GABRIELLE UNION
Gabrielle Monique Union is an American actress and former model. Among her notable roles are her performances in the films Bring it On and Bad Boys II. She was also in 10 Things I Hate About You, She's All That, The Honeymooners, Deliver Us from Eva, and Good Deeds.
Gabrielle was born in Omaha, Nebraska. She was the middle child in a family of 4 daughters. She is the daughter of Theresa, a former dancer, social worker, and phone company manager, and Sylvester C. Union, an AT&T manager and military sergeant. Gabrielle's early childhood years were spent as part of a rich African American community. Her large family had been in the Omaha area for many generations. She was raised Catholic. When Gabrielle was 8 years old, she and her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up. In high school, Gabrielle was an all-star point guard in basketball and a year-round athlete, also playing in soccer and running track.
Gabrielle transferred to UCLA from a community college and earned a degree in sociology with honors. While studying there in her senior year, she interned at the Judith Fontaine Modeling & Talent Agency to earn extra academic credits. Upon the end of her internship, Gabrielle was asked to become a client. Invited by the agency's owner,, Gabrielle started working as a model until her agent discovered she had a talent for acting.
At the age 19, Gabrielle was sexually attacked at her part-time job in a shoe store. Her attacker was sentenced to 33 years in prison. She has since become an advocate for survivors of assault. Gabrielle is an ambassador in Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Circle of Promise. She ran in the Global Race for the Cure in Washington D.C. in 2012, in honor of her late friend Kristen Martinez, who lost her battle with breast cancer.
Gabrielle met NFL player Chris Howard at a party in 1999. They married in 2001 and separated in 2005. Their divorce was finalized in 2006.
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American Actress
Miami, FL