Speakeasy with - Mo’Nique

Twenty years ago, Mo’Nique tried her hand at stand-up comedy on a dare by her brother. Despite never having the interest or intention of becoming a comedian, she did so well her first time that she continued to perform. Years of perfecting the craft led to industry success and television and movie roles. Now the former “Queen of Comedy” is hosting and producing her own show called “Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance” about a plus-sized beauty pageant, writing best-selling books (Skinny Women Are Evil), and of course she’s still on stage making audiences laugh. Mo’Nique will be headlining at Uptown Comedy Corner Friday-Saturday, Aug. 17-18.

A lot of your material deals with body image and trying to make women feel better in their own skin, but would you say it’s difficult to convey such a serious message through humor? Of course not. Anytime you want people to hear a message it’s easier to do it through humor because when you make them laugh, you can get their guard down.

How did you become so comfortable with yourself? It’s the only self I’ve got, so I’ve got to love her. It’s never been a problem for me to be big. That’s why I created “F.A.T. Chance,” so I could show people that big can also be beautiful.

You’ve always found success as a performer, but did you ever imagine finding so much success as an author? Yes, because just putting things down on paper is a success. Actually writing down your ideas and seeing people enjoy them is a beautiful thing.

So which do you enjoy more: writing or performing? In terms of comedy, I enjoy the whole process – writing and performing. But I actually never write my material down. I know my material and I have it in my head, but when I write my material out on paper I feel like I have to go word for word.

Have you found it difficult to be a woman in comedy? Well, it is what it is; it’s a male-dominated industry, and I just have to deal with that. But sometimes I can’t work with people if they won’t play fair.

You’ve had a huge year, hosting “F.A.T. Chance,” VH1’s “Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School” and the BET Awards, as well as releasing a hit cookbook and continuing to perform across the country. What’s next? My ultimate plan is just to get to tomorrow. Today has been so beautiful, and I just want to get to tomorrow.