A pioneer of ethnic humor and bringing diversity to urban audiences.

As a stand-up comedian, Lydia turned her childhood tragedies into a comedy routine that quickly landed her on BET's Comic View, regular spots at Hollywood's famed Comedy Store, and Laugh Factory, a mention as Hispanic Magazine's Top 100 Latino Comics list, and gigs around the U.S. and Puerto Rico, where she also performed in Spanish. ("My father's a pimp, my mother's a prostitute," her act begins. "Out here that makes me an actress. . .")

She both starred in and co-produced a successful comedy troupe entitled The Funny Ladies of Color (alums include Sherri Shepherd, Karen Haber, Lotus Weinstock and Carlease Burke).

She did it again with the critically acclaimed and audience beloved stand-up comedy show, The Hot & Spicy Mamitas, rounded out by Sully Diaz, Marilyn Martinez, Dyana Ortelli, and Ludo Vika, who released a CD on Uproar Records and garnered interest from HBO for their own comedy special.

These projects were predecessors that paved the way for shows that we enjoy today.