Though she’s not quite a household name in Milwaukee outside of the comedy community, comedian Chastity Washington has earned her fair share of attention and accolades from some pretty impressive places. The 20-year stand-up comedy veteran earns a living touring the country, and she’s appeared on HBO Def Jam, BET’s Comic View, and was a finalist for the “Stand Up NBC” comedy diversity showcase. Last weekend, Washington earned another credit to her undeniable comedy career, as she beat out three other finalists to win the 2015 American Black Film Festival’s Comedy Wings Competition.
The third annual “showcase for emerging standup comics”—presented by HBO—saw four finalists pitting their best 10- to 12-minute sets against one other at the New York Hilton’s Grand Ballroom to compete for the grand prize of $2,500 and an HBO audition. In the end, Washington’s material was enough to top Kareem Green, Mike Merrill, and Dino Virgo to take home the championship.
Past ABFF performers include early appearances by Kevin Hart, J.B. Smoove, Tommy Davidson, Craig Robinson, and Bill Bellamy. Washington just joined some pretty talented company…and Bill Bellamy.