NERISSA IRVING

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and relocated to the U.S.A at age 3, exotic beauty Nerissa Irving was a child prodigy that was born camera-ready! By age 7, she had been to her first model search and was highly favored by some of New York's top modeling agencies.

Nerissa, fondly called Cindy by her close friends and family, blossomed into a beautiful, ambitious and energetic young woman, who was spiritually grounded by her strong mother. However, as Nerissa grew older, she realized that she would not attain the height needed for runway modeling and her destiny was in print work and ultimately acting.

At 18, when she went to the casting division of a prominent agency, she was advised to cut her hair. They felt that her locks were too overwhelming for her face and svelte body. Despite her ambitions, a principled Nerissa refused to change her identity and cut her links to her roots, especially to the dictates of a myopic modeling industry that saw Black models through a murky Eurocentric lens.

Undeterred, Nerissa continued to do print work and attracted a few acting roles that gave her international recognition. This strengthened her belief system imbued into her by her mother that to manifest one's dream you have to do whatever it takes to make you happy and accomplish ones desires without disrespecting yourself, emotionally and spiritually.

A charitable personality, Nerissa greatest influence is undoubtedly her mother but she acknowledges social influences like Whoopi Goldberg for strong character, Dorothy Dandridge for her pioneering, Danny Glover for his philanthropy, as well as women like Sofia Lauren, Audry Hepburn and Angelina Jolie for their excellent acting and powerful screen presence.

Professionally, Nerissa is ultimately setting her sights on playing roles of some of the most powerful women in history and mythology, like her screen models mentioned above… roles like Cleopatra, Queen of Sheba, Amina of Zaria and other women of power. Although this does not stop her from taking other roles that are of interest to her versatile mind.

Personally, Cindy greatly values her family and continues to do charity work across the developing world, especially in Africa and the Caribbean.

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