Countess Vaughn James

Early life and career Vaughn was born in Idabel, Oklahoma. She began her performing career at the age of three singing at church. At age nine, she sang Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "What the World Needs Now Is Love" to win the Star Search junior vocalist champion and overall junior champion. She claims among her musical influences gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, jazz and blues singer Dinah Washington, and R&B/pop singer Whitney Houston. Vaughn began her acting career in 1988 with the role of Alexandria DeWitt on 227, followed by roles in Thea, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and Roc. She also performed in several television specials including the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, Magical World of Disney, the Orange Bowl Parade, the Easter Seals Telethon.

Outside of television, she performed in the off-Broadway musical Mama, I Want to Sing! Part 2. In 1998, Vaughn was honored with an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in Moesha. In 1992, Vaughn released her first album, Countess, featuring a variety of songs, including dance music and urban ballads.

In 1999 Vaughn landed the role of Kim Parker on the comedic tv show The Parkers, a spin-off series of Moesha that also starred actress/comedienne Mo'Nique until the show ended in 2004.

Celebrity Fit Club Vaughn appeared in the third season of Celebrity Fit Club that premiered in January 2006 on VH1. On episode four, she revealed she and James were undergoing a divorce. During the course of the show, she became the first cast member to ever gain weight, with a weight gain of 4 pounds. It was said on the season finale that she was simply trying to lose weight at the wrong time.

Celebrity Rap Superstar Vaughn appears as a contestant on MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar which premiered August 30, 2007. She studied under Warren G for the show. On September 27, 2007, an illness caused to her be eliminated from the competition.