Francia Raisa

Francia Raisa Almendárez was born on July 26, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. She is a first-generation Mexican and Honduran American. Her father, Renán Almendárez Coello, is a noted Honduran-born radio personality. Raisa began her acting career early, taking on roles during her junior year of high school. She engaged in modeling for print advertisements and appeared in commercials, laying the groundwork for her professional career in entertainment. Her early dance training, encompassing jazz, tap, and hip-hop since the age of five, proved beneficial in her roles.

Raisa’s breakthrough came with her role in the 2006 film “Bring It On: All or Nothing” where she played Leti, opposite Hayden Panettiere. This led to further roles in television films such as “Shredderman Rules” (2007) and the “Cutting Edge” sequels, “The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream” (2008) and “The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice” (2010), in which she portrayed Alexandra Delgado. A significant period in her career began in 2008 with her main role as Adrian Lee in the ABC Family series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” a role she held until the series concluded in 2013.

Her career continued to evolve with a main role as Ana Torres in the Freeform series “Grown-ish” from 2018 to 2022, and as Valentina in “How I Met Your Father” from 2022 to 2023. Beyond acting, Raisa is involved in advocacy, raising awareness for organizations combating sex trafficking and familial separation, and promoting women’s health and wellness.