How I Found Myself - By Impersonating Other People | Melissa Villaseñor | TED

Ever think you'd hear Sandra Bullock, Britney Spears and Dolly Parton in one TED Talk? Here they are, courtesy of "Saturday Night Live" star Melissa Villaseñor. She shares the life lessons of a comedian -- complete with celebrity impressions -- and reminds us to embrace all of our voices, even if they’re a little silly.
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[@alphacause]

Melissa Villasenor did not get enough air time on SNL. She does some of the best impersonations.

[@MANZANOADRIAN]

so tru

[@NewfieMovieReactions]

I would watch every episode and keep saying to myself "They need to use Melissa more...." They really didn't use her enough on SNL. She is amazing.

[@Qermaq]

Not just the impressions. She was a really great asset to every bit she was in. Her sarcastic wit was what made a lot of them great.

[@hollywoodmovies4056]

Because there are too many best cast, especially Kate and Cecily are there and Melissa have little time to shine. I think she will recognise after they left but sadly she also left the SNL.

[@Qermaq]

@@hollywoodmovies4056 Oh boy it's a bot. Can we play with it?

[@TristanJCumpole]

Melissa has been one of my very favourite SNL cast members since forever. Great energy, an absolute joy but even better....joy shared.

[@MrCrono2]

I really missed her this last season

[@savethezombies]

Those pillow talk scenes are some of the funniest all time skits to come out of SNL. Right up there with robot insurance and Fred Garvin.

[@brianwolters7560]

I saw her standup a few months ago and I loved she did photo ops for free and she was so sweet.

[@campfiresong]

"favourite" 🤡

[@mattbonna]

She seriously is the absolute best. I also appreciate her reasoning here on leaving SNL. It’s admirable to leave on your terms, when it’s right for you - and I think she nailed it. Excited to see what she does next!

[@MD-wk3gj]

“Has anyone here reached a life goal and still have years left?” Holy crap that hit me hard. Thank you Melissa for sharing your voice.

[@asrexproductions]

I think that hits a lot of us hard. I can think of four of my friends who are struggling with that right now (and myself, ofc).

[@richardesponja693]

I lived in two different countries, one in which there is an ocean and I could go there every day - this was my life goal. After it, my hardest depression hit. I think it's the deal with reality and constantly making new goals, and even if some seem easier, the way to archieve them are harder.

[@MD-wk3gj]

@@richardesponja693 what is it about the ocean that speaks to you? Do you swim/surf/boat or is the view, sounds, etc a part of the appeal?

[@richardesponja693]

@@MD-wk3gj I just wanted to live there. It was fun. People were more relaxed and I was often surfing and diving. It was pretty cool, but I was 23 and thought, this couldn't be my dream and I'm constantly out of money, I need more challenges.

[@jaycepero8069]

She may not know this but she's an inspiration to all Latino American kids. As a Cuban boy, now man who loved performing but had no role models, kudos to her for making it. I hold her in the highest regard.

[@maggiefowler7531]

I could listen to her talk all day .

[@MammaApa]

Lucky for you she has a podcast called Laughing with Myself. It's on her youtube channel.

[@chovue2363]

Whaow! Whow, wow! ----- Owen villasenor.

[@carlosrayortiz]

Same!

[@petecartwright5211]

One of the most talented comedians out there. She's not going anywhere but up. She has managed to keep herself grounded through it all and she's crammed an entire comedic life into a decade. One of the rare few who can endear herself to an audience in the first three minutes of a show. She's making herself into one of the very best.

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

She's amazingly talented.

[@kristiegleske]

I love everything about this talk. So entertaining with a core message to not lose yourself.

[@nandantavkar]

Dolly Parton is my inner motivational voice too ... and I'm a 40 year old Indian man.

[@chrishiguera]

I agree with everyone here, Melissa is such a beautiful human and awesome at bringing joy to others. Thanks for being you!

[@Geeksmithing]

She was super underutilized on SNL. I was hoping that she would share some of her art she has been posting on Instagram, as it is excellent!

[@ronnyalvarado8116]

She's my favorite SNL cast member of all time, the skills she has are incredible - the impressions, the comedy, and charisma

[@advocacynaccountablity]

She's a proud Dad. LOL Melissa is amazing and I love her.

[@bille9243]

She's a refreshingly unpretentious, genuine, successful artist. I love it.

[@JayBeeThree]

She's such a beautiful soul.

[@LordRefa]

Waited so long for this and it didnt disappoint. Look at you, Melissa Villasenor, you are so cool! 😁

[@beardown6574]

Love her! Truly spot on impressions. But overall just love her quirky style and positive energy.

[@rklein]

Melissa is great and was a big part of watching SNL for me in recent years. I get what she's saying, there's nobody going around giving the proper advice what to do when you've reached the edge of burnout doing what you enjoyed. It sucks particularly for people who live a purpose driven life. What I learned to do every time I hit that wall is stop, identify the things I enjoyed about the experience, keep those things and use them as a springboard to the next adventure. Life is a series of adventures if you want it to be. Lot's of love Melissa, you certainly deserve it.

[@elchiquifru]

Brillante charla Melissa! Me encantó! Dile a tu abuelita que te lo traduzca.

[@RickEstrada]

Saw Melissa in SA,TX right before COVID. The laughs kept us going through the lockdown

[@joelb774]

She seems like such a sweet person. Loved her message, and her comedy 😁

[@crocodilesmiles8095]

i watched her on american idol back in 2011, when i was 15/16! i loved her then, bc i was a drama kid and i i was happy when found out she got into the cast of SNL. the "has anyone achieved a life goal and still had time left?" threw me bc im 28, and my only life goal was uni which i finished in 2018. i havent had a life goal since thats really driven me lol. its hard out here, but i LOVED this ted talk!

[@cynthiarowley719]

I love how it gradually became a Tedtalk. We all understood the premise. I like Melissa Villaseñor. Completely worth it

[@JungleJoeVN]

She rocks. She's very entertaining and funny without being insulting or profane.

[@jh-nt9ws]

I love Melissa and her voice. In fact, the more she becomes true to herself, the better she becomes!❤

[@jamesmartin9401]

The best part about Melissa is her kind of genuine, for lack of a better term, awkwardness. You cannot dismiss her as fake or disingenuous. She's always a little frayed, a little winding, just like a lot of us. I've seen her at full glow and it's fantastic, but you also feel very connected to her normal, "Oh hey, it's Melissa!" self.

[@jollylama4773]

I have loved your aura ever since I first saw you on snl Melissa VillaSeñor! I think ur foxy 🦊

[@phineasbogg1318]

Greatest TED talk of all time! Melissa is a national treasure!

[@artistlovepeace]

She is so wonderful and wholesome. Thank you for producing and sharing. She's a very honest and lovable performer.

[@theexposurenetwork365]

She's so great

[@christinelikeschrysanthemu9423]

Melissa’s impersonations are great, but I love her straightforward acting. Perhaps that is her being her. She is so so adorable and ultra funny in the SNL Dirty Talk skits, and what could be my favorite, “Dying Mrs Gomez” 😂 you have to see it, I was laugh/crying, sO funnY!!! There’s another skit she does with comedian friend Brady Matthews called “Melissa’s Voice” it’s so funny and adorable that it hurts 😂💕. LOVE you Melissa 🙌🏻🙏🏻💕!

[@GOD999MODE]

Interesting to hear people's journeys to get to where they got. Enjoyed it.

[@calebjohnson9740]

She’s amazing.

[@floodlime8620]

She is just the most likable person 💙

[@p_louis]

Melissa is so wholesome.

[@Aimlessartist]

She is an absolute delight and inspiration 😊😂

[@JazMonic1]

You rocked it! Well done Melissa.👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@GuitarSlammer008]

Been waiting for this one for a while! Even looked for it yesterday. Yay it’s finally out!

[@andersonm-music]

She is an absolutely wonderful human being

[@Kobalta]

I still remember her song about the Oscar nominees from three years ago (with the "White male rage" refrain) ("Weekend Update: Melissa Villaseñor on Oscar Snubs - SNL"), her dating video made at home during the quarantine ("Melissa Seals the Deal - SNL") or the Spanish cold grandma from the Christmas CoVid scene 🙂

[@NatalieSnicket]

The bit about talking to her great grandmother is my exact experience I have with my non-English speaking Italian grandmother. I so admire Melissa’s way of telling that story.

[@fidgetspinner343]

She is awesome. Just amazing how this dreams and goals can become reality, she was great on SNL

[@SDXStudio]

Melissa is the best. She did a lot of the voices for a song that went viral back in the early 2010s, and ever since then I was a fan. It was the one of the very few times when someone was announced on the cast of SNL I was excited because I already KNEW who they were. So many of those people are smaller, unknown comedians looking for their big break. Melissa is the best. I know I already said that, but I just wanted to say it again.

[@sarahpassell226]

I hear so much in Melissa's voice that is promising, I'm going to enjoy watching her find more of the funny in herself during the post-SNL years. She already has me hooked just shy of laughing hysterically.

[@Ligaya1980]

Melissa is the best💚🌟 I love her podcast 'Laughing with myself '🥰

[@loverofthewordofgod4156]

This was so heart warming and funny. I hope and pray I get to meet Melissa one day. She is blessing and has a very clean sense of humor that's down to earth and relatable. She also is amazingly musical as one could hear in her singing. Picking up voices is an extremely musical thing as well. Among women, there is no voice imitator as good as she is.

[@iloveaudiostuff]

⭐️Honest, ⭐️Funny, ⭐️Adorable, ⭐️Thoughtful, ⭐️Unique, ⭐️Entertaining, and most of all, ⭐️Inspiring!!!!

[@arshinazizi]

You are so funny dear Melissa , so nice , cool and inspiring . I'm so glad to took time for listening to this Ted talk. Thank you 🌷☺️

[@ckomarec]

She's the best!

[@mobaby1979]

Whoever marries her is a lucky SOB. She’s simply amazing

[@adamd8442]

That was so wonderful and uplifting.

[@robertpop92]

Loved it! ❤

[@ThingsIBuy]

This is perfect, I love Melissa :)

[@iankane1733]

She is the absolute best.

[@Phoenix-nl2ut]

Love her. She would be an awesome teacher

[@mztscrazytown1463]

Bravo. You know you have more to do. Some would hang on just to have a job. You are an inspiration to others to seek out that next thing. Cant wait to see what it is.❤😊

[@tom19482001]

Fabulous talk and impressions Melissa. Please keep up the great work in show business.

[@shiftybat7318]

She is fantastic and was a welcome addition to SNL, especially because I had a similar school experience, doing voices to make others laugh and ingratiate myself. I will miss her on the show but hope she further dips her toe into the world of voice acting like Maria Bamford did in Adventure Time.

[@richardduran498]

Since America's Got Talent I fell in love with her. And freaking happy when landed SNL. I what I really love about her is it's obvious because of beautiful humble spirit.....it's just the beginning. She Soooo adictive❤ Wow! 😍

[@richardduran498]

Sorry about my Grammer. I don't proofread. I got too excited to say something this literal cutie pie 😊

[@richardduran498]

Whoops I did it again 😊

[@docdaytona108]

I’m not sure the world is ever going to ‘get’ her to the degree she deserves. I hope she finds that magic TV or movie role, where it all clicks.

[@Woosaidthat]

I love Melissa! I’ve loved her since the first time I saw her on SNL!

[@Esantiago819]

She's so awesome 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@AllenKelly]

Awesome TEDtalk! 💯🔥🎤😂

[@JoshHofer]

she's the best. i wanna be her friend!!

[@user-rn8vu4fu9q]

She's so beautiful!

[@peterweller8583]

Oh my God you are so credible as a real person it is sort of scarry. I like the you that you have grown into.

[@hereticerik]

Been a fan of hers for a while. Excellent comedian and very beautiful!

[@Mimi-xg5gu]

Thank you, Melissa!

[@normalmrniceguy2746]

Great set! Love you Mel!

[@tdesq.2463]

Loved this! Thx!

[@The6thelement9413]

Love you, Melissa! Great interview!!!❤

[@ronniek4478]

I enjoyed that. Especially the Melissa parts! (But I do love her impressions.) As others have said, she was underutilized on SNL. 😊❤

[@larranag]

She does speak Spanish, I heard her. I love her, she is so funny. Hilarious!

[@karte2626]

I love this girl!💓!

[@kelly-vf7zx]

Thank you so much Melissa🎉

[@HskHeroReborn]

Excellent work really enjoy her story

[@mezcal_papi]

Thank you Melissa ❤️

[@marcoszambrano7287]

I love Melissa, and I'm honestly thinking about doing a Melissa impression to cheer myself up.

[@jupiterle]

SO PRECIOUS

[@kinsmed]

Melissa got into a scandal her first SNL year so I was predisposed to not like her. She overcame that and went on to become my favorite performer. And her affirmations at the end... I felt it. I lost control of a single tear.

[@dustyoldhat]

What scandal?

[@kickboxer8173]

i love TED .

[@tecunumantonatiu4484]

Melissa we miss you. You are one of the greatest that had gone through SNL .. Great TED inspirational tutorial. GRACIAS, FUNNY GRINGA, MUY CHISTOSA 😅

[@jplourde11]

Yay Melissa!!

[@mikerod9555]

Yea‼️ Ted Talk Melissa‼️ Congratulations 🥂❤️

[@TheDexterReflector]

Long may she reign! The Cackling Abuelita impression would be a great recurring character.

[@mjolnircarlssen4211]

This was a beautiful talk.

[@spreiselbeerleprv]

What a cool and honest speech. 👍👍👍

[@geocortes3240]

Great talent one of my favorites

[@WeirdAwkwardWoman]

Wow i love this

[@serenayflamenca]

Way to go Melissa!

[@CocinandoconMartha121]

AWESOME🎉

[@Smiley-fv8zi]

I love her!!

[@WTF4NOW]

Melissa ❤

[@SAELIOSMUSIC]

incredibly underrated

[@user-is8jw5lc6n]

I love her so much

[@mostguitarswins]

I first became aware of Melissa Villaseñor when she auditioned on AGT. I found her impressions really funny! I feel this talk started off a little slow, but by the end she demonstrated her talent and conveyed what a quality person she is 👏👏👏👏

[@T1J]

absolute national treasure

[@GaryRichards-cb1fc]

Miss Melissa, You made that J.C. PENNEY'S ad, Christmas, the vivacious energy. Best Xmas ad for them. You have the sparkle that only comes from within.✔✔✔

[@NuevaBestia]

This deserves a YTP

[@maria-fb3ex]

Love her❤