GABOUREY SIDIBE: THICK, BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

Born on May 6^th 1983 in New York City (Brooklyn Neighbourhood), is none other than the Chocolate Black Beauty, Gabourey Sidibe or popularly nicknamed as “Gabby” an American Actress. She was raised in Harlem. Her father, Ibnou Sidibe, an origin from Senegal and worked as a Cab driver. Her mother, Alice Tan Ridley, an American R&B and gospel singer who appeared on the 5^th season of America’s Got Talent, on June 15^th 2010. Her parents divorced when Gabby was quite young and she moved to Harlem.

In the early life of Gabourey, she lived with her aunt who is known as Dorothy Pitman Hughes. After high school, she earned an Associate Degree from Borough of Manhattan Community College and later on attended City College of New York but unfortunately, she did not end up graduating from there. She decided to work as a Receptionist at The Fresh Air Fund’s Office in New York before she proceeded in pursuing her career as an actress.

Little Gabourey developed a certain interest and admiration for her mum’s talent and she would often sing and perform productions in school and the Local theatre such as “Peter Pan” and “The Wiz”

Gabourey began seriously engaging in her acting career by the year 2009, in the movie “Precious” by “Lee Daniels” in which she starred and that was all it took to turn her life into a fairy-tale. Her performance left everyone flabbergasted and she had the honour of being nominated for both a Golden Globe as well as an Oscar for her debut role and she was so excited when her award nomination was announced by Justin Timberlake at the Golden Globe.  She had other films like “Yelling to the Sky”, with Zoe Kravitz and “Tower Heist” as well as “Empire” in 2015 and other movies.

During an Interview for Gabourey’s first movie “Precious” she mentioned that she was discouraged and was advised by Joan Cusack to reconsider her choice in becoming an actress. This was due to the fact of her physical features and that the Entertainment Industry is so image-conscious but she did not give up and the movie instead brought a fairy-tale magic turn in to her life . she has been nominated for and won many awards including Best Breakthrough Performance at Chicago International Film Festival, Best Actress at Detroit Film Critics Society Awards, Best Young Actress at women Film Critics Circle Awards,  Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead  at the Golden Globe Awards , Academy Award for Best Actress by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences(AMPAS) and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Gabourey’s successful fairy-tale story is an inspiration to all those who feel they cannot make it to accomplish their dreams. Even if you are discouraged, never give up and you will succeed in anything you set your mind to do.

  Delia Nyadi