A Chicago native, she made her professional stage debut at the age of seven in Paul Mejia's Cinderella at The Auditorium Theatre. She joined the Young People's Company, whose alumni include John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Jeremy Piven, Lili Taylor, and Aidan Quinn. While attending Northwestern University, she was put under a two-year contract with Paramount Television after Norman Lear hand-picked her to headline his pilot-in-development, The Chavez Family.
She is a Northwestern University graduate with degrees in Journalism and Economics. She tutors junior/high school students in Spanish. Graduated from Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in 2000. Was a member of the Grafitti Dancers ensemble at Northwestern University. Attended Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois Is half Mexican and half Puerto Rican.