Wambui Bahati, born John-Ann Washington in Greensboro, North Carolina, is an American performer, author, and motivational speaker. She began her professional theater career in 1972 with "Godspell" at Ford's Theater. She later performed in Broadway productions of "Godspell" and "Jesus Christ Superstar". She has traveled across the United States and Canada, playing leads in many Broadway show tours, such as "The Wiz" and the rock version of "Two Gentlemen of Verona."

In 1995, she changed her name to Wambui Bahati—meaning "singer of songs" and "my fortune is good" in Swahili—to symbolize a fresh start on her path from tough times to triumph.

Wambui shares mental health awareness and lessons on "How to Get Up When You've Been Knocked Down" with her highly acclaimed one-woman musical entitled "Balancing Act." Her one-woman show about domestic violence has educated and inspired audiences across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Her life is a testament to turning personal challenges into opportunities to inspire and make a difference.

In addition to her work in theater and advocacy, this nostalgia enthusiast is a crafter and shares tutorials on various crafts, with a special emphasis on loom knitting, through her YouTube channel, "Wambui Made It."

Her autobiography, "You Don't Know Crazy: My Life Before, During, After, Above, and Beyond Mental Illness," details her journey with mental health and has been well-received by readers.

Wambui continues to inspire others with her message of resilience and hope.