Vonny the Ken Doll
Vonny Sweetland (born February 19, 1990), better known as Vonny The Ken Doll (a play on Mattel toy "Ken Carson"), is a Canadian Media Personality, and advocate.. His blog, Vonnythekendoll.com, has been cited by the National Post among other media sources, and is known for critiquing Canadian music, as well as covering items AbOUT food and living. He has interviewed celebrities from Playboy, Jersey Shore, and Bravo's Shear Genius, as well as several musicians and bands including the grammy award winning Earth, Wind & Fire..
Early Life
Sweetland was born in Toronto, Canada. He began performing and singing in MusicAL theatre at an early age, landing principle roles in the stage plays The Nutcracker, and The Lion King (musical). He graduated from Toronto's Mary Ward Secondary Catholic School, and studied Journalism during post-secondary.
Early Career
In 2010, Vonny was cast in the Canadian Jersey Shore spinoff, Lakeshore. He later publicly spoke out against the show's well-reported manipulation of youth and race and was featured in several national newspapers becoming an immediate touchstone for thousands of young people.
In 2011, he launched pop culture blog Vonnythekendoll.com. The blog features mainstream and independent music, food, and a weekly Ask Vonny column where readers seeking advice pose questions.
He is widely viewed as a leading source in Canadian online media, having garnered thousands of fans and supporters via his online presence through platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Gemini Award Winning writer Paul Bellini called him an, "Online Media Sensation," while the Toronto Sun's Ted Woloshyn referred to him as a, "Canadian Internet Celebrity."
Present
Sweetland has since appeared as a special entertainment news guest at several of Toronto's broadcast radio and television stations. He's also appeared as a live correspondent and host at various media outlets and festivals. In 2011, he was pranked on an episode of hidden camera/comedy television show, Scare Tactics.
Vonny currently hosts and produces a studio talk show entitled, The Vonny Show. It is filmed before a live studio audience and features special entertainment guests, as well as a popular culture news panel.
He recently revealed during an on-air interview with CFRB News Talk 1010 that he would be the subject of a television reality series, and is presently in negotiations with various production companies. He also stated he was slated to interview deceased pop icon Whitney Houston just weeks before her death..Fab (magazine) chronicled his work, and named him one of Canada's rising stars in their June 2012 issue.
Sweetland also participates in advocacy, he has been a keynote speaker and special guest at various charitable events. In late 2012 he began working with non-profit organization YAN (Youth Action Network), which was founded in 1989 and recognized by the Governor General for its creation of Youth Week (since adapted by the United Nations.) In an interview with Carib-Direct Vonny stated he had been elected to YAN's board of directors and now currently serves as Chair of the organization.