admin2 Cydonie Brown, an Operation Storm Naval Veteran and self-proclaimed foodie, rose to YouTube fame on the hit Foodots channel. The unapologetically brown-skinned, former plus-sized model wows fans with her flawless Japanese. Brown notes, “I’m a brown-skinned, biracial woman with natural hair, speaking Japanese — not something you see every day.” The juxtaposition of Brown’s color, nationality, and fun-loving on-air presence equate to millions of fans worldwide.
Along with her two co-hosts, Akiko Cruz and Teresa Williams, Brown explores traditional and emerging Japanese fare such as pickled squid, tuna, and even grasshoppers! With over 9.5 million views and counting, the unconventional cooking show employs animal avatars to nod to the popular Japanese video game culture.
The Foodots channel is a colossal hit in 50 countries, propelling Brown as a breakout star in the land of the rising sun. The former Park Ranger owes her success to her big afro, jolly nature, and love for all things Japanese. In a time where people worldwide are feeling fractured from the pandemic and economic woes, Brown offers a lighthearted escape while teaching the rich culture of Japan. The show truly brings “The world under one roof,” as the Japanese motto proclaims.
Artist Bio
There are a few things that speak volumes across all walks of life. Music and family are some of the many, but food has always held a special place in Cydonie’s life. The transplant from California to Connecticut loved to cook from an early age and became obsessed with Food Network television shows. Before long, she began to expand her horizons and look at various cultures worldwide and how the food they eat and make is a direct representation of their heritage and culture. Her time spent immersing herself in Japanese culture via travel and Osaka comedy shows gave her the idea to bridge her culture with Japan, creating “Crazy for Food Shows!”
The video series, currently being broadcast on YouTube, has already garnered much attention from their first few episodes. The channel, Foodots., is nearing the first one thousand subscribers and surpassing the fifty thousand views mark and reaching over fifty countries. The episodes pay homage to many Japanese productions in their feel and graphics style, and it balances the eccentric side of itself with the professional quite nicely. Cydonie’s appearances have earned praise from viewers as she gives an American’s take on the Japanese culture while introducing it to her fellow citizens. “I must say that it truly fulfills and makes me happy to see children, young adults in awe of the fact that an American woman can speak Japanese.” This is just the beginning of something beautifully enriching for everyone involved!
With all eyes turning toward the seafaring nation for the 2021 Olympic Games, Cydonie is uniquely poised to offer cultural insights for American audiences. The bilingual, biracial, Connecticut native’s infectious laugh is wowing audiences across the globe. According to Brown, “I’m a plus-sized woman with a big afro and a big laugh,” and that love for diversity is resonating with millions.
You can catch Cydonie via YouTube on her channel Foodots.
