Life and career

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Erica knew at the early age of nine that she wanted to be an actress, after she performed in her first stage play. Never giving up on her dream, Erica attended Columbia College in Chicago where she majored in Broadcast Journalism and minored in Theater and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in three years. After graduating, Erica landed her first TV show entitled “Up 'N Running,” a tween/teen show that focused on educating kids on a variety of different topics of interest, from education to horseback riding, to playing hockey or learning how to make ice cream. The show aired on WPWR, a UPN affiliate in Chicago. By the time the third season had started airing, she had already won a Regional Emmy for hosting the show and earned a Service To America Award from the National Association of Broadcasters. She began acting at age nine in commercials for McDonald's, Reebok, Sears, Kellog's, MCI, and others. Her best-known modeling appearances have been in various magazines as the Noxzema "girl" for its 2006 campaign. She has appeared in the films Simon Says, Akeelah and the Bee, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Save the Last Dance, A Cinderella Story, as well as numerous television series including CSI: Miami and Everybody Hates Chris. She also voice acted in the game " The Walking Dead " as a thug that attacked Clementine.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]