Francia Raisa Almendárez (born July 26, 1988) is an American actress. Raisa is known for her roles in Bring It On: All or Nothing, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Grown-ish, and How I Met Your Father.
Early life and education Raisa was born in Los Angeles, California to a Mexican mother, Virginia Almendárez (née Pelayo), and Renán Almendárez Coello, a Honduran-born radio personality; and raised in Los Angeles. A few years after she was born, her father started using his new Latin radio personality, "El Cucuy".
Raisa attended Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, where she was a cheerleader.
Career Raisa began to take acting jobs in her junior year of high school, modeling for print ads and appearing in commercials. She guest-starred in the sitcoms American Family: Journey of Dreams and Over There. Raisa appeared in Lil' Romeo's music video "My Girlfriend" as Tamy in 2004 and in Iyaz's music video "So Big". A month into her senior year, she booked one of her first lead roles, starring opposite Hayden Panettiere in Bring It On: All or Nothing. She co-starred in the Nickelodeon movie Shredderman Rules, where she portrayed Isabel, and in The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream and The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice as Alexandra Delgado. She played the role of Adrian Lee in the hit ABC Family drama, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, from its beginning in July 2008, until the series finale in early June 2013.
In 2009, Raisa guest-starred on the USA Network's TV series In Plain Sight and co-starred in a short film directed by David Henrie called Boo, which aired on YouTube. In 2013, Raisa starred in the Christmas-themed movie Christmas Bounty alongside Mike "The Miz" Mizanin.
From 2018 to 2022, Raisa starred in the Freeform show, Grown-ish, executive produced by Black-ish creator Kenya Barris. She starred in the show's first four seasons, exiting upon the character's graduation at the end of the fourth season. She also starred in Freeform's 2018 television film, Life-Size 2, opposite Tyra Banks.
In May 2021, Raisa was cast in How I Met Your Mother'''s spinoff series How I Met Your Father'', which premiered on Hulu on January 18, 2022. In February 2022, the series was renewed for a 20-episode second season. In September 2023, however, it was cancelled after two seasons.
Personal life Raisa was born in Los Angeles.
In the summer of 2017, Raisa donated one of her kidneys to singer and actress Selena Gomez, who has lupus. The latter was told by doctors that the two were a match and later informed Raisa of the confirmation. In 2023, Raisa shared on Instagram about her recent diagnosis with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes2006Bring It On: All or NothingLetiDirect-to-video; credited as Francia Almendarez2009Fired Up!Marly2010BulletfaceMaria2013Chastity BitesKatharine2018Beyond ParadiseShahrzad
Television Year Title Role Notes2004Race Car GirlEpisode: "Velocity"2005Over ThereSawaEpisode: "The Prisoner"2007Shredderman RulesIsabel LopezTelevision film2008Alexandra "Alex" DelgadoTelevision film2008–2013Adrian LeeMain role2009In Plain SightOlivia Moreno / Olivia MoralesEpisode: "Jailbait"2010Alexandra "Alex" DelgadoTelevision film2012CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationErin VicklerEpisode: "Trends with Benefits"2013Company TownGraceTelevision filmMassholesFrancia RaisaEpisode: "Catfish and Coldcuts"KatieEpisode: "Frat Party"Christmas BountyTory BellTelevision filmPennyTelevision film2016GretchenTelevision filmHit the FloorRennaeEpisodes: "Carrying", "Killer Crossover"2017Dear White PeopleVanessaEpisodes: "Chapter VI", "Chapter X"Tiny House of TerrorSamTelevision filmOnce Upon a DateIzzy FloresTelevision film2018Black-ishAna TorresEpisode: "Don't You Be My Neighbor"2018–2024Grown-ishAna TorresMain role (seasons 1–4); guest role (seasons 5–6)2018Life-Size 2Grace ManningTelevision film 2022–2023How I Met Your FatherValentinaMain role 2024–2025Lopez vs. LopezCarinaEpisodes: "Lopez vs. Sobriety" and "Lopez vs. Escándalo"
Music videos Year Title Artist(s) 2010 "So Big" Iyaz 2013 "Everybody Knows" Dustin Tavella 2015 "Gibberish" (feat. Hoodie Allen) MAX 2020 "Man" JoJo "Red Sangria" Jordin Sparks
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Refs 2011 ALMA Awards Favorite TV Actress: Leading Role in a Drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager Gracie Allen Awards Outstanding Female Rising Star in a Drama Series or Special The Secret Life of the American Teenager 2012 Teen Choice Awards Choice Scene Stealer: Female The Secret Life of the American Teenager Imagen Awards Best Young Actress in a Television Series The Secret Life of the American Teenager 2016 Imagen Awards Best Actress - Feature Film Beyond Paradise 2018 Imagen Awards Best Supporting Actress - Television Grown-ish 2022 NHMC Impact Awards Gala Impact Award for Performance in a SitcomHow I Met Your Father
References
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