Sunda Croonquist

Sunda Croonquist is an American comedian who has appeared on Comics Unleashed, Premium Blend, and The View. Born in Paterson, New Jersey to an African-American mother and a Swedish father, she was a runner up in the Miss America Pageant's preliminary representing New Jersey and later represented the state again as "New Jersey's Funniest Female." With a BA in Criminal Justice, she worked as a probation and parole review officer and as a detective before pursuing entertainment. After a chance encounter with Jackie Mason, who encouraged her to pursue stand-up, she took a comedy class and had her first paid gig within weeks. Croonquist has produced her own comedy shows, including the female showcase Femmes Fatales. In 2009 she gained media attention when her mother-in-law filed a defamation lawsuit against her over her stand-up act; the suit was later dismissed.