Loua Ly

Loua Ly grinning at a "CJ + Tiph" premiere, 2018

**Loua Ly** (born 7 May 1975) is a Minish actress, filmmaker, singer-songwriter, dancer, model and author.

She has been acting since when she was a child, firstly in *Almeda*. Ly was cast as the titular role for the Minish-language dystopian television series *'N Kori*, which aired from 1991 to 1998. The series rose her to national prominence. Despite being typecast in science fiction works, Ly found further success after starring in *Blood in the Water* (1995). She later was in a slew of films that were successful: comedy *Bangers and Smash!* (1998); satirical anthology *Pretty Show Ghetto* (1999); romantic melodrama *Rain...* (2000); adventure comedy-drama *Think Like a Mink* (2003); historical political drama *The Table-Turning Essay* (2007). She also became known for her appearances in the antihero *Boy-Q* franchise. Initially, she was cast as the female love interest and deuteragonist in the infamously cancelled television miniseries *Boy Question*. She returned to it by instead of reprising as the character, she taking on the role of antagonist C.J. "CJ B8mn" Bateman, replacing a male actor who had been fired in 2006. As C.J., she has appeared in three films: *Boy-Q on Sick Mode* (2009), spin-offs *CJ + Tiph* (2018) and *CJ + Tiph Are Not Responding* (2021). Ly eventually went back to trying uncharted waters again when she appeared in the erotic *Cherry Bomb* (2013). Ly has appeared in other television shows such as *Prancer's Academy* (2004–09), *The Morning Dew* (2004–07), *Nights Up The Heights* (2006–11), and *God's Own Reality Show* (2011–12).

Ly has branched out into doing other things. Her first foray into music was in 1994 when she released a six-track EP called *Modern Life*. Other stuff in her discography include two albums *I Go* and *Rejoice for Those Who Have Made It*, released in 2002 and 2017 respectively. Modelling was her first profession before acting having started at 8 years old. Enjoying the occupation, she has been committed to showing up at every Minish Fashion Week since 1991, with the exception of 2007 and 2008 due to tight schedules of filming *Sick Mode*. Her debut novel *Tara... and the Spotless* was published in 2010 by her agency MW under the *Tara* series with a sequel, *Tara... Where Are They Now?*, that was released a decade later.

Her latest film appearance was where she reprised her role as C.J., in the second *Sick Mode* prequel *CJ + Tiph Are Not Responding*. It was released in September 2021 to critical acclaim.

## Early life

Ly was born on 7 May 1975 at a general hospital in the city of Allal, Western Godless County, Maenall. Being a direct descendant of Lyndale Lyqrotoh paternally, her parents are indigenously Minish. Her father Rand (born 12 October 1937) is a children's writer and historian. Her mother was pop singer Kellonde "Kei" (née Passel; November 1, 1943 — April 23, 2018). Kei often kept her family life private to counter overexposure and bad press, so details of Ly's early life remained relatively unknown until the early 1990s. English is her second language.

## Personal life

### Piercings and tattoos

The most notable piercing she has had done is an "in and out stitching" arch above her right eyebrow, which she first famously adorned with shiny jet at the 27th Yale Music Awards in 1995. Another notable piercing is located at her navel. Ly also has several tattoos including her family crest at the back of her left shoulder blade (which was her first, done in 1992), a red "K" on her right hand dedicated to her mother, and a sunburst on her right shoulder blade. Her family emblem used to have colour that was added in 1994 and later removed in 2014.

### Relationships

#### Ysa Essen

Ly first met Ysa Essen in 1994 at the *'N Kori* set. He played her stepfather in season 4. They began dating in 1998 when they reunited during the filming of *Pretty Show Ghetto*. In March 2000, they announced their engagement, and later wed on 13 July 2001. Citing unreasonable behaviour, Ly filed for a divorce from Essen on 29 November 2003, which was finalized on 1 May 2004.

More than 16 years after their divorce in mid-2020, they reconciled asexually. Ly was his romantic partner for the last 15 months of his life until he died on 15 August 2021 from COVID-19 complications at the age of 78. Together they have only one child, their son named Moed "Mo'mod" Essen-Ly (born May 2002).

#### Others

Soon after her divorce filing, Ly dated her ex-stepson Ysa Essen Jr. until September 2004.

## Discography

Main article: Loua Ly discography

* *I Go* (2002)
* *Rejoice for Those Who Have Made It* (2017)

## Trivia

### Preferences and personality

Outside her professions, Ly likes to be an explorer — this means she loves taking on new challenges and risks. She is also absolutely shameless in decisions and statements, rarely ever second-guessing them.

What she likes:

* Travelling — she has gained a strong interest for globetrotting, especially in the yacht and jet she owns.
* Interacting — like most people, she strives to be social. Ly is extroverted and is very talkative. She will always find a way to get in touch with her peers and regularly keeps in the closest contact with her family.
* Her culture — she's part of the native Minish culture and is proud of her Wallian heritage.
* Freedom of expression and speech — Ly uses her talents (e.g. taking on a broad range of unconventional roles in film/TV) and, to a lesser extent, political activism to push borders set by her country's societal standards. Ly is also very outspoken with her stances, so much so that she has been subject to criticism from some of the most well-respected commentators.
* Body modification — back when she had her first taste of her grown-up sentiment in the 1990s, she had gotten a lot of piercings and tattoos, the majority of them are hidden. However since her 40s, she has either removed them or if she does still sport them, it's occasional.

### Did you know...

* ...that she held the record of being the youngest host on *The Show* (age 14 years, 4 months) for more than 17 years from September 1989 until January 2007 when it was broken by Lay Tamera (age 13 years, 5 months)?
* ...that her mannerisms were the inspiration for the antagonist of the animated series *Hell Girls*?
* ...that she declined to join Girls' Battalion after she found out Lean was also slated to be in the band?