# K. D. Aubert
**K. D. Aubert** is the professional name of Karen Denise Aubert (born 1978), an American actress and fashion model known for the Fanta "Strawberry Fantana" commercials and for film roles including Donna in *Friday After Next* (2002) and Giselle in *Soul Plane* (2004)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/) • [2](https://www.biographies.net/people/en/k_d_aubert).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Karen Denise Aubert; "K.D." stands for Karen Denise[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/) |
| Born | 1978, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/) |
| Professions | Actress and fashion model[2](https://www.biographies.net/people/en/k_d_aubert) |
| Breakout screen role | Donna, Ice Cube's love interest, in *Friday After Next* (2002), on her first audition[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/) |
| Signature commercial | Nina the Strawberry Fantana in Fanta's early-2000s campaign[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/aubert-k-d-1978) |
| Award | Best Supporting Actress, Africa Movie Academy Awards, for *Turning Point* (2013)[4](https://pochepictures.com/k-d-aubert-the-strawberry-fantana-who-turned-a-macys-makeup-counter-into-a-runway-a-sitcom-into-a-feature-film-and-a-modeling-career-into-a-hollywood-passport/) |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/) |
## Early life and education
Aubert was born in [Shreveport, Louisiana](https://www.edgepedia.org/shreveport-louisiana), and raised between Riverside and Los Angeles. She describes herself as an African-American woman "with a dash of Creole." She attended [San Diego State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-diego-state-university), where she played softball[4](https://pochepictures.com/k-d-aubert-the-strawberry-fantana-who-turned-a-macys-makeup-counter-into-a-runway-a-sitcom-into-a-feature-film-and-a-modeling-career-into-a-hollywood-passport/). Before modeling she worked at a Macy's department store, and a talent rep's encounter with her at the makeup counter led to her modeling career[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/) • [4](https://pochepictures.com/k-d-aubert-the-strawberry-fantana-who-turned-a-macys-makeup-counter-into-a-runway-a-sitcom-into-a-feature-film-and-a-modeling-career-into-a-hollywood-passport/).
## Modeling career
Aubert started her modeling career with LA Models in 2001. Working as a runway model overseas, she moved into print modeling with Elite Models in Los Angeles, where she booked major campaigns[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/). Brands she worked for include [Victoria's Secret](https://www.edgepedia.org/victorias-secret), Escada, Frederick's of Hollywood, Noxzema, Beats by Dre, and Bacardi[4](https://pochepictures.com/k-d-aubert-the-strawberry-fantana-who-turned-a-macys-makeup-counter-into-a-runway-a-sitcom-into-a-feature-film-and-a-modeling-career-into-a-hollywood-passport/).
Her most widely recognized commercial role was as Nina the Strawberry Fantana in Fanta's soft-drink campaign, a part she also carried into other advertising work: commercials for Bacardi rum in 2005 and Southpole clothing in 2008 are separately documented[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/aubert-k-d-1978). Later commercial credits include [Old Spice](https://www.edgepedia.org/old-spice) with [Greg Jennings](https://www.edgepedia.org/greg-jennings), a [Nespresso](https://www.edgepedia.org/nespresso) spot with George Clooney, and national campaigns for GoDaddy and Miller Lite[4](https://pochepictures.com/k-d-aubert-the-strawberry-fantana-who-turned-a-macys-makeup-counter-into-a-runway-a-sitcom-into-a-feature-film-and-a-modeling-career-into-a-hollywood-passport/). She appeared in Maxim's Hot 100 lists in both 2003 and 2004[4](https://pochepictures.com/k-d-aubert-the-strawberry-fantana-who-turned-a-macys-makeup-counter-into-a-runway-a-sitcom-into-a-feature-film-and-a-modeling-career-into-a-hollywood-passport/).
## Film and television
**Film.** While hosting the MTV show *Kidnapped* with Dave Holmes in 2002, Aubert landed her first major film role on her first audition, as Donna in the comedy *Friday After Next*, followed by a role as Harlot in *The Scorpion King* the same year[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/). Subsequent credits include Shauntelle/Streetcar Blanche in *Hollywood Homicide* (2003), Giselle in *Soul Plane* (2004), Eliza in the Sci-Fi Channel movie *Frankenfish* (2004), [Little Red Riding Hood](https://www.edgepedia.org/little-red-riding-hood) in the short film *DysEnchanted* (2004), Cherise in *In the Mix* (2005), Julie the waitress in *The Grand* (2007), Trina in *Still Waiting...* (2008), and April May in *Surfer, Dude* (2008)[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/aubert-k-d-1978). Later work includes the role of Makeda in [Nick Cannon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-cannon)'s *She Ball* (2020)[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-124389/filmographie/).
**Television.** Her episodic credits include Julie Sinclair in three 1999 episodes of *Clueless* on UPN, Nikki Wood in two 2003 episodes of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, Toni in the *Bones* episode "The Man in the Bear" (2005), a 2006 appearance on *Inked*, and Maude Messervy in the *CSI: NY* episode "You Only Die Once" (2007)[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/aubert-k-d-1978). She was cohost of MTV's *Kidnapped* in 2002 and appeared in specials including *Ego Trip's Race-o-rama* (VH1, 2004) and the 2006 Asian Excellence Awards[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/aubert-k-d-1978).
**Other work.** She voiced the character Platinum in the [Electronic Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/electronic-arts) video game *Def Jam: Icon* (2007) and appeared in the music video "Trade It All Part II" by [Fabolous](https://www.edgepedia.org/fabolous) and P. Diddy[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/aubert-k-d-1978).
## Recognition and later activities
Aubert's international work culminated in a Best Supporting Actress win at the [Africa Movie Academy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/africa-movie-academy-awards) for *Turning Point* in 2013[4](https://pochepictures.com/k-d-aubert-the-strawberry-fantana-who-turned-a-macys-makeup-counter-into-a-runway-a-sitcom-into-a-feature-film-and-a-modeling-career-into-a-hollywood-passport/). She founded The Helpful Society, a non-profit organization that targets the needs of United States veterans with mental health issues and those experiencing homelessness, and she visits incarcerated young people and hosts events for inner-city youth[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/). She has also launched her own record label, Roseland[4](https://pochepictures.com/k-d-aubert-the-strawberry-fantana-who-turned-a-macys-makeup-counter-into-a-runway-a-sitcom-into-a-feature-film-and-a-modeling-career-into-a-hollywood-passport/).
## References
1. [K.D. Aubert Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147702/bio/)
2. [Biography of K. D. Aubert, Biographies.net](https://www.biographies.net/people/en/k_d_aubert)
3. [Aubert, K. D. 1978-, Encyclopedia.com (Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/aubert-k-d-1978)
4. [K.D. Aubert: The Strawberry Fantana who turned a Macy's makeup counter into a runway, Poché Pictures](https://pochepictures.com/k-d-aubert-the-strawberry-fantana-who-turned-a-macys-makeup-counter-into-a-runway-a-sitcom-into-a-feature-film-and-a-modeling-career-into-a-hollywood-passport/)
5. [K.D. Aubert: Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-124389/filmographie/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Food, customs, and everyday culture › Clothing, textiles, and domestic crafts › Fashion and commercial models › Glamour and pin-up models*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license