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Camila Mendes, known for her role in the popular youth series Riverdale, was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Brazilian parents. She attended the American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida, where her passion for acting shone through in various stage performances.
Her career began with television commercials and later a role in a furniture store advertisement. She spent a year in Brazil at just ten years old, deepening her appreciation for her Latin heritage.
"People always think I speak Spanish but I am Brazilian, so I speak Portuguese and they get very confused. I have been attributed different ethnicities."
Camila attended the Tisch School of Arts in New York to solidify her foundation for a career in Hollywood. Despite professional successes, she encountered personal challenges that led her to tattoo the phrase "build a home" on her right rib as a reminder to prioritize happiness.
Her breakthrough role as Veronica Lodge in Riverdale brought fame and challenges, with rejections based on her perceived lack of Latina appearance. This experience prompted her to embrace her roots and proudly identify as Latina.
In addition to her acting career, Camila has established herself in the fashion and entertainment industry. She notably appeared at the MET Gala in a striking dress.
In front of the cameras, the young actress starred in the most-watched film on Prime Video at the beginning of the year, "Upgraded: Primera Clase," a romantic comedy in which she played Ana Santos, an intern who dreams of working in a prestigious art house in New York.
"There are definitely similarities between Ana and me, I had a period in my life where I was: 'Oh my God, can I make it in this industry?'"
She also starred in 'Musica' with Rudy Mancuso, a friendship that would later develop into a real-life romance. The pair shared their experience growing up in the United States while being proud of their Brazilian heritage, and being part of their community.