Juliette "Juju" Castaneda (nickname Juju C.; pen name Juliet C.; born March 21, 1981) is an American media personality, author, actress and businesswoman. She rose to prominence as a main cast member of the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York and she subsequently appeared as a supporting cast member on its spin-off show, Love & Hip Hop: Miami. Castaneda released her debut novel, Secrets of a Jewel, in January 2017.
Juju Castaneda | |
|---|---|
.png) Castaneda in 2018 | |
| Born | Juliette Castaneda[1] March 21, 1981 New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Barry University (BA, MA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2012–present |
| Writing career | |
| Pen name | Juliet C. |
| Genre | |
Career
In 2012, Castaneda was reportedly approached by Mona Scott-Young to appear as a cast member on the third season of VH1's reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, but she turned it down.[2] In April 2014, Castaneda was featured on rapper Cam'ron's track "Devil" and the song was later included in the extended play, 1st of the Month Vol. 3.[3][4] She made her New York Fashion Week debut in the fall of 2014, walking for Mark McNairy.[5]
In December 2016, Castaneda joined the supporting cast of the seventh season of Love & Hip Hop: New York after previously making an uncredited cameo in season 6.[6] This season chronicled the launch of her debut novel Secrets of a Jewel.[7] She was later promoted to the main cast for the eighth and ninth seasons of the show,[8] which explored her adapting Secrets of a Jewel into a play,[9] and her business ventures with fellow cast members Safaree and Jonathan Fernandez.[10][11] Castaneda returned to the show as a supporting cast member for the tenth season.[12] Additionally, Castaneda made several appearances on the first season of Love & Hip Hop: Miami as a friend of Amara La Negra.[13]
In 2019, Castaneda made her transition into acting after being cast in the thriller film Don't Shoot the Messenger.[14] She also made a minor appearance in the crime comedy I Got the Hook-Up 2.[15]
Personal life
Castaneda was born in Brooklyn, New York City.[16] She was raised in Miami, Florida after her family relocated there shortly after her birth.[17] Her parents are both Afro-Cuban immigrants who moved to the United States in 1980.[18][19] She has an older brother, José Ernesto,[20] and a sister, Jacquelyn, who is currently her manager.[21] At the age of 16, Castaneda moved to Orlando and later worked as a security screener at Orlando International Airport.[22][23] Castaneda attended Barry University, obtaining both a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in public administration.[24][25][26][27] She is also a licensed real estate broker in Florida and the proprietor of a hair care and wig company, Candy Jewels Hair.[28][29]
Castaneda is a fluent speaker of Spanish and English.[30] She is a vegetarian.[31][32]
After meeting rapper Cam'ron in 2002, the two began dating in 2007.[22][23] The couple became engaged in 2013,[33] but they later called off their engagement in 2017.[34]
Activism
Castaneda is known for being outspoken about her Afro-Latina identity;[35] she has been a proponent for addressing colorism and eurocentrism within the Latin community.[36][37] She spoke out in support of Amara La Negra, who was criticised by another cast member for sporting an afro on the set of Love & Hip Hop: Miami.[38] In 2018, she stated:
We're Afro-Latinas, we're here to stay, and we have little girls looking up to us.[39] [...] My Afro-Latina identity is such a huge part of who I am and I know Amara is the same way. I don’t ever want this industry to beat that out of her or any other young woman. [...] I want her to be proud and to embrace her identity, with whatever makes her comfortable and makes her feel beautiful.[40]
In 2016, Castaneda established My Precious Jewels, a nonprofit organization to help adolescent girls with self-confidence and self-acceptance.[41] In March 2019, she raised $200,000 to donate to an orphanage in Cuba.[42]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | I Got the Hook-Up 2 | Sunday | Direct-to-video | [15] |
| 2019 | Don't Shoot the Messenger | Kim | [14] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–2020 | Love & Hip Hop: New York | Herself | Uncredited cameo (season 6);[43] supporting cast (seasons 7, 10);[44] main cast (seasons 8–9):[45] 38 episodes |
| 2018 | Love & Hip Hop: Miami | Herself | Supporting cast (season 1):[37] 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies | Herself | Episode: "Meet the Mackies"[46] |
| 2019 | Black Music Honors | Herself (host) | YouTube exclusive; "Social Media Lounge" segment[47] |