9 Reasons Porsha From Empire is a Banjee Girl Goddess

By now, everybody who's seen Empire knows Cookie is the show's Baddest Chick of All Time. The award for second most lovable Empire lady, however, has to go to Porsha, Cookie's ghetto-fabulous assistant.

Porsha is often the much-needed comic relief to Empire's buffet of backstabbing, breakdowns and bad romances. She's become a fan favorite, cheered for on Twitter and celebrated on Tumblr. Empire co-creator Danny Strong has even joked that Porsha may get a spin-off - a testament to the genius of Ta'Rhonda Jones. A first-time actress, Jones is said to have nailed her audition on instinct alone, and, as the show progressed, she saw her initially small role expand. Why? Because as Porsha, Jones breathes new life to a familiar archetype: the banjee girl.

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What's a banjee girl, you ask? You may not know the term, but you certainly know the type. Identifiable by their loud clothes, outrageously ornate hair and rough-around-the-edges demeanor, banjee girls have long been immortalized in TV: think Sheneneh from Martin or Bon Qui Qui from MADtv. Banjee is a flexible, multi-purpose descriptor, and, yes, another way of saying "ghetto" albeit more colorfully and affirming.

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Thanks to LGBT-centric programming like RuPaul's Drag Race(on which constants were once challenged to prepare a banjee girl outfit) and a new generation discovering the 1991 cult classic Paris is Burning, banjee is slowly creeping into mainstream slang. Banjee can be an insult or a compliment, depending on the context. As with other over-the-top characters that represent a small slice of a culture, like, say, Larry the Cable Guy's Southern redneck or the Jewish kitsch of The Nanny, the fine line between good-natured depiction and mean-spirited mockery depends on many factors, including who's doing the impersonation.

Cultural sensitivities aside, it takes comedic brilliance to make tackiness endearing, and Jones succeeds wildly. She brings a smart subtlety to her role, making Porsha both gauche and lovable at the same time. Porsha is the banjee goddess who's stolen our hearts, and here are nine reasons why.

1. Girlfriend has never met a piece of bling she didn't like - and she wears every piece at the same time.

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2. She keeps it all the way real - even if that means a little TMI.

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3. She ain't got time for trying to be all dainty and stuff.

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4. Porsha doesn't play games. If she doesn't know, she's not going to try to hide it.

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5. She will check you, no matter who you are.

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6. She is going to do the job you paid her to do for the time agreed upon, and nothing more, are we clear?

And she's taking her FULL hour for lunch.

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7. She lives on her phone, but knows how to prioritize when it's important.

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8. But, no matter what criticisms you might have of her, she's loyal and proves to be a ride-or-die chick for her friends.

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9. She's got a good heart, never hesitates to give you a compliment and knows how to make her friends feel good.

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Here's to you Porsha, you banjee goddess you. We love you.