About
Brandi is a North Carolina native who has had a passion for performance from a young age, singing, dancing, and acting for anyone who would watch. She spent her younger years building up experience wherever she could, singing the national anthem for Charlotte Knights and Bobcats, performing in local theatre in roles such as Annie in Annie Jr., attending Grammy Camp in Los Angeles, and singing on tour throughout NC with High School Nation.
Along the way she has been acknowledged for her love of performance claiming state and national awards for her singing, dancing, and acting such as Music Artist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year and NAM National Actress.
In recent years she has worked as an actress for a sketch comedy channel that reaches over 7 million followers across platforms such as TikTok (@joshiiwuhhh) and YouTube (Joshiiwuh) and is honored to be able to perform throughout the Charlotte area alongside her Improv team, Sudden Depth over the past 4 years.
Brandi’s goal with teaching is to help uplift other passionate performers to blossom into the best versions of themselves onstage and to help stand as representation that even those with disabilities have a place in the performance world.
My Story
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From the moment I could sing, performing was my world. I immersed myself in acting, singing, dance, and modeling from a young age even begging my mom to let me sing at my older siblings’ bus stop just at the opportunity to entertain. I loved the way performance allowed me to ability invoke emotional experiences in others that fosters connection.
Then at 18 my dream came true when I was accepted into my dream school, American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, with a generous scholarship.
But behind the curtain, something was unraveling. What began at 14 as OCD, depression, anxiety and an eating disorder escalated into seizures, vocal and motor tics, and the inability to walk or speak clearly.
Despite these symptoms, I was told “it’s all in your head.” After over seven years and 17 specialists I was finally diagnosed with PANS, a form of autoimmune encephalitis. Treatment gave me my life back.
Now as Head of Event Organization and Outreach for the National PANDAS/PANS Youth Alliance, I help unite those across the country, raise awareness, and legislate for insurance coverage so families have access to affordable care. I’ve spoken with members of Congress, including Senator Cory Booker, and work to spread awareness through educational workshops and videos.
Advocacy gave me my voice back. Now I use it for the thousands still waiting to be heard, but through it all, I’ve never stopped performing. My mission now has been transformed. Whiles I am still led by my passion for bring communities together through performing arts, now I work to show that people with disabilities deserve their place in this industry, too.
