Aeriél Miranda, affectionately known as "ARI" to her close friends and industry colleagues, was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where she developed a rich, multicultural upbringing due to her seasonal residences in Boston and New Orleans.
Her parents, both young and spirited, played a significant role in shaping her identity. Her mother, an African American woman from Louisiana, brought West African roots to the table, while her father, a music deejay from New Bedford, Massachusetts, contributed Cape Verdean ancestry, along with Portuguese, French, German, and Jewish roots.
Miranda's passion for entertainment was ignited by her Nana, who introduced her to a wide range of cinematic classics, including The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Oliver Twist, E.T., and Disney animated films, at a tender and impressionable age.
In her teenage years, she competed in pageants across the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis and sang in her school and church choir. Her encounters with James Belushi and Robert Townsend, whom she met at a young age, inspired her to pursue a career in acting.
Miranda made her television debut on the ABC Family series The Nine Lives of Chloe King and went on to appear in various television shows, including The CW science fiction series The Tomorrow People and TV Land's Jennifer Falls. Her breakout role on Freeform's "Pretty Little Liars" earned her recognition worldwide.
In addition to her television credits, Miranda has appeared in films such as Universal Pictures Straight Outta Compton and The Oprah Winfrey Network's For Better Or Worse. She has also modeled for numerous companies, including Nike, Sprite, Old Navy, TJ Max, Harley Davidson, and Bed Head by TIGI.
As a multifaceted individual, Miranda has continued to explore her creative outlets, making her a household name in the entertainment industry.
