My First Time: Shoniqua Shandai’s Heartwarming Harlem Story

Amazon's "Harlem" Series Premiere
Hatnim Lee

Although we all had to say goodbye last month to the beloved Amazon Prime Video series Harlem, fans will always remember both the comedy and camaraderie shared between lead actresses Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Jerrie Johnson and the ever-hilarious breakout star Shoniqua Shandai.

Seen as “the Samantha” in a show that’s been viewed as a melanated answer to Sex And The City, Shandai also exhibited an impressive set of vocal chops that played out perfectly in the story arc for her eccentric character, Angie Wilson.

Let’s just say your girl gets a very happy ending after three seasons of ups and downs while navigating Uptown.

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In this week’s “My First Time,” our first for Women’s History Month for added irony, the big-haired singing sensation shared how preparation for a lead role in Harlem led her to the actual jazz clubs of Harlem to get a feel for how the nightlife music scene really operates in New York City. What she discovered was a heartwarming experience that even broke the often-shared preconception that all New Yorkers are mean.

Watch below for a “My First Time” story by Harlem actress Shoniqua Shandai on how the real-life Harlem prepared her for a breakout performance on television:

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