Beginnings

Altovise Ferguson is a performing artist, actress, author, speaker, model, choreographer,  make-up artist, licensed cosmetologist,  wife and mother.
She is a native of Gary, Indiana. She began her career as a dancer,
under the instruction of the late Corine Morse Williams and became a student teacher at age 11.  Her gift of singing was revealed during this time as well.

Altovise discovered the world of modeling at John Robert Powers in Chicago, Illinois.
She was chosen to participate in the International Talent & Modeling Association in New York and placed 4th runner up for “Talent of the Year.” 

After graduating from Emerson Visual & Performing Arts High School in 1994, she pursued a cosmetology career.
Altovise also became an actress with the West Side Theatre Guild and has starred
in numerous stage productions and films for that last 25 years. She has opened  for the late Coretta Scott King and the late
Michael Jackson.  However, Altovise experienced a brief detour in her dreams.

Altovise was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer at the age of 27. 

She had to learn how to walk again ,while undergoing chemotherapy. 

During treatments and rehab she wrote songs and began to sing to patients in the hospital. She wrote about her journey in a journal, and   recorded  songs to inspire others.

Altovise was faced with another challenge when she had to endure two throat surgeries.  One in 2007 to remove polyps and in 2015 to remove nodules.

In 2017, Altovise faced another challenge,  she was diagnosed with pulmonary embolisms.  Altovise knows God has a plan bigger than anything she has faced and  believes that her pain has a purpose. 

 She merged  her experience in the beauty industry and the arts to serve.

Altovise  has been a performing arts director with the  Institute Of  Leadership and Performance, and most recently with 

Victory 4 Kidz.  

Altovise recorded and released “Something out of 

Nothing” in 2015. 

 She completed the book  entitled, “Live to Win: My Victory Over Cancer” and it was published in December 2015.

  As a result of her life story people have learned to thrive in life. Altovise released new music in 2020, "Won't Do It Again "her first credit as songwriter and co-producer. She also started a podcast "The Courage to Continue ", and held her first  empowerment conference. 

Altovise made her television debut on the Fox show "Empire" in 2020. It would become her first credit as an actress.  She gained her second credit on the hit Amazon series "The G" , which is filmed in her hometown, Gary, In.  Altovise also appeared as a plus size model in the 2020 Penningtons Holiday Campaign.  Altovise's  television credits include  Amc's "61st street", Showtime Series , "The Chi and more.

She is a member of SAG-AFTRA  and represented by Hayes Talent  Agency.