Yvonne Orji- Personality of the Month (September)

Just two weeks left until The Miss Nigerian Pageant, Yvonne Orji    panics because she does not have a talent to showcase in the pageant.  With nervousness, she seeks options. She knows for a fact that singing is out of the picture since she cannot sing. Dancing on the other hand is something she is good at, but not enough to present as her talent. Being a Christian, Orji had no better place to turn to, but God. She goes down on her knees and asks Him for help. She then hears a loud voice that said, “Do comedy!”

At first, she is opposed by the idea because she has never done stand-up comedy before. However, the pageant was getting closer. Accordingly, she confides in God to be her guidance. Later, Orji looked into her Nigerian background and stumbled upon many things in her culture that she found funny. Moreover, her brother and a friend contribute and in no time, she had plenty of good ideas to work with. In essence, she was the only person in the pageant who displayed comedy as a talent. Hence, the birth of “Y.Vee,” her comedienne name. Except recently, she just goes by her name Yvonne Orji.

Yvonne Orji is an American comedienne, Actress, Writer and Entrepreneur. She completed both of her undergraduate and graduate programs at The George Washington University, majoring in Public Health. She sees herself as a role model. “I’m an advocate for all things positive and for living life destiny driven and focused on purpose,” Orji said.

We recently caught up with the fastest growing African comedienne to get up close and personal. Check it out!

ATAC Mag: Hello, how are you?
Yvonne Orji: Good, thank you.

ATAC Mag: I read in your interview on Jesusgroupie.com about a Y. Vee. I'm guessing Y. Vee is your stage name?
Yvonne Orji: Y.Vee used to be my stage name. Now I just go by Yvonne Orji. Some people who have known me from the start still call me Y.Vee.

ATAC Mag: Do you still plan on trying out for America's Next Top Model (ANTM)
Yvonne Orji: I applied for ANTM in 2008. I made it to the call-back round. I’m good now. Hopefully one day I’ll be famous enough to have endorsements and do run-way at least once at, say, New York Fashion Week.

ATAC Mag: You said, "Life is too short," you wanted to do it all, thus, act, model, etc. However, you do not give details to why you want to do all of these things. Is there a real reason as to why you want to do all of these things? 

Yvonne Orji: Everything I do in life is simply in the name of Pursuing Purpose. I got my masters in Public Health, because at the time I thought I was supposed to be a Doctor, but God had other plans. Now as a comedienne, actress, writer and entrepreneur, I am truly living a fulfilled life, and I look forward to when I can “pay it forward” to other up and coming talent, so they can experience a taste of the good life and maximize opportunities.

ATAC Mag: Can you tell us more about your writing?

Yvonne Orji: Writing is a big part of what I do. As a comic, I write my own material. As an entertainment correspondent for Black Star News, I write reviews of plays and events in and around New York City. I recently finished up a stint in the writer’s room for the Third Season of Love That Girl- The TV One show, starring Tatyana Ali. Currently, I’m working on a sitcom pilot, so be on the lookout for great things on the horizon.

ATAC Mag: How long have you been writing, when did you realize you wanted to write?
Yvonne Orji: In hindsight, I’ve been writing since I was 7 or 8. I was that kid that used to check out 12 books at a time from the library and read them all in a matter of hours. I would get lost in the world of words and adventures from all the stories I read. When I got to middle school, I used to write songs during choir practice (because I am NOT a singer! Don’t ask me what I was even doing in the Alto section… oh, that’s right. Lip-synching!) In High school, English and creative writing were favorite subjects. By the time I got to college, I majored in sociology and preferred writing term papers to balancing math equations. As, I look back on all of these experiences; I realize that they all served as behind-the-scenes preparation.

ATAC Mag: What is it about writing that intrigues you? (Tie that into your comedy sketch for example, how do you come about in writing for your comedy sketch, etc)
Yvonne Orji: Writing is great because you get to use a combination of experiences and imagination to create scenarios and characters that evoke feelings from joy to frustration. I enjoy challenging myself to create relatable figures, yet not predictable and prescribed. That goes for my comedy. I like writing smart jokes. They make you think a little bit. Some might even make you uncomfortable, but it’s all funny.

ATAC Mag: Is it true that you are going to be writing for Martin Lawrence. Can you tell us more about that?
Yvonne Orji: In August, I spent a month in LA in the writer’s room for the TV One Sitcom, Love That Girl, starring Tatyana Ali. I assisted in punching-up jokes and pitching lines for the show. The show is produced by Martin Lawrence. So I wasn’t writing for him per se.  

ATAC Mag: You currently own a T-shirt line. Please tell us how that started and where you see it going 5 years from now?
Yvonne Orji: Yes, my T-shirt Line is called Rock Your Stance! Apparel. (www.rockyourstance.com). The clothing line promotes encouraging messages, based on Biblical Principles. The Signature slogan is “Keepin’ It Locked ‘Til I Get That Rock!” which promotes waiting until marriage. The new Fall line will feature a slogan that gives voice to the greatness inside each of us. I started the line in 2009, and it grew out of a phrase I said when I was supporting my mentor, Dr. Lindsay Marsh Warren’s clothing line. Since then, the phrase seemed to be catchy and just stuck. My friends encouraged me to put it on apparel, and the rest is history. Five years from now, I hope the line will be available in retail stores across the nation, be distributed in public and private schools, as well as part of governmental programs to promote health initiatives.

ATAC Mag: Do you do any community service?
Yvonne Orji: Every time I step on stage in the midst of an economic downturn, when joblessness is at an all-time high, and families are faced with foreclosure, and I’m able to make a group of people laugh and forget about their troubles, if only temporary, then I believe I have done the community a great service. In the traditional sense of community service, before, venturing into entertainment full-time. I received my Masters of Public Health degree and worked in Liberia for six months, promoting HIV and teen pregnancy prevention awareness among youth.

ATAC Mag: Are you currently dating, or do you have a boyfriend?
Yvonne Orji: At the moment I am Single and Happy! Had a few potentials, but until the right one comes, living my life like it’s golden…well, because it is!

ATAC Mag: Picture yourself in 5-10 years, what do you think your life would be like with comedy, acting, modeling, writing, etc?
Yvonne Orji: In 5-10 years, I will have my own sitcom. Between seasons, I’ll be touring with my comedy. I should have about 7 movies under my belt. Married with 2 kids. Throw in one Oscar and an Emmy…Why not? If you’re going to dream, you might as well DREAM BIG!

ATAC Mag: Thank you for giving ATAC Magazine this exclusive interview, we wish you all the best.
Yvonne Orji: Thank you.

For more information on Yvonne Orji, please visit www.rockyourstance.com, http://www.youtube.com/user/YveeO