Tika Sumpter
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Factsheet
- Was the first African American cheerleader at her high school.
- Worked as a waitress in New York City before beginning career as a model at 17 and appearing in commercials and educational films.
- Co-founded and performed with R&B/hip hop duo Twise with Marcella "Precise" Brailsford; contributed the track "Paint the World (America's Theme)" to the One Life, Many Voices for Hurricane Relief CD to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
- First regular TV work came in 2004 when she was named co-host of Best Friend's Date on the N Network.
- Big break came in 2005 when she was cast as Layla Williamson on One Life to Live.
- Made big screen debut in 2010's Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming.
- Made the leap into producing with the 2016 movie Southside With You, in which she plays a young Michelle Obama.