Tiffani Donovan (Queen of the Willis)

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Tiffani Donovan
Queen of the Willis character
First appearance	"Pilot"
Last appearance	The Rape of Heather Willis, Part 4
Created by	Ava Zinn
Portrayed by	Alexandra Moffitt
Information
Gender	Female
Occupation	Quillsville Police Officer Marines Sergeant/ Hair Stylist
Title	Officer Sergeant (Ret.)
Spouse(s)	Ken Kendall (ex husband) Jennifer (girlfriend)
Relatives	Elisa (sister) Carlotta Donovan (cousin) Vernon Donovan (cousin) Deanna Willis (Godchild)
Religion	United Methodist
Nationality	Southern American
Birthday	June 22, 1967
Died	May 1, 2019

Tiffani Donovan-Kendall (born Telissa Tiffani Amber de La Tour Donovan, June 22, 1967 – May 1, 2019) was a fictional character on the animated series Queen of the Willis. She was the Willis' underweight, divorced, and clinically depressed neighbor, voiced by Alexandra Moffitt.

Production

Alexandra Moffitt used her background as a television personality to help her develop the voice of Tiffani. Moffitt attended the University of Kentucky, and had performed in Southern plays in Louisville, Kentucky prior to being chosen for the role. She originally auditioned for the role of Angie Willis, which "didn't feel right" so she then auditioned for Tiffani.

Personality

Tiffani is indicated as coming from an upper-class family in Kentucky (the family lived on a vast estate called the Chateauette until her cousin Carlotta was forced to sell it). She speaks fluent Cajun French and plays the accordion skillfully, which surprises her just as much as it does everyone else. Her parents were abusive, spanked her and Elisa regularly, locked her in a rabbit hutch and made her dress as a boy (Tiffani attempts to justify these actions when she mentions them), As of the season 6 episode "Moving On," Tiffani's father is presumably still alive (though slowing down in her later years), based upon Tiffani's remark to Ava that her father "can't even load a hunting rifle anymore," with Tiffani further commenting that she has to "practically put it in her hands and pull the trigger." By the time of the season 7 episode "The Rape of Heather Willis," Tiffani's only living female relative is her dandified cousin Carlotta, who still lives in Kentucky. Though Tiffani says she never had any children of her own, there is an opened possibility of her getting one or both of her dead cousins' widows impregonated during her stay at the family mansion while Ava was trying to win money by throwing a basketball into a big Mississinewa Cola can at the Yum! Arena during halftime of the Ball State Cardinals-Kentucky Wildcats game.

Although underweight, skinnier, and emotionally needy in her later years, Tiffani was a confident athlete with long flowing hair in her youth. Nicknamed "The Tiffsmasher", she held Quillsville Central High's career free throw record until a young athlete named Valerie Rickers broke it years later. Valerie, however, is simply allowed to score the record-breaking basket by the other team due to a torn ACL, rather than playing injured as Tiffani would have; to regain her honor Tiffani rejoins the girls basketball team to score one last basket and re-tie the record (she had redshirt eligibility due to joining the marines during her senior year). Tiffani's bright future was derailed when she attended a Crystal Gayle concert and found her then-future husband Kenneth (now Kendra Kendall) passed out in her lap in 1987; he would go on to cheat on and humiliate Tiffani before finally leaving her a broken shell of her former self and eventually marry Maritza. Although there appear to be several factors, it can generally be assumed that the now-Kendra Kendall leaving Tiffani was the major cause of her downward spiral. Tiffani's negative self-concept is clearly displayed in the episode "A Case Managing We Will Go"; Tiffani, Melissa, Ava, and Pamhouser recall an evening's events, and, while the other three characters imagine themselves in a positive light, Tiffani imagines herself as being skinnier, slimmer, and more of a glutton than she is in reality. Despite all of this, Tiffani is loyal and brave in the face of adversity, rescuing the Willis' from their house after smelling a gas leak and resuscitating both Angie and Ava on their front lawn afterwards.

Tiffani is often a foil for her friends, who verbally and emotionally put her down on a regular basis, either because they don't realize how hurtful their remarks are or because Tiffani is too dimwitted to mind very much. She is the first person to be mentioned when any character refers to losers or bemoans a misfortune for fear their lives will be ruined, like her. For example, Ava, while telling Angie that a lawn makes a person and gives her a purpose, says "Without my home, I am Tiffani," which disgusts Angie as the thought of being with Tiffani nauseates her to no end. Tiffani, like Melissa Rose and Anna Pamhouser, has a strong admiration for Ava and often seeks her advice before doing anything, and for her help when in trouble. She occasionally gets dragged into Melissa's crazy schemes, and often is the one who accidentally ruins them. Of all her acquaintances, Pamhosuer seems to be the one who gives her the most respect, possibly because Tiffani once helped a brokenhearted Pamhouser get over a man who dumped her. Melissa is the one who seems to disrespect her the most, often insulting her misfortune and lifestyle. Tiffani has an obsessive lesbian crush on Angie, and frequently makes bumbling, inappropriate remarks about her. Although Tiffani always speaks highly of Angie and looks to her as the epitome of desire, she looks at Tiffani in total contrast—spea of her as absolute zero.

Although Tiffani's friends are often disgusted or frustrated at her stupidity and the number of times she has wrecked their plans, they were devastated when it appeared that she had sacrificed herself to save them when they were stuck on a military target zone, with Ava saying that Tiffani was a good friend – sweet, loyal, and brave. During their high school years as they have one last blowout in Tiffani's honor as she and then-Ken Kendall's being shipped off a drunken Ava (then Frank) stirs up a fight with a thug at a bar, but Tiffani intervenes and saves Ava. On some occasions, Tiffani would fight back, and relentlessly, if pushed enough; upon the words of a fraudulent and condescending doctor who would sarcastically and falsely told her she would lose her legs from anorexia shortly after her diagnosis, and had toyed with Tiffani's social life and the friends she made along the way, she would exact a beating on her, alongside Ava.

When examining Tiffani's Marines and Quillsville Police Department medical history, Melissa discovered that Tiffani was unknowingly made part in an experiment called "Operation: Skin and Bones", to create a police officer capable of operating in extreme temeratures. It is assumed that the experimental drugs are the cause of her weight loss, excessive body hair, and terrible body odor and breath until it's revealed that she was in the control group given a placebo. Tiffani is also shown to have a severe but easily treatable foot fungus, which actually comes in handy once to help Ava get revenge on a fraudulent mold inspector. Tiffani was diagnosed with anorexia and was told she would lose her ability to walk, but then later this was contradicted by the inept diagnosing doctor, who says that she only said Tiffani was likely to lose her ability to walk from anorxia. Originally the doctor made it seem like Tiffani would ultimately need to use a wheelchair. (Later, Tiffani beats the doctor up for this, with Ava standing guard.) Ironically, this "diagnosis" leads Tiffani to a depressed slump. This then leads Tiffani to get into better shape while playing basketball and this "cured" her anorexia.

Tiffani's personal hygiene and other habits are shown to be very poor to moderate. As previously mentioned she has severe foot fungus, terrible breath and body odor (when opening the hatch of a tank Tiffani had stolen, Ava believed there was a dead animal inside due to the smell). Various comments indicate that she doesn't shower or brush her teeth on a regular basis. Deanna states that she has dandruff in spite of having less hair. She is regularly shown eating food she finds in or under her couch or even in her vagina, and has even been shown to eat food without dishes (as in one episode where she was cooking herself lasanga, where she broke her only plate and was forced to eat the lasanga off of her counter and drink the jar of sauce she was going to serve with it). She dumps garbage directly out her kitchen window despite having a garbage can. She has been shown to fall asleep while eating snacks, which attracts animals into her bedroom, though she seems incredulous or apathetic to this. Her bathroom is described as disgusting, when asked if they would rather endure a dangerous and painful stunt (ex. stick a wasp up your nose) or shower in Tiffani's bathroom, her friends always choose the former. When assigned tasks to get her house ready for a family reunion after Stephanie and Angie are assigned the bathroom, both are horrified and desperately try to change assignments. She also has a foot and breast fetish, finding Angie's unnaturally under-sized breasts very appealing.

Tiffani is also portrayed as being the poorest of Ava's friends, despite being a police officer. However, Tiffani resides in a similar looking house as all the other members of the main cast (one episode reveals she won it in her divorce and was eventually given to Kendra and Miles after Tiffani's death). Moreover, although Tiffani is portrayed as poor she is often seen spending money on extravagant, or needless items. This is likely because she generally does not date nor has any family leaving her with extra income. Moreover, while Melissa and Stephanie can not afford a plastic surgery in one episode (despite Melissa being a sex reassignment surgeon), Tiffani offers to pay for it herself, signifying that she may be wealthier then the Rose family.

Despite being physically out of shape, a target of many pranks, and incompetent in many areas Tiffani is shown to be a great hair stylist at her local Marines base prior to retiring in 2008, so much so that when in episode "Ava's Makeover", when the Marines eliminates barbers and stylists, the base commander recommends to Mayor Kelso makes sure the Quillsville Police Department to acquire Tiffani as QPD's hair stylist, making her perhaps the only police offider and former military hair stylist, respectively, in the Marines and on the police force.

Physical appearance

Tiffani Donovan is anorexic and thinning, and often falls victim to Melissa's harassment. Possibly because of low self-esteem and depression, Tiffani does not regularly brush her teeth, shower, or exercise, only doing these things when dating a man or a woman. When introducing herself to a lawnmower focus group in "Ten Pretty, Pretty Darn Angry Women", she states that she is 4 ft. 8 in. Although currently underweight Tiffani is shown to be in incredible shape when first joining the Marines and when met by old friends they are generally surprised to see how out of shape she became. She is depicted as not meeting the Marines' Physical Fitness Standards, however she managed to pass by accidents such as the instructor failing to score her and not wanting to redo the test, or injuring herself prior to the test (this came to an end in "Brandi Call the Doctor!"). The likely source of her weight problems comes from depression due to her husband leaving her for another woman (and they have since moved to Michigan Falls, Indiana and swapped genders that saw Tiffani's ex-husband, Ken becoming a woman named Kendra and Kendra's then-new wife Maritza becoming a man named Miles Kendall).

Despite being the most underweight and shortest out of the show's main characters Tiffani does on occasion show glimpses of the athleticism she once possessed. Although Tiffani is typically easily bullied by her friends, the times she does decide to stand up to herself people generally back away from her suggesting she is physically intimidating despite being underweight, while Melissa routinely threatens individuals to no effect due to the small statures.

Tiffani is also shown as being very tough, while Melissa trembles at even the thought of pain, Tiffani is typically shown working through injuries.

Romantic relationships

Tiffani Donovan's ex-husband was named Ken (now a woman named Kendra Kendall), who was seen and voiced in the episode "Ava and the Great D Cups", attempting to worm her way back into Tiffani's life when she became high profile while dating, Hillary Kernan, the fictionalised daughter of former Indiana governor Joe Kernan. During the early seasons, she often pined for Ken to return after he ran out on her, but she was somewhat successful in getting over him in the episode "A Quillsville Xmas" after Ava resorts to (and binds her breasts) pretending to be Ken. Tiffani then finally symbolically confronts Ken for leaving her, and after being told "I don't love you anymore" she becomes enraged and yells "You don't deserve Telissa Tiffani Amber dela Tour Kendall!". During "Ava and the Great D Cups", the now transgenderd Kendra tries ordering Tiffani around in front of Hillary Kerman but she finally tells Kendra off by flashing her breasts. Other relationships include Ava's boss' husband, Robert "Crob Bob" Craven, Lilly's father Ward Luke Schmitt, which was broken up by interference from Lando, who convinced Tiffani that his mother-in-law was in love with astronaut John Glenn, but they then found out Lando had been lying because seeing the two of them together disgusted him, and reunited with Lilly Abhrams grudgingly saying they seemed right together (the show originally intended for Tiffani and Ward to remain together, but the writing staff changed that plan and simply wrote him out of the series so Tiffani could remain hilariously unlucky in love, although their relationship is briefly mentioned in one subsequent episode). After joining the Quillsville Police Department, Tiffani's partner, QPD Homicide Detective Lilly Rush, sat Tiffani on a blind date with a transwoman named Jennifer (formerly Jerome).

Due to her ability to keep going after virtually any rejection, Tiffani is the one able to snap Pamhouser out of her depression when rejected by a man she truly had feelings for.

Angie Willis has said and done many cruel things to Tiffani, both to her face and behind her back with no regards to her feeling. But despite Tiffani's complete infatuation with Angie, she seems to loathe Tiffani just as much. Angie brings her endless heartache, though it's not always intentional. For example, during a game of football, she once accidentally threw a bean-ball at Tiffani's head, knocking her to the ground. She then mistakenly threw another at her genitals and breats, putting her in excruciating pain and humiliation. Angie stole Tiffani prized American flag and accidentally destroyed it, driving her to absolute tears. Another time, angry at her endless pursuit of Angie, she hit Tiffani once at a game, she inadvertently wound up knocking Tiffani off the bleachers—Tiffani's arm later in a sling. She, Melissa and Lilly (Abhrams) studied her to make money for their investing endeavors, but eventually dropped her when she became conscious of it all--deepening her depression. Despite all of this, she says she considers Tiffani "a friend."

Work

Tiffani formerly held the fictional military occupational specialty "hair stylist" in the United States Marines under Pt. Wayndale's H company, 20th infantry until retiring in 2008 after 15 years and took the position with her to the Quillsville Police Department when she became a police officer. Her rank has been revealed through dialogue, in scenes of her wearing obsolete olive drab fatigues as being a retired sergeant, and she appears to wear the insignia of E-5 on her former Class A uniform in the episode "Old Hooser". She has never deployed in her Marines career. She briefly served as a recruiter when her Marines position was eliminated for being wasteful, but it was secretly restored when Ava Willis donated a new chair, with a cover job as a police officer.

It is revealed in one episode that as an athletic young woman entering the Marines, she wanted to serve in the armored cavalry in a tank crew.

Several times throughout the series Tiffani is revealed to be very talented at cutting hair. When Ava receives a bad hair cut, Tiffani is able to fix it quite easily. She revealed to Ava that she dyed the hair of 106 officers who serve at Pt. Wayndale. When given other military duties such as recruiting, she has no success. On another episode, it is revealed that the Police Commissioner of QPD won't allow anyone besides Tiffani cut her hair.

When she is engaged by other pursuits, such as when she toured with a choir group or when she decided to run her own halfway house, Tiffani uses up all her personal, vacation and sick days from the Marines and Quillsville Police Department almost to the point of going AWOL; otherwise she doesn't use them at all. She is described as being nice but often depressed and lonely; her overwhelming need to make people like her makes her easily taken advantage of, particularly by Melissa. She is overwhelmingly patriotic. When an American Flag is due to be disposed of by burning (as is principal practice), she offers to take the flag and hoist it over her home. When Lando dares to so much as attempt to lower the flag, Tiffani lunges at Lando fiercely. When the flag is destroyed, Tiffani cries terribly.

Death

In the season 7 episode "The Rape of Heather Willis Part 4," Sheena Unger, the husband of Todd Unger, known as "Fat Bigfoot Bobcat" shoots her husband, Tiffani Donovan, Anna Pamhouser, and Officer Dailey and while Officer Dailey is able to duck, Tiffani and Todd were hit. Tiffani and Pamhouser are shot once and Todd three times all succumbing to their injuries.

NoSirGifts published the following obituary for Tiffani Donovan:

Quillsville Police Seargant Detective Tiffani Amber de La Tour Donovan, age 52, died Friday in Quillsville, Indiana. Donovan suffered from a gunshot wound at the Quillsville Police Department. Tifffani leaves behind a significant other Jennnifer McDavid and sister Elisa