Quinta Brunson, the rising star of the critically acclaimed TV show Abbott Elementary, has captivated audiences with her talent and wit.
Her career is undoubtedly on the ascent, from her hilarious sketches during BuzzFeed days to her recent Emmy nominations and SAG Award nods.
But amidst all the spotlight and success, there’s one aspect of her life that she’s managed to keep hush-hush – her love life.
Quinta Brunson and her husband, Kevin Jay Anik, have managed to keep their love life private despite Quinta’s rapid ascent to stardom (Credit: Jennifer Graylock / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
While millions follow her on social media and watch her on the screen, few know that Quinta Brunson is a married woman.
The creative genius behind the series Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date has found love and companionship with her husband, Kevin Jay Anik.
Quinta Brunson’s Journey to Hollywood Stardom
Born in West Philadelphia with four siblings, Quinta Brunson’s name, meaning “fifth” in Spanish, hinted at her being the youngest in the family.
Her upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness was rooted in values and compassion, with her mother, Norma Jean Brunson, a dedicated kindergarten teacher.
As a young girl, she was “obsessed” with comedy, a passion she nurtured during high school and college through improv classes.
After a brief stint at Temple University and classes at Second City in Chicago, the African-American actress took a bold step. She dropped out of college to pursue a comedy career.
Quinta Brunson followed her passion for comedy and her decision paid off with several self-produced projects and the success of Abbott Elementary (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Her decision paid off as she gained fame with her self-produced Instagram series, Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date, catching the attention of BuzzFeed, where she continued to shine as a producer and content creator.
However, her most remarkable breakthrough came with the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary, where she excelled as the creator, executive producer, co-writer, and lead actress.
Brunson made history as the first Black woman to receive three Emmy nominations in the comedy category, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
Beyond her hit show, Quinta Brunson’s talent extended to acting in series like iZombie, Single Parents, and Miracle Workers, as well as lending her voice to animated projects. Her work on the HBO comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show further showcased her versatility.
How Tall Is Quinta Brunson?
Quinta Brunson, born on December 21, 1989, has a cute height of 4 feet and 11 inches (149.9 cm), making her one of the shortest Hollywood celebrities.
The average height of an adult American woman was approximately 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm). Comparing this to Quinta Brunson’s height of 4 feet 11 inches (149.9 cm), she is approximately 5 inches (12.7 cm) shorter than the average American woman.
Angela Bassett’s height is 5 feet 3.5 inches (161.3 cm), while Quinta Brunson’s height is 4 feet 11 inches (149.9 cm), making Angela approximately 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) taller than Quinta (Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock)
Despite her impressive achievements, she opened up about her early worries in an interview with Bustle in April 2022, where she questioned whether her height could impact her Hollywood aspirations.
The 33-year-old actress explained, “When I got to LA and I started really thinking about whether or not I could be an actress, I was like, ‘Oh, dang, nobody is 4’11”… We may have encountered a problem we didn’t think about here.’”
Quinta Brunson stands at 4 feet and 11 inches, making her one of the shortest celebrities in Hollywood (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
However, her perspective changed when Brunson discovered that she shared the same height as the renowned actress Kristin Chenoweth, stating, “I was like, ‘All right, it has been done before, it can be done again!’”
In another interview with NPR in February 2022, Brunson embraced her unique stature, admitting, “For most of my life, I did not feel self-conscious about being short. If anything, I looked at it as like a superpower. It was something very interesting about me and people thought I was cute and funny, and when I started doing stand up, it was just another thing to be funny about.”
During her early days at BuzzFeed Video, she starred in a viral 2014 clip titled Nine Perks Of Being Short, which received over 12 million views and continues celebrating the advantages of her short size.
Even in the presence of towering figures like 6 feet and 7 ½ inches (201.9 cm) LeBron James, Brunson doesn’t let her height hold her back.
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In a 2022 post to her 1.5 million followers on Instagram, she playfully quipped, “Thank goodness for heels,” while standing tall next to the basketball legend.
How Did Quinta Brunson Meet Kevin Jay Anik?
Quinta Brunson found love in the arms of Kevin Jay Anik, a sales manager. While little is known about Anik’s specific company or public presence, it’s evident that he prefers to stay under the radar.
The couple keeps their relationship out of the spotlight, with no details about how they first met being shared publicly.
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However, in December 2019, Anik made a rare appearance on Brunson’s social media, where they were bundled together in the snow, writing in the caption, “The winter jumped out.”
Despite their privacy, it’s clear that Anik is a supportive partner, and he has been seen standing by Brunson’s side at significant events.
They made their red carpet debut at the TIME 100 Gala in June 2022, where Brunson was recognized as one of the most influential people.
Anik also showed his support at the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022, attending the event with her.
Quinta Brunson and husband Kevin Jay Anik making their red carpet debut at the 2022 Time 100 Gala in New York City on June 8, 2022 (Credit: Jennifer Graylock / INSTARimages)
Quinta Brunson and Kevin Jay Anik’s love story remains a mystery to the public, but their bond and support are evident in the moments they choose to share with the world.
Brunson and Anik’s Engagement and Wedding Ceremony
Love blossomed in secret as Quinta Brunson and Kevin Jay Anik embarked on their journey to forever. While their engagement date continues to elude us, Brunson confirmed the happy news on Instagram on July 30, 2020.
She shared a fresh-faced selfie, joyfully revealing her sparkling gold round-cut solitaire engagement ring on her left finger with a simple caption, “More good news.”
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Their engagement announcement coincided with the excitement of A Black Lady Sketch Show earning an Emmy nomination.
The couple’s love story continued to flourish, and just over a year later, in September 2021, Brunson and Anik exchanged heartfelt vows in an intimate ceremony, surrounded by their closest friends and family.
However, they kept the details under wraps, opting not to post photos from the wedding celebration.
How Anik Supports Brunson in Her Acting Career
Behind the scenes, Kevin Jay Anik remains a pillar of strength and support for Quinta Brunson.
Though she keeps most details of her relationship with her husband private, Brunson doesn’t hesitate to express her love and appreciation for him during her shining moments on the award show stage.
During the 2022 Emmy Awards in September, when Brunson won for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary, she gave her husband a special shoutout in her acceptance speech, confirming their marriage.
Quinta Brunson never forgets to acknowledge the support that she receives from her husband, Kevin Jay Anik (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
Brunson said, “In case I am not back up here again, I have to thank my mom, dad, brothers and sisters, my cousins… my wonderful husband because he’s the most supportive man I’ve ever known and my incredible cast and show for helping me to make this show and make the pilot.”
When she won another award for her role in Abbott Elementary at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards, Brunson once again showed her love for her husband.
In her speech, while reading messages from loved ones on her phone, she thanked Anik, saying, “My husband, my wonderful, wonderful cast, I love you guys so much. And I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for having you.”
The awards keep coming for Quinta Brunson, but she never fails to show her gratitude to the important people in her life, including husband Kevin Jay Anik (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
Even though Anik stays out of the spotlight, his love and encouragement shine through. As Abbott Elementary achieved another remarkable success, including winning the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, Brunson shared a sweet moment with her husband, calling him the best “support system.”
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight in February 2023, she expressed gratitude for having a partner like Anik, saying, “I mean, a partner during all of this, you can’t buy that kind of support. Someone willing to go through what it takes to make Abbott and be a part of Abbott, it’s priceless. I don’t know what to say. I’m so grateful.”
Brunson added, quipping, “I feel like I should have did the thank you up there, but I don’t know, I was overwhelmed y’all!”
Quinta Brunson stepping out in towering platform heels for a stylish boost (Credit: ROGER WONG / INSTARimages / Cover Images)