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

Occupation(s)Television personality, actress
Years active1996–present
Spouse
(m. 2010; div. 2021)
ChildrenKiyan 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 in 2012

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

  1. ^ There are conflicting sources regarding information on her birth year. Some sources claim 1982 or have her listed as that was the year she was born.[1][2][3] However there are also sources that claim 1979 or have her age listed as having been born that year.[4][5][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ 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, ...
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Fields, Jackie (January 28, 2022). "La La Anthony Launches Her First Hair Product: All About Her 'Power Potion'". People. Today, Anthony, 39, ...
  4. ^ "LaLa Vasquez and Kiyan at NBA All-Star Game". People. February 17, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Caplan, David (February 10, 2010). "Photo LaLa Vazquez & Carmelo Anthony's Wedding Save-the-Date Card". People. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "LaLa Anthony: My Family and God Are My Strength Following Split From Carmelo Anthony". People. May 8, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  7. ^ "*Exclusive Updated* La La Vazquez Settles Controversy "Is She Black Or Latina?"". bossip.com. December 13, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  8. ^ "Meet the VJs: La La". VH1. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "La La Anthony Launches Makeup Line, Continues to Be Completely Flawless". Glamour. February 1, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "5th & Mercer | SHOPBOP". January 22, 2015. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015.
  12. ^ "Hill collided with cameraman during game". ESPN. December 31, 2004. Retrieved January 2, 2005.
  13. ^ "Look Back At La La And Carmelo Anthony During Happier Times". Essence. October 26, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  14. ^ Margaret, Mary (March 7, 2007). "LaLa Vazquez Has a Boy with NBA's Carmelo Anthony". People. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  15. ^ "LaLa Vazquez, Carmelo Anthony Say "I Do"". Us Weekly. July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  16. ^ D'Zurilla, Christie (July 12, 2010). "Carmelo Anthony, Lala Vazquez get married in New York". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  17. ^ Wihlborg, Ulrica (July 10, 2010). "LaLa Vazquez Weds Carmelo Anthony". People. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  18. ^ "Melo, La La wedding series comes to VH1". The Denver Post. September 19, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  19. ^ Roberts, Fletcher (February 24, 2011). "La La Vazquez, the Wife of Carmelo Anthony, Gets VH1 Show". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.