But at that time, with that kind of notoriety, people recognizing me - I'm doing air quotes for people who can't see this - it was like, oh, is it this easy to be recognizable? And I think I was thinking that to myself because I was like, that was a fluke. But as far as, like, getting recognized and stuff, it was surreal, I think because that - you know, I talk a lot about celebrity and fame in the book and what it is and what it means now. Nobody knew what an influencer was necessarily.īRUNSON: Exactly. It was just, like - that was back when Instagram was very pure. I don't think we knew the potential of Instagram at that point. SHAPIRO: I don't know if that's possible to fact-check, but it's been said.īRUNSON: I don't know if that's possible to fact-check, either, but it has been said because I started using Instagram video, like, as soon as it happened because it wasn't a thing. SHAPIRO: Like, some have said you were the first viral Instagram video, which. SHAPIRO: And it was, like, the earliest days of Instagram video. Well, first correction - they were Instagram videos. And you start getting recognized on the street, even in the Apple store where you're working. SHAPIRO: So you created these YouTube videos with the character, and it completely took off. Where you all get your water? Oh, my God, you got money. This is the girl who's never been on a nice date.īRUNSON: (As character) Excuse me, waitress.

You get a day job at the Apple store, and you get a chance to do a comedy show where you create a character that now tens of millions of people have seen.

My mom was like, where were you? I was like, doing drugs.

From Philadelphia to take classes at Second City and didn't tell your parents that that's what you were doing.īRUNSON: Didn't tell my parents. SHAPIRO: You literally - like, you snuck off to Chicago. So I kind of split off into this separate world, where secretly I was doing improv classes. It's called 'She Memes Well.' Quinta Brunson told me that growing up the youngest of five children in Philadelphia with conservative religious parents, she was always told that she should pursue a stable career, but that's not what she had in mind.īRUNSON: Becoming a performer, comedian - anything other than a teacher, really - seemed very far-fetched. She's now a TV writer, actress, comedian and author, and her new book describes the difficult path that led her to this place. It's a meme that launched the career of Quinta Brunson. Conjures a specific image - a young woman's face, mouth open, eyes wide. QUINTA BRUNSON: (As character) He got money.

She Memes Well by Quinta Brunson