Sophia Blanca

From Ava Zinn Wiki
(Redirected from Sophia Williams)
Jump to: navigation, search
Sophia Blanca
Born Sophia Ashleigh Williams
December 29, 1992 (1992-12-29) (age 31)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ethnicity Québécoise/French/American
Education Rosemoount High School, 2011
Alma mater Concordia University, 2015
Occupation Television journalist
Years active 2006-present
Spouse Maci Blanca (m. 2017)
Partner Maci Blanca (2015-2017)

Sophia Ashleigh Blanca (née Williams), OQ is a French Canadian-American news anchor and actress. In 2011 at age 18, she became one of the original moderators of the French adaptation of Vote for the Girls that lasted until 2015 and in 2015, became best known as a moderator of the American adaptation of the controversial and popular web site.


Background[edit]

Sophia Blanca was born Sophia Williams in Montreal, Quebec, to Laura Williams, a graphic designer, and the Canadian visual artist Richard Williams.[1] French is her second language. She trained hip hop dancing and planned to start a dancing career, but was just getting into theatre in high school, and her interest shifted.[2]

In 2015 Williams achieved a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Communication Studies from the Concordia University.[3]

Vote for the Girls (France)[edit]

In 2009, while still in high school, Sophia announced that she was to become the host of Votez Pour Les Filles (Vote for the Girls France). A big fan of the web site in America, she enthusiastically accepted the offer as a moderator of the French version of the site alongside judges Millie Mack, Stefani Gould, Alexa David, and Claice Kingsland as the Vote for the Girls format was a surprise hit and success with the public in America and was sold to several different countries. Williams's final pick, Luce Brunnett won the eighth season of Nouvelle Star. After Williams became the winning moderator the French version, Brunnet's win would prove to be the Williams's only victory in the site's history. At age 18, Williams became Vote for the Girls' youngest host in any adaptation.

Midway through 2014, ratings for the show began to plummet. Ava Zinn canceled the site in early 2015 and ended it on May 3, 2016.

By all accounts, Williams was hurt by her dismissal from the show.[4] The final episode of Votez Pour Les Filles aired on May 5, 2016. While that episode seemed like any other, during the final moments, Williams' final pick of Mia Rosello finished second to Patrick Rouiller. Williams joked in French, "Tu sais, je l'ai fait ce site depuis six ans et cela [est] la première fois que j'avais une personne qui a obtenu effectivement pas partisans et je pense qu'il est un sacré bon moyen de sortir. Je pensais que étais un perdant jusqu'à Mia effectue, elle a m'a donné l'impression la femme!" (translated: "You know, I've done this site for six years and this [is] the first time I had a someone that actually got no supporters and I think it's a damn fine way to go out. Thought I was a loser until Mia walked up here, she made me feel like a woman!") After the winner was announced, Williams immediately walked off the set, went to her dressing room to get changed, left the facility without saying good-bye to anyone, got into her car and drove home.[5]

Vote for the Girls (United States)[edit]

After the French version was canceled, Sophia with her future wife Maci joined the moderator panel of the eighth season of Vote for the Girls. She and Maci joined the newly-formed Pink Team East with returning moderators Holly Everman, Perri Johnson, Maribel Mort and fellow new moderator Breeanna Sorensen. On November 22, 2016, Sophia & Maci earned her very first victory as winning moderator as her last Vote for the Girls pick, Laurie Hernandez, was announced the winner (as well as the female winner) of of the twenty-third season of Dancing with the Stars, beating IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe (chosen by Pink Team West Moderator Ann & Kylie Dwyar) and retired NFL player Calvin Johnson, Jr. (chosen by fellow Pink Team East moderator Breeanna Sorensen). Sophia & Maci earned their second victory as winning moderator as their flex pick Sundance Head was declared the overall winner of the eleventh season of The Voice (runner-up Billy Gilman, third place finalist Wé McDonald, and fourth place finalist Josh Gallagher were also Sophia & Maci's picks with Gilman and Gallagher being flex picks and McDonald being the last female in the competition). This made Sophia & Maci the second duo moderator overall after Purple Team West moderator Ava Zinn and Kymberly Alvaraz to achieve this feat in the previous season.


Work[edit]

Canada and France[edit]

Williams began her career in 2005 while in junior high at CWCI-FTV in Montreal.[6] From 2006-09, she anchored the weekend news for CFFF-FTV in Montreal.[6]

During her tenure at CFFF, Williams worked as a freelance associate producer for Euronews.


United States[edit]

Williams joined CBS affiliate WTOR in July 2016 as general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor of the station's Wednesday-Friday evening and late and newscasts due to commitments on Vote for the Girls.[7]


Awards[edit]

Personal Life[edit]

Sophia began dating Martin Hoskins in 2005, while she was in junior high. The relationship ended after Hoskins graduated from high school in 2010.

In 2017, Williams married fellow Votez Pour Les Filles moderator Maci Blanca (the former Mark Blanca), who transitioned from male to female in 2010.[8] The couple met in 2009 when the pilot for Votez Pour Les Filles was shot in Paris, France. The wedding took place aboard a wooden yacht at the Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club in Canada.[8] On February 14, 2017, Sophia changed her last name from Sophia Williams to Sophia Blanca.

The couple have twin sons. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen on July 7, 2016.[9]


References[edit]

  1. ??
  2. ??
  3. ??
  4. ??
  5. Votez Pour Les Filles Final Episode, May 3, 2016 
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Sophia Williams biography". Vote for the Girls (Aeverine Zinn Holdings). 2016. 
  7. ??
  8. 8.0 8.1 Sophia Williams' Wedding
  9. Sophia Williams, U.S. Citizen.

External links[edit]

Template:Vote for the Girls France