Tabitha Brown (actress)

Tabitha Bonita Brown (née Thomas; born February 4, 1979) is an American actress and social media personality. She creates online video content incorporating veganism, humor and motivational speaking. Brown has over 5 million followers on TikTok and over 4.2 million followers on Instagram as of March 2023. She has been described by HuffPost as "America's Mom"[4] and her content has been characterized by critics as being "comforting"[5] and "calming".[6][7][8][9][10] She is the host of the Food Network’s first plant-based cooking competition It’s CompliPlated and host of the Emmy-nominated YouTube children’s show Tab Time.[11]

Tabitha Brown
Brown in 2013
Born
Tabitha Bonita Thomas[1][2]

(1979-02-04) February 4, 1979[3]
Eden, North Carolina, U.S.
EducationMiami International University of Art & Design
Occupations
  • Actress
  • social media personality
Years active2002–present
Spouse
Chance Brown
​
(m. 2003)​
Children2
Websiteiamtabithabrown.com

Born in North Carolina, Brown studied fashion briefly before dropping out and pursuing acting. After developing chronic pain and fatigue, Brown switched to a vegan diet to help with relief. She created her TikTok account in 2020 and began amassing followers shortly thereafter.

Brown has appeared in television shows such as The Chi and Good Morning America. In 2021, Brown was awarded the Outstanding Social Media Personality title at the NAACP Image Awards. Her first book, Feeding the Soul (because it's my business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love and Freedom, was published the same year, and she published her first cookbook, Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations, the next.

Early life and career

1979–2007: Early years and career beginnings

Brown was born in Eden, North Carolina.[8][12] Raised in Stoneville, she grew up in Eden.[10] She began studying fashion design at Miami International University of Art & Design, but dropped out at age 19 and moved to Laguna Niguel, California.[13] After struggling financially, she returned to North Carolina, this time moving to Greensboro, where she lived for five years.[13][12][14]

In 2002, Brown got a job as the co-host of a local late-night show, where she interviewed celebrities who performed at Greensboro Coliseum Complex.[13] In 2004, with husband in tow, she moved back to Los Angeles where she tried stand-up comedy.[8] After failing to land as a TV actress, Brown spent five years working at a Macy's in Century City.[15][8] Six months after the move to California, Brown began traveling between North Carolina and Los Angeles to care for her mother who had developed ALS.[13]

2008–2016: Acting and performance hiatus

Brown had spent three years taking care of her mother.[10] Following her mother's death in 2007,[16] Brown began her career acting small roles in several indie films and direct-to-video films.[13][17] Brown subsequently developed chronic pain and fatigue and could not work for a year.[13] Brown was introduced to veganism after her daughter had suggested adopting it to help with her recovery.[13][18]

Social media breakthrough

In late 2017, Brown was running out of disability insurance funds, which led to her becoming an Uber driver in October 2017,[10] in order to make ends meet as a "struggling"[19] part-time actress.[16] Her video review from December 2017 of a Whole Foods Market vegan BLT sandwich went viral, after which the company hired her as a brand ambassador to travel the country.[10][16] In early March 2020, she created a TikTok account on which she began sharing vegan recipes, cooking tips, family moments, and encouraging advice, amassing 2 million followers in the space of five weeks.[8][9] Brown had also been broadcasting live cooking shows and product reviews on Facebook live since early 2018.[20][21]

In late April 2020, Brown was signed to Creative Artists Agency.[22] In late June 2020, she began hosting All Love on Ellen Digital Network.[21][23] In 2021, Brown hosted the YouTube Original children's show Tab Time.[24] The same year, she launched a hair care line named "Donna's Recipe" after her name for her afro,[25] and she published her first book, Feeding the Soul (because it's my business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love and Freedom, which became No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.[26] In 2022, she published her debut cookbook Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations,[27] launched a clothing collection with Target Corporation,[28] and appeared on Good Morning America.[29]

Brown's YouTube show Tab Time was nominated for two categories in the inaugural Children's and Family Emmy Awards, Outstanding Preschool Series and Outstanding host.[30]

Cooking from the Spirit

In 2022, William Morrow published Brown's cookbook Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations. The book was featured on NPR[31] and Good Morning America.[32] Essence magazine reported Brown went on a two-week book tour that ended with a final appearance at the Regent Theatre in Los Angeles.[33] Journalist Avery Yale Kamila listed Cooking from the Spirit on her list of the best vegan cookbooks of 2022.[34] DeAnna Taylor of Ebony magazine listed the book on her list of 7 cookbooks to leave Thanksgiving guests wanting more.[35] Oprah Daily listed the book as number 8 on its 2022 list of "16 Books to Gift Your Favorite Bibliophiles."[36] In 2023, USA Today listed the book's peach cobbler recipe on a list of egg-free recipes to try as egg prices rise.[37]

Food Network show It's CompliPlated

In 2022, the Food Network hired Tabitha Brown to host and executive produce the network’s first plant-based cooking competition series, It's CompliPlated.[38] The show premiered August 11th at 10 p.m.[39] After the show debuted, it was moved from its primetime spot to a daytime slot.[40]

Personal life

Brown is married to Chance Brown, a retired LAPD officer with whom she co-hosts Fridays with Tab & Chance on IGTV. Together, they have two children; Choyce and Queston.[15][18][41] They reside in Los Angeles, California.[42]

Books
  • Feeding the Soul (because it's my business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love and Freedom
  • Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations

Filmography

Adapted from IMDb:[17]

Film

As Writer

Year Title Writer Notes
2019Love or LaughsYesCo-written with Bo Starks

As Actress

Year Title Role Director Notes
2005 Bad Reputation High School Student / Partygoer Jim Hemphill
2008 Outrighteous Simone Jill Maxcy
2009 Thug Love CeCe Marcello Thedford
2010 Helpless Tabitha Johnson Brent Huff Short film
2010 Caution to the Wind Veronica Paige Douglas Herman
2012 Laughing to the Bank Various Brian Hooks
2017 I Am Still Here Alicia Mischa Marcus
2018 All Between Us Aubyrn Jamie Jones
2018 I Hate LA Roxie Reuben Johnson
2018 A Stone Cold Christmas Homeless Santa Courtney Miller
2019 Princess of the Row Aunty Tammy Max Carlson

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2011 Lbs Sabrina Wright 3 episodes
2013 Fat Ass Anonymous Sabrina Pilot episode
2014 Black Boots Dr. Freeman Episode: "Revolutions"
2015 Family Time Dr. Darlene Episode: "What's Ours is Mine"
2015, 2019 Black Jesus Theresa / Teresa 2 episodes
2016 Sex Sent Me to the ER Dr. Mary Manson Episode: "Bedroom Eyes"
2017 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Lorraine Episode: "Felicity Huffman/Lea Michele/Stephen 'tWitch' Boss"
2017 Switched at Birth Nurse Reed Episode: "Four Ages in Life"
2017 CH Originals Aunt Tiffany Episode: "Disarming Conversational Land Mines"
2018 Vengeful Dr. Darcel Anderson-Ramirez Pilot episode
2020 Will & Grace Female Officer Episode: "What A Dump"
2020 Anatomy of Black Love Self TV documentary
2020 The Talk Self Episode: "Joel McHale/Tabitha Brown"
2021 The Chi Octavia Matthews 5 episodes
2021- Tab Time Tab 10 episodes
2022 The Tiny Chef Show Herself 2 episodes

Psychic on The Conner Sept 22nd, 2021

Awards and nominations
Award Year Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
Veggie Awards 2020 Favorite Vegan Social Media Personality Herself Won [43]
Streamy Awards Food Won [44]
NAACP Image Awards 2021 Outstanding Social Media Personality Won [45]
Children's and Family Emmy Awards 2022 Outstanding Preschool Series Tab Time Nominated [46]
Outstanding Host Herself - Tab Time Nominated
Give Her FlowHERS Awards The Self-Love Award Herself Won [47]

References
  1. "Tabitha Bonita Brown (born 4 Feb 1979) – United States Public Records". FamilySearch. United States Public Records. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  2. "Resume – Tabitha Bonita Brown". Nowcasting.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  3. Tabitha Brown [@IAmTabithaBrown] (February 4, 2019). "It's my birthday!!!! Feb 4th [...] Omg I'm 40 THANK YOU..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. Finley, Taryn (May 3, 2020). "How TikTok Star And Actor Tabitha Brown Is Becoming America's Mom". HuffPost. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  5. Shapiro, Ari (May 20, 2020). "Viral Vegan Influencer Makes Comforting TikTok Videos During The Pandemic". NPR. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  6. Abrams, Margaret (July 17, 2020). "Why Tabitha Brown is TikTok's best chef to follow". Evening Standard. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  7. Jackson, Leigh-Ann (June 27, 2020). "She came to L.A. for fame. 20 years later, this auntie is a bonafide TikTok star". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  8. Blackmon, Michael (April 21, 2020). "How A Vegan TikTok Star Became A Daily Pick-Me-Up For Millions Of People". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  9. Zoledziowski, Anya (April 17, 2020). "TikTok Star Tabitha Brown's Vegan Recipe Videos Will Soothe Your Soul". Vice. ISSN 1077-6788. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  10. Murphy, Desiree; Behar, Deidre (July 21, 2020). "How Tabitha Brown Overcame Obstacles to Live Out Her Dream Life". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  11. Ifeanyi, KC (April 1, 2023). "How Tabitha Brown is building an entertainment empire based on joy". Fast Company.
  12. "Tik Tok Sensation Tabitha Brown Remembers Her Triad Roots". Spectrum News. May 24, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  13. Garcia, Sandra E.; Rago, Rozette (May 13, 2020). "The Joy of Vegan Cooking, 60 Seconds at a Time". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  14. Welch, Hailey (May 20, 2020). "How Vegan TikTok Star Tabitha Brown Started Her Viral Career". The Beet. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  15. McFeters, Chloé (March 14, 2018). "Interview with Actress and Vlogger Tabitha Brown". Chloé McFeters. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  16. Bowie, Richard (May 31, 2020). "Black Wellness Matters: How Vegan TikTok Star Tabitha Brown is Healing Her Community". VegNews. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  17. "Tabitha Brown". IMDb. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  18. Garrity, Kate (April 28, 2020). "TikTok Sensation, Tabitha Brown, Is a Vegan Chef and Mother of Two". Distractify. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  19. "Making Tomato Sandwiches—Because That's Our Business!—With TikTok Star Tabitha Brown on A Zoom of One's Own". Vogue. May 7, 2020. ISSN 0042-8000. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  20. Raven, Robin (March 4, 2020). "Tabitha Brown Is On a Mission to Inspire You to Eat More Plants". Chowhound. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  21. Starostinetskaya, Anna (June 25, 2020). "Vegan Influencer Tabitha Brown Gets Own Show on Ellen's Network". VegNews. ISSN 1544-8495. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  22. Axworthy, Nicole (April 29, 2020). "Vegan Influencer Tabitha Brown Signs With One of Hollywood's Top Talent Agencies". VegNews. ISSN 1544-8495. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  23. Tomky, Naomi (June 29, 2020). "Tabitha Brown Is Finally Getting Her Own TV Show (and We Hope There's More Carrot Bacon)". The Kitchn. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  24. "New Show: "COME ON IN, it's 'TAB TIME'!" Starring Tabitha Brown". November 19, 2021.
  25. Starostinetskaya, Anna. "There's Now a Black Market for Tabitha Brown's McCormick Sunshine Seasoning". VegNews.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  26. Sewing, Joy (October 14, 2021). "Exclusive: 'The gentlest person on the Internet': Tabitha Brown, vegan influencer and author, visits Houston". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  27. Hines, Morgan. "Tabitha Brown's 'Lazy Peach Cobbler' is the perfect vegan, fruit-filled dessert for cozy nights". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  28. "Tabitha Brown Announces An Upcoming Collection With Target—Here's What We Know!". BET. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  29. America, Good Morning. "Author, actress and food influencer Tabitha Brown shares vegan chili recipe". Good Morning America. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  30. "Tabitha Brown Gets Emotional After She Scores Two Emmy Nominations For Children's Show 'Tab Time'". Black Enterprise. November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  31. Martin, Michel (October 25, 2022). "For this TikTok star, cooking from the spirit is much more than a recipe". NPR.
  32. "Video Author, actress and food influencer Tabitha Brown shares vegan chili recipe". ABC News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  33. "Tabitha Brown Wants You To Cook From The Spirit With Her New Book". Essence. October 24, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  34. Kamila, Avery Yale (December 11, 2022). "The best vegan cookbooks of 2022". Press Herald. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  35. Taylor, DeAnna (November 22, 2022). "7 Cookbooks Featuring Mouthwatering Recipes That Will Leave Your Holiday Guests Wanting More". Ebony. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  36. "16 Books to Gift Your Favorite Bibliophiles". Oprah Daily. November 11, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  37. Hines, Morgan. "Where are all the eggs? Try these eggless recipes amidst shortage, rising prices". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  38. Jackson, Angelique (August 15, 2023). "Tabitha Brown Partners With Stephen 'Dr.' Love's Made With Love Media (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  39. Inman, DeMicia (July 11, 2022). "Tabitha Brown Lands Vegan Cooking Competition Show 'It's CompliPlated' On Food Network". VIBE.com. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  40. "Tabitha Brown speaks out after Food Network time slot shakeup: 'I'm not going to change'". TODAY.com. August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  41. "Everything about Tabitha Brown's husband and her children". TheNetline. September 24, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  42. Jackson, Leigh-Ann (May 27, 2020). "She came to L.A. for fame. 20 years later, this auntie is a bonafide TikTok star". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  43. "The Results Are In! Here are the Winners of the 2020 Veggie Awards". VegNews. April 2, 2020. ISSN 1544-8495. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  44. "10th Annual Streamy Nominees & Winners".
  45. "NAACP Image Awards: Three Things To Know About Tabitha Brown Winner of Outstanding Social Media Personality". BET.com. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  46. Michael Schneider (November 1, 2022). "Netflix Leads Nomination Tally for First-Ever Children's & Family Emmys". Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  47. Abraham, Mya (November 15, 2022). "Inside Femme It Forward's Inaugural 'Give Her FlowHERS' Gala". Vibe.
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