Alani Nicole "La La" Anthony (née Vázquez; c. 1979–1982[note 1]) is an American television personality and actress. In the early 2000s, she worked as an MTV VJ on Total Request Live. She was the host of the VH1 reality television reunion shows Flavor of Love, I Love New York, For the Love of Ray J, and Real Chance of Love, and was a dean on Charm School with Ricki Lake.
La La Anthony | |
|---|---|
 Anthony in 2023 | |
| Born | Alani Nicole Vázquez New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Television personality, actress |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Kiyan Anthony |
Anthony appeared in Two Can Play That Game (2001), You Got Served (2004), Think Like a Man (2012), Think Like a Man Too (2014), November Rule (2015) and Destined (2015). She appeared as Lakeisha Grant in the Starz original drama series Power. She hosted the American reality television series La La's Full Court Wedding and La La's Full Court Life. She was married to NBA player Carmelo Anthony from 2010 to 2021.
Early life
Anthony was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents, who are of Puerto Rican heritage, were born and raised in New York City. Anthony (who describes herself as an Afro-Puerto Rican[7]) has a younger brother and two younger sisters. As a young child, she was involved in many activities, but music was her main interest.[8] She attended Howard University for three months.[9]
Career
Anthony started working in radio at WHTA-FM, HOT 97.5 in Georgia. After a short internship at that station she hosted Future Flavas, alongside rapper/actor Ludacris.
Anthony worked at Los Angeles's 92.3 The Beat cohosting The B-Syde. She left the station in 2001 and moved to MTV where she cohosted Direct Effect and Total Request Live.
In 2003, Anthony left MTV. She worked as a producer on Mike Tyson’s documentary, Tyson, which won the Regard Knockout Award in France and was included in the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Anthony also produced a feature film with director/producer Brett Ratner.
Anthony appeared in films Two Can Play That Game, Think Like a Man, Baggage Claim and television shows "NYC 22" and Single Ladies. Other film credits include Urban Massacre (2002), Monster Island (2004), and You Got Served (2004).
In October 2011, Anthony appeared in the off-Broadway production of Love Loss and What I Wore. Anthony appeared in and executive produced La La's Full Court Wedding, which chronicled the time leading up to her wedding to NBA star Carmelo Anthony.
On February 2, 2012, she launched a cosmetic line[10] and in 2013 a clothing line.[11] She has written several books. Anthony co-produced the Broadway production of Danai Gurira's Eclipsed in 2016.
Personal life
On Christmas Day 2004, she became engaged to basketball player Carmelo Anthony, whom she met in 2003.[12][13] Their son, Kiyan, was born in 2007.[14] They were married by Michael Eric Dyson on July 10, 2010, at Cipriani's in New York.[15][16] The ceremony was filmed by VH1 and aired as part of a reality series on the couple, titled La La's Full Court Wedding.[17][18][19] The couple's life together was also chronicled on their continuation series, La La's Full Court Life.[20] In June 2021, she filed for divorce.[21]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Two Can Play That Game | DJ | |
| 2002 | Urban Massacre | Pam Jackson | |
| 2004 | You Got Served | Herself | |
| Monster Island | |||
| Soul Plane | |||
| 2006 | Da Jammies | Angelique (voice) | Video |
| 2009 | Spring Breakdown | Celebrity Judge | |
| 2010 | Gun | Mona | |
| 2012 | Think Like a Man | Sonia | |
| 2013 | 1982 | Neecy | |
| Baggage Claim | Tanya | ||
| 2014 | Think Like a Man Too | Sonia | |
| 2015 | November Rule | Stacey | |
| Chi-Raq | Hecuba | ||
| 2016 | Destined | Jada | |
| 2017 | Deuces | Detective Sonya Diaz | |
| Double Play | Micha | ||
| 2018 | Furlough | Brandy | |
| The Separatists | CPD Dispatcher (voice) | Short film | |
| 2019 | Holiday Rush | Paula Williams | |
| 2022 | 9 Bullets | Tasmin | |
| 2023 | You People | Shaela | |
| The Perfect Find | Elodie | ||
| 2024 | The Bad Guardian | Janet Timms | TV movie |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Wherehouse Live | Herself | Main host |
| 2001 | On the Beat | ||
| 2002 | Direct Effect | ||
| TRL Presents: Christina Stripped in New York City | |||
| 2002–06 | Total Request Live | Recurring host | |
| 2003 | Sex and the City | MTV Interviewer | Episode: "The Post-it Always Sticks Twice" |
| MC Battle | Herself | Main host | |
| The Real World: Paris | Host; Episode: "French Kissing and Telling, The Real World: Paris Reunion" | ||
| 2004 | One on One | Kendra | Episode: "Phatheadz" |
| Direct Effect Presents: Straight Up Hip Hop All Week | Herself | Main host | |
| MTV New Year's Eve Specials 2004 | |||
| Iced Out New Year's Eve 2005 | |||
| Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno | Host; Episode: "Montezuma's Revenge: Inside the Inferno Reunion Show" | ||
| 2005 | Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Sexes 2 | Host; Episode: "Battle of the Sexes 2: Reunion – Secrets from Elimination Hill" | |
| 2006 | Chappelle's Show | Episode: "Black Howard Dean & Stereotype Pixies" | |
| 2006–08 | Flavor of Love | Main host | |
| 2007 | Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School | Host; Episode: "Reunion" | |
| 2007–08 | I Love New York | Main host | |
| 2008–09 | Real Chance of Love | Main host | |
| 2009 | Charm School with Ricki Lake | Main judge | |
| CSI: NY | Lisa Williams | Episode: "Second Chances" | |
| 2009–10 | For the Love of Ray J | Herself | Main host |
| 2010 | La La's Full Court Wedding | Main cast | |
| 2010–11 | Keeping Up with the Kardashians | Guest cast: Seasons 5–6 | |
| 2011 | Arthur Ashe Kids' Day | Main host | |
| 2011–14 | La La's Full Court Life | Main cast | |
| 2012 | Project Runway All Stars | Episode: "An Unconventional Nightmare Before Christmas" | |
| Let's Stay Together | Latrice | Episode: "Fear Factor" | |
| NYC 22 | PAA Kelly | Episode: "Jumpers" | |
| 2012–14 | Single Ladies | Presley Kearse | Recurring cast: Season 3–4 |
| 2013 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "The Reunion Special" |
| Behind the Music | Episode: "Ludacris" | ||
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Anna Tejada | Episode: "Poisoned Motive" | |
| 2014 | Global Spin Awards | Herself | Main host |
| 2014–20 | Power | Lakeisha Grant | Recurring cast: Seasons 1–3, main cast: Seasons 4–6 |
| 2015 | The Meredith Vieira Show | Herself | Panelist; Episode: "Episode #1.148" |
| My Fab 40th | Episode: "Forty, I Do!" | ||
| 2015–16 | Unforgettable | Dr. Delina Michaels | Main cast: Season 4 |
| 2015–18 | The View | Herself | Guest co-host: Seasons 18–19 and 21 |
| 2017 | Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party | Episode: "Keepin' It Crunk" | |
| The Talk | Guest co-host; Episode: "Episode #7.198" | ||
| The New Edition Story | Flo DeVoe | 2 episodes | |
| Bull | Lesley Caffrey | Episode: "Bring It On" | |
| Daytime Divas | Isabel Carlisle | Episode: "Baby Daddy Drama" | |
| 2017–19 | Dear Mama: An Event to Honor Moms | Herself | Main host |
| 2018 | Steve | Panelist; Episode: "La La Anthony/Tracey Edmonds/Kim Gravel/Ta'Rhonda Jones" | |
| Uncensored | Episode: "La La Anthony" | ||
| Star | Paola | Episode: "Dreamers" & "Forward (E)Motion" | |
| 2019 | Drop the Mic | Herself | Episode: "Jack Osbourne vs. Kelly Osbourne and Mel B vs. La La Anthony" |
| The $100,000 Pyramid | Celebrity player; Episode: "Joel McHale vs. Rich Eisen and Jerry Ferrara vs. La La Anthony" | ||
| BH90210 | Shay | Recurring cast | |
| Reef Break | Regina O'Casey | Episode: "Blue Skies" & "Endgame" | |
| 2020 | Homecoming 2020: Meet Me on the Yard | Herself | Main host |
| 2020–22 | The Chi | Dominque "Dom" Morris | Recurring cast: Seasons 3–4, guest: Season 5 |
| 2021 | Grown-ish | Esme | Episode: "A Peace of Light" and "Canceled" |
| Wu-Tang: An American Saga | Tracy Waples | Recurring cast: Season 2 | |
| 2021–23 | Black Mafia Family | Markaisha Taylor | Guest: Season 1, main cast: Season 2 |
| The Freak Brothers | Gretchen Switzer (voice) | Main cast: Season 1, recurring cast: Season 2 | |
| 2022 | The Kardashians | Herself | 2 episodes |
| Power Book II: Ghost | Lakeisha Grant | Episode: "A Fair Fight?" | |
| East New York | Jasmine | Episode: "The Small Things" | |
| 2023 | The Cube | Herself | Episode: "America, Do You Have What It Takes?" |
| Black Pop: Celebrating the Power of Black Culture | Main narrator | ||
| Bupkis | Lisa | Episode: "ISO" |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Oh Boy" | Cam'ron |
| "Miss You" | Aaliyah | |
| 2005 | "So Much More" | Fat Joe |
| 2007 | "Can't Leave 'em Alone" | Ciara featuring 50 Cent |
| 2008 | "What Them Girls Like" | Ludacris featuring Chris Brown and Sean Garrett |
| 2018 | "In My Feelings" | Drake |
| 2019 | "Hot Girl Summer" | Megan Thee Stallion |
Documentary
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 50 Cent: The New Breed |
Notes
See also
References
- ^ Blanchet, Brenton (October 27, 2022). "La La Anthony Opens Up About Why Her Marriage to Carmelo Anthony Failed: 'It Is Really Hard'". People. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
Vazquez, 27, ...
- ^ Selleck, Emily (June 25, 2021). "Kim Kardashian Celebrates La La Anthony's 39th Birthday With Throwback Photos: 'Ride Or Die'". Hollywood Life. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ Fields, Jackie (January 28, 2022). "La La Anthony Launches Her First Hair Product: All About Her 'Power Potion'". People.
Today, Anthony, 39, ...
- ^ "LaLa Vasquez and Kiyan at NBA All-Star Game". People. February 17, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Caplan, David (February 10, 2010). "Photo LaLa Vazquez & Carmelo Anthony's Wedding Save-the-Date Card". People. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "LaLa Anthony: My Family and God Are My Strength Following Split From Carmelo Anthony". People. May 8, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "*Exclusive Updated* La La Vazquez Settles Controversy "Is She Black Or Latina?"". bossip.com. December 13, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ^ "Meet the VJs: La La". VH1. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
- ^ "La La Anthony: 25 Things You Didn't Know About Me (I'm Obsessed With White Castle)". Us Weekly. July 2, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ^ "La La Anthony Launches Makeup Line, Continues to Be Completely Flawless". Glamour. February 1, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ "5th & Mercer | SHOPBOP". January 22, 2015. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015.
- ^ "Hill collided with cameraman during game". ESPN. December 31, 2004. Retrieved January 2, 2005.
- ^ "Look Back At La La And Carmelo Anthony During Happier Times". Essence. October 26, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- ^ Margaret, Mary (March 7, 2007). "LaLa Vazquez Has a Boy with NBA's Carmelo Anthony". People. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
- ^ "LaLa Vazquez, Carmelo Anthony Say "I Do"". Us Weekly. July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ D'Zurilla, Christie (July 12, 2010). "Carmelo Anthony, Lala Vazquez get married in New York". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ Wihlborg, Ulrica (July 10, 2010). "LaLa Vazquez Weds Carmelo Anthony". People. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ "Melo, La La wedding series comes to VH1". The Denver Post. September 19, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ Roberts, Fletcher (February 24, 2011). "La La Vazquez, the Wife of Carmelo Anthony, Gets VH1 Show". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ Zaldivar, Gabe (February 23, 2011). "Just As We Thought, Melo and LaLa Vazquez Will Get New Series". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ Uwumarogie, Victoria (June 17, 2021). "It's Really Over: La La Anthony Reportedly Files For Divorce From Carmelo Anthony After 11 Years Of Marriage". Essence. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
External links
- LaLa Anthony at IMDb
- MTV.com-Onair- Meet the Vjs
- Read MTV's profile of La La on MTV.TV
- LaLa Vazquez interview with DJ Whoo Kid, Sirius Radio/RadioPlanet.tv