Cristela Alonzo

An entertainer with a touching story of struggle and triumph, comedian, writer, and producer Cristela Alonzo was raised with her three siblings by a single mother, an immigrant from Mexico who had fled an abusive relationship with Alonzo's father. For the first eight years of her life, Alonzo's family lived in an abandoned diner in San Juan, Texas. Money was always scarce, and the family would sometimes drink coffee when there wasn't enough cash for food. Despite this hardship, Alonzo would turn to comedy for solace, whether she was searching for a way to make her exhausted mother smile, excelling in school plays, or watching American sitcoms to help her learn English in her otherwise Spanish-speaking home. Poverty and the strife that came with it would often make Alonzo feel alienated, and even her beloved mother felt apprehensive about her daughter pursuing a risky career in the arts. Alonzo was enrolled in her first year at Webster University in Missouri when her mother became ill, prompting her to return home. Alonzo cared for her mother until her death in 2002, at which point the burgeoning comedian began channeling her grief into a stand-up routine. By 2006, Alonzo was touring with fellow stand-up Carlos Mencia, often writing for his series, "Mind of Mencia" (Comedy Central, 2005-08). Alonzo wrote a pilot loosely based on her own life called "Cristela" (ABC, 2014-), writing, producing, and starring in the sitcom. The show was picked up by ABC and optioned for the network's 2014-15 season, garnering decent reviews and ratings in the process.