Jolanda Jones

Jolanda Felicia Jones (born November 6, 1965) is an American attorney, politician, and television personality, as well as a former city councilor and heptathlete. Jones, a Democrat, is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 147th district. She was sworn in on May 18, 2022.

Early life and education
Jones, the oldest of five children, was born to John Ferrell Jones and Gwendolyn Jean West and raised in Houston's Third Ward. During her childhood, she lost her father, brother, and immediate family members to either suicide or murder. Despite her tough circumstances, Jones' mother was insistent that she succeed academically. At Elsik High School, Jones was an All-American basketball player and track and field athlete. She earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Houston, and graduated with a political science degree. At the 1987 Pan American Games she won bronze, and in 1989 she was US champion. Representing the University of Houston, she was a three time NCAA champion (1986, 1987, 1989). In 1995, she earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.

In 2004, she competed in Survivor: Palau, where she was the third person eliminated from the game, finishing in 18th place. From 2008 until 2011 she was a member of the Houston City Council, school board member and is a criminal defense lawyer in Texas. In 2016, she appeared on the reality series "Sisters in Law", which focused on several Black female attorneys practicing in Houston, Texas.

Jones is openly lesbian, though she was once married to an abusive husband. Her experiences made her an advocate for LGBTQ causes and domestic violence victims. In May 2022, Jones became the first Black member of the LGBTQ community elected to the Texas state legislature after winning the special election to succeed retiring Representative Garnet Coleman in the Texas House District 147.