Meet Zahnae Aquino | Comedian and Producer of Fun & Flirty

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zahnae Aquino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zahnae, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Personalibility. I think my success has been reliant on the personal brand I’ve built for myself throughout my career and also my life. My brand speaks to a broad demographic in a relatable or conversational Gen Z-esque way, which has been very common in successful commercial brands recently–like Duolingo and Headspace. My brand is so flirty that you almost feel like it’s going to take you home, wine and dine you, and then text you back two days later. You can date my brand in a cool, noncommittal way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a comedian by trade. I’ve always found myself in public speaking settings—whether it be as a member of Speech & Debate in high school, or giving tours and keynotes in college. During these experiences, however, my favorite part was giving jokes and having a whole crowd of people laugh with me.
After I finished school, I didn’t have an outlet like my previous experiences. I listened to a book titled “The Defining Decade” and realized that my dreams of comedy weren’t going to happen overnight, so I ended up going to my first open mic.

It was hard going into it. I took classes at local comedy clubs to build some sort of knowledge base before really committing to writing jokes. It was a challenge not knowing anyone to start, but I ended up building community and having writing partners to help ease me into the scene. Being a good comedian is dependent on how you’re perceived and your appeal among your target demographic. I started early in mine because as a people pleaser, I’ve been able to tap in on making my friends laugh. And I treat every audience just like they’re my friends. One of the greatest compliments I’ve received recently was from a girl who felt like she was watching her sister while I was performing. I’m just like Olive Garden I guess–because when you’re here, you’re family.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d drag them to one of my shows or an open mic, so they could see the super niche experience of the Seattle comedy scene. I’d make them try it too. In terms of the night experiences, one of my best friends Shay Rosay is a local DJ here who helps me tap in on whatever cool is happening that night.
Then I’d take them to some of my favorite spots, like Boon Boona, Honey Court, or Pho Bac. For the culture, I’ve recently been into Filipino restaurants, like Kilig and Ludi’s, so I would take them to support my titos and titas as well.
I would take them to a Farmer’s Market and make them try various hot sauces with me during this trip.
Oh, and also a drag brunch or something. Mimosas and espresso martinis make up a fraction of my bloodstream.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have an amazing support system who uplifts me and helps me follow my dreams. They’re my family, my friends, my boyfriend, my landlord, my Nintendogs, my fans, and the barista that knows my order every morning. I’d list them all but then this would look like one of those tragic war memorials that people sometimes stumble upon by accident.

Website: https://www.zahnaeaquino.com/

Instagram: @zahahanae

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahnaeaquino/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0jd9dPIsfhvklQZQhIYOmw

Image Credits
Jason Surh