Woo: I’ve been called ugly plenty of times. When you are pursuing a career in entertainment, you hear things like being dark is ugly. [Laughter]. Having a natural body is ugly. You hear alot of weird things. My younger self was very impressionable. Now that I am an adult, those things do not phase me. I know I am f__ gorgeous. I am beautiful. My skin is amazing. I have all my edges, five fingers on each hand, ten toes. I am alive and well. I am beautiful.
Kreyolicious: Tunnel vision! Where do you see yourself around this time three years from now?
Jessie Woo: I see myself doing what I love and being happy.
This is the concluding part of the interview with Haitian American comedian Jessie Woo. CLICK HERE if you missed PART I.
CLICK HERE to read interviews with other Haitian-American comedians.
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