Melissa Villaseñor

Melissa Villaseñor is a comedian, actress, impressionist, musician, and visual artist who became the first Latina cast member of "Saturday Night Live." Villaseñor initially gained recognition for her stand-up comedy and celebrity impressions before joining the cast of the NBC sketch comedy series "Saturday Night Live." After two years as a featured player, she was promoted to repertory cast member, marking a milestone as the first Latina to achieve this status on the show. Villaseñor spent six seasons as a cast member before departing the series.

Villaseñor's journey to "Saturday Night Live" began with an audition in which she showcased her talent for impressions. Although not hired initially, she continued to build her reputation in the comedy industry. She was selected for the New Faces lineup at the Just for Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival and was a semifinalist on the sixth season of "America's Got Talent," where she performed impersonations of Barbara Walters, Natalie Portman, Miley Cyrus, Christina Aguilera, and others. Her persistence in the comedy circuit contributed to her eventual success on SNL.

Villaseñor is recognized for her wide range of celebrity impressions, including Björk, Dolly Parton, Owen Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Her work in voice acting includes roles in animated films such as "Ralph Breaks the Internet" and "Toy Story 4." Villaseñor has appeared on Comedy Central's "Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens," HBO's "Crashing" and "Barry," and Freeform's "Alone Together." On Netflix, her appearances include "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," "The Stand-Ups," and "Hubie Halloween."

Villaseñor has hosted the Independent Spirit Awards and has been recognized by Forbes and Rolling Stone for her contributions to comedy. Her debut album, "Dreamer," showcases her musical abilities in pop-punk and power pop genres. She is also a visual artist and author, having released the book "Whoops I'm Awesome!" featuring her artwork and self-help activities. Villaseñor hosts the podcast "Laughing with Myself" and has published a series of art prints. Her comedy special "Welp…What Now?" further demonstrates her versatility in stand-up comedy. Villaseñor continues to perform internationally, headlining stand-up comedy clubs, colleges, and theaters.