Quinta Brunson, the rising star of the critically acclaimed TV show Abbott Elementary, has captivated audiences with her talent and wit.
💫 Jump to a Look Inside Quinta Brunson’s Life and Style:
- 1. From BuzzFeed to Abbott Elementary: Quinta Brunson’s Rise to Fame
- 2. Petite Star Power: Quinta Brunson’s Height, Shoe Size & High-Heel Confidence
- 3. Love and Privacy: Quinta Brunson’s Marriage & Divorce Timeline With Kevin Jay Anik
- 4. Inside Quinta Brunson’s Secret Engagement and Intimate Wedding
- 5. Kevin Jay Anik’s Quiet Support During Brunson’s Award-Winning Career
- 6. Rainy Day Chic: Carolina Herrera Dress & Gucci Platform Heels
Her career is undoubtedly on the ascent, from her hilarious sketches during BuzzFeed days to her recent Emmy nominations and SAG Award nods. But amidst all the spotlight and success, there’s one aspect of her life that she’s managed to keep hush-hush – her love life.
Quinta Brunson and her husband, Kevin Jay Anik, have managed to keep their love life private despite Quinta’s rapid ascent to stardom (Credit: Jennifer Graylock / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
While millions follow her on social media and watch her on screen, Quinta Brunson’s personal life made headlines in March 2025 when she filed for divorce from her husband of three years, Kevin Jay Anik, citing irreconcilable differences.
How Quinta Brunson Rose to Fame: From BuzzFeed to Abbott Elementary
Born in West Philadelphia with four siblings, Quinta Brunson’s name, meaning “fifth” in Spanish, hinted at her being the youngest in the family.
Her upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness was rooted in values and compassion, with her mother, Norma Jean Brunson, a dedicated kindergarten teacher.
As a young girl, she was “obsessed” with comedy, a passion she nurtured through improv classes during high school and college.
After a brief stint at Temple University and classes at Second City in Chicago, the African-American actress took a bold step. She dropped out of college to pursue a comedy career.
Quinta Brunson suited up in a modern oversized blue two-piece with contrast trim, finishing the look with sleek pointed-toe white pumps at the Golden Globe Awards event (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Her decision paid off, as she gained fame with her self-produced Instagram series, Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date. The series caught the attention of BuzzFeed, where she continued to shine as a producer and content creator.
However, her most remarkable breakthrough came with the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary, where she excelled as the creator, executive producer, co-writer, and lead actress.
Brunson made history as the first Black woman to receive three Emmy nominations in the comedy category, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
Beyond her hit show, Quinta Brunson’s talent extended to acting in series like iZombie, Single Parents, and Miracle Workers and lending her voice to animated projects. Her work on the HBO comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show further showcased her versatility.
Quinta Brunson’s Height and Shoe Size: How She Embraces Heels as a Petite Star
Quinta Brunson, born December 21, 1989, is one of the shortest Hollywood celebrities. She wears a shoe size 7 (US).
Standing side by side, Angela Bassett’s height of 5 feet 3.5 inches (161.3 cm) makes her approximately 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) taller than the 4 feet 11 inches (149.9 cm) tall Quinta Brunson.
Angela Bassett stunned in a pastel pink jumpsuit with feathered cuffs and a chartreuse sash, while Quinta Brunson turned heads in a bold red and purple satin mini dress with flowing side panels and matching strappy heels (Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock)
Despite her impressive achievements, she opened up about her early worries in an interview with Bustle in April 2022, where she questioned whether her height could impact her Hollywood aspirations.
The actress explained, “When I got to LA and I started really thinking about whether or not I could be an actress, I was like, ‘Oh, dang, nobody is 4’11”… We may have encountered a problem we didn’t think about here.’”
Quinta Brunson dazzled in a vibrant fuchsia gown with dramatic puff sleeves and a flared hem, pairing the bold look with metallic pink open-toe heels at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
However, her perspective changed when Brunson discovered that she shared the same height as the renowned actress Kristin Chenoweth, stating, “I was like, ‘All right, it has been done before, it can be done again!’”
In another interview with NPR in February 2022, Brunson embraced her unique stature, admitting, “For most of my life, I did not feel self-conscious about being short. If anything, I looked at it as like a superpower. It was something very interesting about me and people thought I was cute and funny, and when I started doing stand up, it was just another thing to be funny about.”
During her early days at BuzzFeed Video, she starred in a viral 2014 clip titled Nine Perks Of Being Short, which received over 12 million views and continues celebrating the advantages of her short size.
Even in the presence of towering figures like LeBron James, who is 6 feet and 7 ½ inches (201.9 cm) tall, Brunson doesn’t let her height hold her back.
View this post on Instagram
In a 2022 post to her 1.5 million Instagram followers, she playfully quipped, “Thank goodness for heels,” while standing tall next to the basketball legend.
👠 Petite Celebrities Elevating Their Style with Heels:
- 📏 How Rashida Jones (5’2¼”) Styles Heels to Look Taller — often wearing Casadei pumps and Jimmy Choo sandals to elongate her frame.
- 🎤 Jada Pinkett Smith’s (4’11½”) Best High Heel Moments featuring Christian Louboutin and Giuseppe Zanotti designs for extra height.
- 🎶 Lady Gaga’s (5’1″) Sky-High Platform Heels and Statement Shoes transform her petite stature into a towering presence.
- 🎬 Amanda Seyfried (5’2½”) Uses Heels to Elevate Her Red Carpet Style with stunning footwear choices that add height and glamour.
- 🎤 Kelly Osbourne’s (5’1¾”) Bold Heels and Designer Shoe Collection, including Saint Laurent stilettos and Paul Andrew platforms.
- 📺 Sarah Hyland’s (5’1″) Go-To High Heels for Petite Celebrities that give her added height on the red carpet.
- 🎤 Shakira’s (5’1¼”) Met Gala Stuart Weitzman Platform Heels perfectly complement her dramatic Carolina Herrera gown.
- 🎤 Shakira’s Gold Aquazzura Heels at Paris Fashion Week make a bold statement paired with her Viktor & Rolf “NO” trench coat.
- 🎤 Shakira’s Sky-High Platform Heels at the Latin Grammy Awards paired with a stunning Harris Reed black gown.
Quinta Brunson’s Private Relationship With Kevin Jay Anik: Marriage and Divorce Timeline
Quinta Brunson found love in the arms of Kevin Jay Anik, a sales manager. While little is known about Anik’s specific company or public presence, it’s evident that he prefers to stay under the radar.
The couple kept their relationship largely out of the spotlight, with no details about how they first met being shared publicly. In March 2025, Brunson filed for divorce from Anik after three years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.
View this post on Instagram
However, in December 2019, Anik made a rare appearance on Brunson’s social media, where they were bundled together in the snow, writing in the caption, “The winter jumped out.”
Despite their privacy, it’s clear that Anik is a supportive partner. He has been seen standing by Brunson’s side at significant events.
They made their red carpet debut at the TIME 100 Gala in June 2022, where Brunson was recognized as one of the most influential people. Anik also showed his support at the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022, attending the event with her.
Quinta Brunson radiated elegance in a rich purple satin gown with ruched detailing and pointed-toe heels, while husband Kevin Jay Anik looked dapper in a classic black tuxedo and velvet loafers at the TIME 100 Gala on June 8, 2022 (Credit: Jennifer Graylock / INSTARimages)
Quinta Brunson and Kevin Jay Anik’s love story remains a mystery to the public, but their bond and support are evident in the moments they choose to share with the world.
Inside Quinta Brunson’s Engagement and Wedding Before Their 2025 Split
Love blossomed in secret as Quinta Brunson and Kevin Jay Anik embarked on their journey to forever. While their engagement date continues to elude us, Brunson confirmed the happy news on Instagram on July 30, 2020.
She shared a fresh-faced selfie, joyfully revealing her sparkling gold round-cut solitaire engagement ring on her left finger with a simple caption, “More good news.”
View this post on Instagram
Their engagement announcement coincided with the excitement of A Black Lady Sketch Show earning an Emmy nomination.
The couple exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in September 2021, surrounded by their closest friends and family. However, in March 2025, Brunson filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences after three years of marriage.
Kevin Jay Anik’s Support for Quinta Brunson During Her Award-Winning Career
Behind the scenes, Kevin Jay Anik was once a pillar of strength and support for Quinta Brunson’s rise to stardom. While Brunson kept most details of their relationship private, she openly expressed her love and appreciation for him during award show speeches.
At the 2022 Emmy Awards, after winning Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary, Brunson gave Anik a special shoutout in her acceptance speech, confirming their marriage. However, the two later separated, with Brunson filing for divorce in March 2025.
Brunson said, “In case I am not back up here again, I have to thank my mom, dad, brothers and sisters, my cousins… my wonderful husband because he’s the most supportive man I’ve ever known and my incredible cast and show for helping me to make this show and make the pilot.”
Quinta Brunson wore a striking black-and-white Jean-Louis Sabaji gown with an intricately beaded shell-embroidered bustier and fringed skirt, pairing the floor-length design with black heels as she celebrated her SAG Award win for Abbott Elementary (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
When she won another award for her role in Abbott Elementary at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards, Brunson once again showed her love for her husband.
In her speech, while reading messages from loved ones on her phone, she thanked Anik, saying, “My husband, my wonderful, wonderful cast, I love you guys so much. And I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for having you.”
Quinta Brunson glowed in a silky bronze satin slip gown with cascading sleeves, letting the floor-length design elegantly graze the red carpet at the Writers Guild Awards (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
While Anik had often supported Brunson throughout her award-winning run on Abbott Elementary, the two have since separated following Brunson’s March 2025 divorce filing.
As Abbott Elementary achieved another remarkable success, including winning the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, Brunson previously shared a sweet moment with Anik, once calling him the best “support system” before their 2025 separation.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight in February 2023, she expressed gratitude for having a partner like Anik, saying, “I mean, a partner during all of this, you can’t buy that kind of support. Someone willing to go through what it takes to make Abbott and be a part of Abbott, it’s priceless. I don’t know what to say. I’m so grateful.”
Brunson added, quipping, “I feel like I should have done the thank you up there, but I don’t know, I was overwhelmed y’all!”
🌧️ Rainy Day Chic: Quinta Brunson Stuns in Carolina Herrera Dress and Gucci Platform Heels
In January 2023, Quinta Brunson brightened the rainy day in a vibrant Carolina Herrera Resort 2023 floral-print mini dress with voluminous sleeves, accessorized with a chic orange mini bag.
Quinta Brunson brightened the rainy day in a bold blue, white, and orange floral-print mini dress with voluminous sleeves, elevating the look with towering white platform peep-toe heels (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
She elevated her petite frame with towering Gucci white platform peep-toe heels, which added significant height and created a leg-lengthening effect that beautifully complemented her look.