Somaya Reece is a first-generation American who was raised in the city of California. As her parents came from El Salvador, Somaya had a hard time adapting to the US culture. Not the one to give up, Somaya excelled at everything she did. Her fate took a turn when she was brought in to meet with William Morris agents. Things lit up for Somaya, who soon landed comedic roles in over 45 national commercials. In the years that followed, Somaya landed roles in reality TV and also made her own music. An independent artist, Somaya has also dabbled in business and books. In this article, we take a closer look at the wiki-bio of Somaya Reece.
Wiki/Bio Facts
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ginie Castro |
| Date of birth | June 17, 1977 |
| Age | 46 |
| Place of birth | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Salvadoran-Puerto Rican |
| Gender | Female |
| Sexuality | Bisexual |
| Relationship status | Seemingly single |
| Education | High school dropout but graduated with a degree in theater from University of California, Los Angeles. |
| Occupation | CEO Entrepreneur, Creator & Owner of SlimTea, recording artist, fitness lover, actress, rapper |
| Net Worth | Estimated over $4 million |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Genres | Hip hop, R&B, pop, Latin pop |
| Television shows | Love & Hip Hop: New York (2011–2012), Famously Single (2016), First Family of Hip Hop (2017) |
| Films | The Scorpion King (2002), Miss Cast Away (2004), The Girl from the Naked Eye (2012), American Psycho (2000), Ride or Die (2003), Go For It (2009), GB2525 (2008) |
| Web series | Girlfriends and HBO’s Entourage |
| Awards and nominations | ALMA Award for Favorite Movie Actress – Comedy/Musical (2011), Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress – Feature Film (2011), Premios Juventud for Best New Artist – Pop (2012) |
| Net worth | Over $4 million (as of 2023) |
| Childhood | Endured a rough childhood, including an abusive relationship with a teenage boyfriend, and a stint in a gang |
| Ex-partners | Kellan Lutz, Joe Budden, X.O. , Jessica White, Shanell Jones (Lady Luck), Dirty Swift |
| Children | One son (deceased) |
| Son’s death | Lost her son when he was poisoned by her ex-partner; he died in her arms when she was 15 years old. |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Hobbies | Cooking, yoga, meditation |
| Philanthropy | supporter of various causes such as animal rights, environmental protection and LGBTQ+ rights, and non-profit organizations that help victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. |
| Social media accounts | Instagram: @somayareece; Twitter: @Somaya_Reece; Facebook: Somaya Reece; YouTube: Somaya Reece; TikTok: @somayareece; Snapchat: somayareece1; Website: somayareece.com |
| Quotes | Always keep your head up high, and don’t let anyone bring you down!, Don’t talk about it, get it done |
| Controversies and Rumors | Her abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who allegedly broke her teeth, crushed her cheekbones, and poisoned her son. Her sexuality and her relationship with another woman, Her dramatic weight loss, Her feud with Olivia Longott on the show Love and Hip Hop New York, and Her departure from Love and Hip Hop New York after the second season, reportedly, due to the producers’ mistreatment and manipulation. |
Early Life
Somaya was born on the 17th of June 1977 in Los Angeles, California. Somaya had a hard time growing up and spent much of her early life in the streets. Between the ages of 11 and 18, Somaya dropped out of school, joined street gangs, and got stabbed in the process. Her parents weren’t the perfect role models as her mother would verbally abuse Somaya and her father was an alcoholic. This led to an incident of Somaya running away from her home. During all this, Somaya also got pregnant and wanted to return home. Her mother threw her out and Somaya sought shelter with her boyfriend’s mother. Her boyfriend’s mother wasn’t the loving mother Somaya sought and was often mean to her. During her stay there, Somaya’s son was tragically murdered. Somaya then continued her education at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Professional Career
After graduating with a degree in theater, Somaya wanted to make it out as an actor. She had a hard time landing roles and was working as a maid in the hotel. During her time at the hotel, Somaya was contacted by William Morris’s agents. The meeting was a turning point in Somaya’s career who soon became the face of international brands.
Her acting debut came in 1998 which was soon followed by other movies including The American Psycho, The Scorpion King, The Girl from the Naked Eye, Slammed, and Ride or Die. Following her appearances in movies, Somaya also began appearing in reality series such as Girlfriends, Love and Hip Hop, Famously Single, and First Family of Hip Hop. Somaya is also a rapper and has held the top position in charts across Latin America. She is also heavily interested in business and owns a fashion brand entitled, This Fits Me. Somaya also owns television production, The Greatest Entertainment, and a record label venture, La Rosa Ent.
Personal Life
Somaya Reece is openly bisexual and has always been open about her sexuality. She first dated Kellan Lutz who was known for her role in Twilight. The pair broke up in 2009 and Somaya grew attached to rapper Joe Budden. The relationship didn’t work out for Somaya who later dated another rapper, XO. The pair broke up in 2013 and Somaya remained single for a while before announcing a relationship with Jessica White in 2016.
Somaya then had a serious relationship with Shanell Jones and got engaged on the 20th of March 2017. Things didn’t work out for the pair and they later called it quits. Somaya often struggled with weight during her acting career and decided to take it down a few notches. She adjusted her eating habits and her workout schedule which paid off for her. She seems to be a single as of writing this article.
Net Worth
Somaya has amassed a net worth of over $4 million as of 2023. She has earned her wealth through various channels, such as music, modeling, acting, reality TV, endorsements, and fitness products. She is known for her viral popularity on MySpace, her appearance on Love & Hip Hop New York and Famously Single, her collaborations with famous producers and brands, and her successful health and wellness brand This Fits Me. She is also the co-founder of La Rosa Ent and The Greatest Entertainment, a record label and television/film production company.
Physical Traits
| Physical Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Height | About 5 feet and 6 inches or 167 cm |
| Weight | About 65 kg |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Face shape | Oval |
| Skin tone | Tan |
| Body shape | Hourglass |
| Facial features | High cheekbones, full lips, arched eyebrows |
| Tattoos | Several |
| Piercings | Ears and nose |
| Scar | None visible |