Category Archives: Dazzler of the Day

The Dazzler of the Day goes out to Lena Waithe, for her reigning run as actor, producer, and writer. Waithe has created the Showtime series ‘The Chi’ as well as the BET series ‘Boomerang’ and ‘Twenties’, and acting as Executive Producer of ‘Them’. She’s received a Tony Award nomination (for ‘Ain’t No Mo’) and won an Outstanding Writing Emmy as well as a Black Film Critics Circle Award for Best Original Screenplay for ‘Queen and Slim’. That’s a lot of accomplishments, and it still feels like this is only the opening act. 

I love a Dazzler who writes their own post, so I’m letting Gina Yashere’s brilliant bio from GinaYashere.com. do most of the explaining here. For those woefully-out-of-the-know, Yashere is a hilarious comedian, producer, writer, vocal artist, television correspondent, and actor. She easily earns this Dazzler of the Day for never allowing her star quality to be dimmed.

Gina was born & raised in London UK, of Nigerian parents, and previously worked as an elevator engineer for Otis. Gina has been a stand up and TV star in the UK for numerous years now, with appearances on iconic TV shows such as Live At The Apollo & Mock The Week, as well as creating & performing the hugely popular comedic characters, Tanya & Mrs. Omokerede on The Lenny Henry Show. She broke onto the American comedy scene with her appearances on Last Comic Standing (NBC), where she made it to the final 10, and then never went home!

Gina went on to be named one of the top 10 rising talents in the Hollywood Reporter.
She is also known in the US for being the only British comedian to ever appear on the iconic Def Comedy Jam, as well as for her hilarious appearances on The Tonight Show (NBC) & Crashing on HBO.

Gina self produced 3 separate 1 hour Stand Up Specials, Skinny B*tch, Laughing To America, & Ticking Boxes, two of which are currently streaming on Netflix.

Gina’s 4th stand up special is also streaming on Netflix, as part of The Stand Ups, season 2, and is  garnering rave reviews on the network. She is also regularly featured on Comedy Central as the British Correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

Gina is also an in demand voice artist. She has voiced characters in various animations, including Keisha in the British cult hit, Bromwell High, & Gravelle in the latest movie from the makers of Wallace & Gromit & Chicken Run, Early Man! She can be currently heard playing a starfish called Gareth, on the Children’s ITV show, The Rubbish World of Dave Spud.

Gina has performed for audiences not just in Europe, the US & Australia, but she is in fact, a highly sought after comedian in Asia, making numerous sold out appearances in Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia & Hong Kong. 
It’s a wonder she found the time to pick up her 4th award in a row for “Best Comedian” at the recent Black Entertainment & Comedy Awards (UK).

Gina has performed numerous times at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and Toronto. Feature films appearances have included Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Mr. in Between, and she has also appeared on the West-End stage in The Vagina Monologues.
Gina currently resides in Los Angeles where she is producing, writing and acting on the new sitcom Bob hearts Abishola, which she co-created with Chuck Lorre, & is currently airing on CBS.

Finding mass fame and exposure from the world of Tik Tok (perhaps the most endangered world of all right now) was not the goal and quest of Ian Paget, but taking that twist of fate and translating it into a vessel for fans to find his work and charm is one of those destined brushstrokes of the universe that shouldn’t be questioned, merely enjoyed. Paget is an actor and performer first and foremost, and that has always shown through all his online, social media endeavors. Check out the bio on his website for further evidence of his brilliance, and it’s clear to see how he is crowned with his first Dazzler of the Day honor here.

Keen fashion-watchers will remember Mickey Boardman from his cameo in the Iris Apfel documentary by the brothers Maysles (of ‘Grey Gardens‘ fame), and anyone who knows anything about New York will know him from any event worth being talked about. Boardman has been the Editorial Director for Paper Magazine, and most recently was named Creative Director for the online reboot of Playgirl (the newest issue of which features Maluma – come back later for more on that). His social adventures and appearances have branded him as a career socialite, but that discounts all his years of compelling writing, cultural commentary, fashion expertise, and historical lifestyle knowledge – for those reasons Boardman is crowned Dazzler of the Day. 

{See also Michael Musto for further fabulousness.}

The easiest way to all but guarantee winning a coveted Dazzler of the Day honor is to drop your trousers for the cameras. To do so at the Madonna Celebration Tour is winning that crowning without hesitation. Eric André also earns this from a career of stellar performances, and a multi-faceted collection of talents that include acting, writing, performing, producing, and performing. He graduated from Berklee College in Boston, and that just about cements the dazzling deal. 

English comedian and writer Sarah Millican earns her first Dazzler of the Day crowning thanks to her hilarious on-stage work and writing, and a sly delivery that makes it all the more hilarious. Check out Millican’s website here for her current touring dates and upcoming performances. Hopefully she makes it to this sad side of the pond someday – we definitely need a laugh. (Bonus points for her brash sense of style.)