Mariann Aalda was one  of the first African-American daytime soap opera heroines, starring as criminal attorney DiDi Bannister on ABC's EDGE OF NIGHT. Today, she’s “prosecuting ageism” with her TEDx Talk, AGEISM IS A BULLY...STAND UP TO IT!; solo show, GETTIN’ OLD IS A BITCH...BUT I’M GONNA WRESTLE THAT BITCH TO THE GROUND! and as an AARP Age Disruptor. Thanks to syndicated reruns, she is still often recognized as Lita Ford, Anthony’s yuppie-from-hell girlfriend on CBS’ DESIGNING WOMEN.