Amanda Annan

Last updated
Amanda Annan
Born1982
NationalityBritish-American
Other namesAmanda Van Annan
Alma mater Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
Occupation(s)Actress, model, entrepreneur and writer
Relatives Kofi Annan

Amanda Annan is a British-American actress, model, writer and entrepreneur known for starring in Rag Tag (2006) and Dolly Unachukwu's The Empire (2005), and producing the documentaries Jambo Jumbo (2010) and Equation of Change (2010) with Richard Branson.

Contents

Early life

Amanda Annan was born in 1982 to a Ghanaian father and a Martinican mother. [1] She was adopted as a child and raised in London. [2] Her uncle is former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan. [3] Amanda Annan attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art when she was 16. Her decision to become a model came as a surprise to her family, many of whom were politicians and diplomats. [4]

Career

While studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she was scouted for a modelling agency and did her first modelling shoot for a Vidal Sassoon campaign. [5] She appeared in advertisements for Revlon, Ebel and Woolworths Group. She was featured on the cover of Elle, Vogue and Photo Magazine, [6] and appeared in publications like Telegraph Magazine and the South African magazine Drum. [7]

She studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles, and starred in the 2006 drama film Rag Tag and Dolly Unachukwu's The Empire (2005). She also had a role in Natale a Beverly Hills (titled "Christmas in Beverly Hills" in English) (2009). [8] She later founded the production company Great Light Entertainment.

Amanda Annan was the producer and host of the 2010 documentary Jambo Jumbo (2010), about the Maasai Mara in Kenya. The film was narrated by Richard Branson, [9] with whom she also produced the documentary Equation of Change (2010). [10]

She wrote, directed and produced the 2013 television series Celebville360 and was executive producer of the 2014 reality webseries The Diary of a Nigerian Wife through Great Light Entertainment. [11] In 2020 she appeared in Gregory Hatanaka's Body of Night and appeared in the comedy film Acrylic. Both films were co-directed by Nicole D'Angelo. [12]

Writing

In 2021, Annan published Win the Runway. LAWeekly described the book as "a guidebook for young models". [13] Evan Arryoro of Gotham called it a "concise book that talks about the good, the bad and the ugly of the modeling and fashion industry." [14]

Other work

Amanda co-founded Evolution Extensions with Judi Shekoni. [15] Annan also founded Elicina Europe and DNA Hair USA. [16] [17] In 2019, she became Senior Vice President of Miko Beauty. [18]

Annan has hosted the podcast Beauty and the Beat since 2020. [19]

Personal life

Annan co-founded Etcetera, a non-profit which supports women's education, with a fellow volunteer she met while filming in Kenya with Richard Branson. [20] She is actively involved with CAMFED, a non-profit organization that promotes the education of girls in Africa. [21] Annan was an ambassador for One Laptop per Child. [6] According to Nigerian Tribune , she has also raised funds for the African Film Commission. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judi Shekoni</span> British actress

Judith Iyabo Shekoni is an English actress, television personality and businesswoman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yvonne Okoro</span> Ghanaian-Nigerian actress (born 1984)

Chinyere Yvonne Okoro is a Ghanaian Nigerian actress. Born to a Nigerian dad and Ghanaian mother, Yvonne Okoro is of mixed lineage and calls herself an African. Yvonne Okoro is from Koforidua in the Eastern Parts of Ghana. She received Ghana Movie Awards Best Actress Award in 2010 and was nominated for Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Actress twice in a row in 2011 and 2012 for her movies Pool Party and Single Six. She has also received four Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award and in 2012 was honoured with a Distinguished Achievement Award at the Nigeria Excellence Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wiyaala</span> Ghanaian singer-songwriter

Noella Wiyaala Nwadei is a Ghanaian Afro-pop singer-songwriter who sings in her native language Sissala and Waala dialects and English, often combining all three languages within her songs. Wiyaala means "the doer" in the Sissala dialect. She achieved fame with her single "Make Me Dance" and her androgynous image. After making her name in reality shows in Accra, she established a solo career in 2013 with the hit single "Rock My Body",(Dance move was initiated by Van Calebs) which won her two awards at the 2014 first edition of the All Africa Music Awards, the Most Promising Artiste in Africa and Revelation of The African Continent. Wiyaala is also associated with UNICEF Ghana and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection's campaigns against child marriage, child poverty, health and sanitation. She headlined the 15th London African Music Festival in London. In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch.

<i>Africas Next Top Model</i> Television series

Africa's Next Top Model is a reality television show and spin-off to America's Next Top Model. It follows the format of the original version, and documents a competition in which a number of aspiring models compete for the title of Africa's Next Top Model and a chance to start a career in the modeling industry. The show is hosted by model Oluchi Onweagba, and features contestants from countries in Africa.

Eddie Samuel Obong Watson Jr. is a Liberian-born Nigerian actor and producer. He received his first Ghanaian Movie Award in 2014 for his film 'Ebola' which he wrote, directed and produced.

Peace Hyde is a British-Ghanaian television producer, TV host, creator, journalist, and education activist. She is the creator and executive producer of Netflix's first African reality TV series Young, Famous & African, as well as the Head of Digital Media and Partnership and West African correspondent at Forbes Africa. She is the founder of Aim Higher Africa, a non-profit focused on improving the quality of education in impoverished communities across Africa. In 2019, she was awarded the African Social Impact Award at the House of Parliament, House of Commons in the UK.

Joyce Yeboah Ababio is a Ghanaian fashion designer. She is the founder and CEO of JACCD.

Yawa Hansen-Quao is a Ghanaian founder, social entrepreneur and a feminist. She sits on the Board of Directors of Ashesi University, serves on the advisory board, Women's Institute for Global Leadership and Benedictine University. She is the founder of the Leading Ladies Network (LLN), a member of the African Leadership Network and the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers Community. She is a force to reckon with in the education and well-being of the girl child.

Ini Ikpe is a Nigerian actress. She began her film career in 2003, and has acted over 100 movies since that time. In 2012, she was awarded best supporting actress for the movie Kokomma. Kokomma received three nominations at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards, with Effah winning the award for Most Promising Actor for her comic role in the film. It was released on DVD in September 2012.

Lydia Zynnell Zuh is a Ghanaian fashion icon, actress, writer, producer, television personality, and philanthropist who hails from the Volta region of Ghana. She joined the Ghana movie industry in 2004 and has since received several awards for her work, including the Glitz Style Awards, City People Entertainment Awards and Golden Movie Awards.

Victoria Michaels is a Ghanaian-Nigerian model, fashion icon, actress, brand ambassador and philanthropist. She is the recipient of several accolades, including Ghana Models Awards, Glitz Style Awards, and the City People Entertainment Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kwaku Bediako</span> Fashion Designer

Kwaku Bediako Oduro also known as Kwaku Bediako is a Ghanaian contemporary fashion designer and founder of Chocolate Clothing now Chocolate Clothes Global.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sika Osei</span> Ghanaian actress

Sassy Sika Osei is a Ghanaian actress, producer and TV personality who has worked as a brand influencer for popular brands including L’Oreal Paris and Woodin. She is currently the co-host of popular TV shows and red carpet events which includes DStv's Studio 53 extra, NdaniTV's Fashion Insider, 2019 VGMA red carpet experience, Channel O News Live in Accra and Glitz Africa Fashion Week for Star Gist on DStv.

Akpene Diata Hoggar is a Ghanaian entrepreneur, blogger, social activist and a model. In 2018, she won the Miss Universe Ghana title by representing Volta Region. Later she represented Ghana in the same contest at the international level in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ruth Quarshie is a Ghanaian model and beauty pageant titleholder who the winner of the 2017 Miss Universe Ghana. She represented Ghana at the Miss Universe 2017 in the United States and ended up as one of the top 16 finalists.

Kate Tachie-Menson is a Ghanaian model. In 2008, she became the seventh and first Ghanaian to win M-Net's Face of Africa competition in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria Sarfo</span> Ghanaian actress

Gloria Osei Sarfo is a Ghanaian actress and TV presenter. She won Best Supporting Actress Award at the 2020 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards for her role in Shirley Frimping Manso's The Perfect Picture - Ten Years Later.

Joyce Anima Misa Amoah is a Ghanaian actress, playwright and a director.

Beryl Agyekum-Ayaaba is a Ghanaian female Digital Marketer, Founder and CEO of Echo House Ghana Limited. In 2019, she was named as part of the Top 50 Young CEOs in Ghana by the YCEO & Avance Media. She was nominated and awarded the 2020 Female category of the Young Achiever's Award at the 5th EMY Africa Awards. In March 2021, she was nominated among 30 'most influential' women in music for the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch.

Ojinika Anne Okpe, also known as Ojy Okpe, is a Nigerian model, film producer and TV anchor on Arise News, who hosts What's Trending with Ojy Okpe and co-anchors the Good Morning Show.

References

  1. ↑ "Supermodel Amanda Annan's big heart unveiled". Archived 2024-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "GhanaWeb Blog: Amanda Annan, A Real Role Model". GhanaWeb .
  3. ↑ "Amanda Van Annan tells us nine life lessons she learnt from her uncle Koffi Annan". in.style.yahoo.com. 19 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "Amanda Van Annan And Her Impact On The Modelling Industry". Bangkok Post. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  5. ↑ "Amanda Van Annan's New Book, Win the Runway, Shares 20 Years of Wisdom as a Successful Model". www.femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  6. 1 2 Debrah, Ameyaw (2009-06-08). "Supermodel/Actress Amanda Annan: Beauty Inside Out". AmeyawDebrah.com. Ameyaw Debrah.
  7. ↑ Drum. Drum Publications (East Africa). 2008. p. 44.
  8. ↑ Redazione, La (4 June 2020). "Imprenditrice, attrice e celebrità Amanda Van Annan sul nuovo podcast". L'Indiscreto Il Quotidiano Delle Marche (in Italian).
  9. ↑ "African supermodel and actress Amanda Annan". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  10. ↑ "Amanda Alys Hosts and Produces Two Innovative New Documentaries Narrated by Sir Richard Branson". September 16, 2011. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021.
  11. ↑ "PANA TV To Launch: The Diary Of A Nigerian Wife-Houston". Modern Ghana. 6 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "Gregory Hatanaka's BODY OF NIGHT: WATCH NOW ON AMAZON PRIME from CineRidge Entertainment, Sunrayz International Films & Cinema Epoch – BREAKING MOVIE NEWS". SCARED STIFF REVIEWS. 2020-04-27. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  13. ↑ "Amanda Van Annan Releases a Guide Book for Models Called "Win The Runway"". LA Weekly. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  14. ↑ Arryoro, Evan (June 4, 2021). "Amanda Van Annan Reveals The Purpose Of Her New Book "Win The Runway"". www.gothammag.com.
  15. ↑ Team, Tellychakkar. "Shubir Mukherjee signs Judi Shekoni for an upcoming film". TellyChakkar.
  16. ↑ "Amanda Van Annan Discusses Serial Entrepreneurship". THE ANA TIMES. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  17. ↑ "Elicina accelerates sales with snails". Highbeam. December 10, 2004. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Beauty News – September 2019 Woman This Month Woman This Month". WomanThisMonth. September 5, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Imprenditrice, attrice e celebrità Amanda Van Annan sul nuovo podcast". it.geosnews.com (in Italian).
  20. ↑ "MIMI Magazine || Amanda Annan: The Multi-Talented Maven". 2016-04-03. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03.
  21. ↑ "Who is Amanda?". AfroStyleMag.
  22. ↑ ""Amanda Van Annan" Is A Top Fashion model, Who Achieves All the Goals of Life Through Various Fashion Styles and Attractive Beauty…". Tribune Online. 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.