COLUMBIA, S.C. — "The Color Purple" is on screens across the country with big names. One of the names that isn’t as big yet is Zakiya Brownlow. But the Benedict College graduate has been abuzz on Facebook since making her debut in the film.
“I’m still currently, like, catching up with text messages and posts,” Brownlow said regarding the reaction to her appearance on the big screen.
On any given day during the school year, she’s in the classroom teaching her students.
“If we’re speaking 'Color Purple,' as Deaconess but, right now, I am obviously back in the classroom, so I am a teacher, eighth grade,” she said.
But, one day in 2021, she was persuaded by a friend to audition for an African dance call. It turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“At this point, we did not know it was 'The Color Purple.' It was just auditions in Atlanta, and she said, specifically, that they needed African dancers, which, as far as dance, that’s my go-to,” Brownlow said.
Brownlow said that after auditions, she was cast in a speaking and dancing role as Deaconess.
“It was 10 out of 10. I can’t explain it, but if I could do all of that all over again, I definitely would,” she said.
Her roots lead back to the Midlands at Benedict College, where she said her time prepared her for the silver screen.
“Shout out to Benedict College; I graduated with my bachelor's in child and family development in 2012,” she said.
At Benedict, she was the homecoming queen, in the dance company, and guided many students along the way, including the current admission counselor.
“When I came here in 2010, she was Miss Homecoming Queen. She had a phenomenal aura around her; she was so interactive between all of us students and making sure all of us were supportive, and she’s also one of our academic leaders too,” Davante Pondexter said.
Brownlow said her Tiger family didn’t forget about her during what she calls five minutes of fame.
“So it was amazing; I’m so humble and grateful for just the small moments,” she said.
You can still catch "The Color Purple" in theaters now.