List of Famous people born on May 17th

Alessandra Maestrini is a Brazilian actress and singer-songwriter.

"Vernie" Bennett is an English singer. She is a founding member of R&B girl group Eternal, with her sister Easther Bennett also a member. The original line up included Kéllé Bryan and Louise Redknapp. The band was formed in 1991 and released their first single 'Stay' in 1993 which achieved their first top ten hit in the UK and their first top 20 hit on the American Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Nominated for four Brit Awards, Vernie and her bandmates went on to sing the lead soundtrack for the Disney movie 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and achieve many more top ten hits thereafter. They sang for the Pope in the Vatican, took part in the apartheid movement by performing in Johannesburg's biggest ever outdoor concert with Midnight Oil, Sting and other well-known artists in South Africa and have also featured on a Pepsi campaign early on in their careers. The band have sold over 10 million records and achieved their first number one in 1997. A total number of five albums were released throughout the band's career; Always and Forever, Power of a Woman, Before the Rain, Greatest Hits, and Eternal. The latter self entitled album only included Vernie and her sister Easther and included their first release "What'cha Gonna Do" before the group disbanded altogether. Soon after this, Vernie Bennett returned to her studies and completed her law degree. She went on to complete her Bar finals and has since settled down to family life with husband Bryan. Vernie has been voted one of the top 50 sexiest women in FHM, and in 1998 featured on the front cover of Pride Magazine. She has presented Songs of Praise, 'Gala Bingo' and at MTV Awards. In 2013, Vernie re-joined her bandmates Easther and Kelle for a brief reunion on a show called the 'Big Reunion'. This led to the group performing a number of select gigs like 'Cardiff Gay Pride' 2014 before disbanding one last time. In 2014, Vernie talked to The Express newspaper about her anguish over losing her brother to lung cancer. That same year she walked half a marathon for charity on the 'Shine Walk' raising money in his honour. In 2015, Bennett appeared with her husband Bryan on ITVs All Stars Mr & Mrs and raised a further £30,000 for charity, which she donated to Cancer Research and CMV Action UK. She took her debut acting role on stage in Jack and the Beanstalk as the 'Spirit of the Beans', and continues to be a great supporter of the charity known as CMV Action UK.

Joan May Blackman is an American actress.

Lois Jane Frankel is an American politician and lawyer who has been the United States Representative for Florida's 21st congressional district since 2017 and who represented Florida's 22nd congressional district from 2013 to 2017. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Jamie Alexander Kilstein is an American writer, radio host, and stand-up comic. He made his debut television appearance on Conan and has been seen on MSNBC's Up with Chris Hayes, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Showtime, and BBC America. Kilstein previously hosted the internet talk radio show Citizen Radio along with his former wife, political columnist Allison Kilkenny; he left the show after allegations of predatory sexual misconduct against multiple women.

Peter Hinwood is an English antiques dealer and former actor. He is best known for his role as Rocky in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975.

Luann de Lesseps is an American television personality, model, author, and singer. In 1993, she married French entrepreneur and aristocrat Count Alexandre de Lesseps; they divorced in 2009 but she retained the courtesy title "countess" until her remarriage in 2016. In 2008, de Lesseps came to prominence after being cast in the reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City, which documents the lives of several women residing in New York City. Luann began headlining "Countess and Friends," a cabaret show of her own making, in 2018.

Jean-Denis Bredin is a French attorney and founding partner of the firm Bredin Prat. He is the twentieth, and current occupant, of seat 3 of the Académie française, elected on 15 June 1989. His daughter, Frédérique Bredin, currently serves as President of the National Center of Cinematography and the moving image.

Ashley Henley was an American teacher and politician who served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 40th district from 2016 to 2020. She was a member of the Republican Party.

Jacquelyn Suzette Wright-Johnson, better known by her stage name, Jaguar Wright, is an American R&B and neo soul singer, songwriter and narrator. She is part of the Okayplayer collective. Wright has performed and collaborated alongside rap acts such as The Roots, Jay-Z, and Blackalicious.