Quinta Brunson is an acclaimed American actress, comedian, writer, and producer, widely recognized as the ingenious creator, executive producer, co-writer, and star of the hit ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary (2021–present), where she plays second-grade teacher Janine Teagues. She first gained prominence in 2014 through her viral self-produced Instagram series Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date, subsequently creating content for BuzzFeed Video.

Brunson made history at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022, becoming the first Black woman to receive three nominations in the comedy category and winning for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary. Her groundbreaking success continued at the 75th ceremony, where she became the first Black woman in over 40 years to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Beyond her Emmy wins, Brunson was honored with a 2022 Peabody Award for her work on Abbott Elementary and was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2022.