• Born in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands in 1981
• Appeared in 30 movies and TV series, best known for "Crazy, Stupid, Love"
• Graduated from Florida State University with Bachelor of Music degree in 2003
• Married to Britt Leach since 2018, two daughters
• Net worth estimated at over $600,000 as of January 2023
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Who is Mekia Cox?
American actress and dancer Mekia Cox was born in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands, on 18 November 1981, so her zodiac sign’s Scorpio. She’s been credited with appearing in 30 movies and TV series, and is probably best known for portraying Hip Hairdresser, aka Tiffany, in the 2011 romantic comedy movie “Crazy, Stupid, Love”, which John Requa and Glenn Ficarra directed, and which starred Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell. It follows a man whose wife’s just told him that she wants a divorce, and the movie won four of its 27 award nominations.
Education and early life
Mekia was raised in Saint Croix by her parents, but she hasn’t shared many details about them, as they prefer to maintain their privacy; Mekia hasn’t spoken of having siblings either.
She was seven when she and her family moved to Orlando, Florida, while she had already been taking dancing lessons for five years. Mekia was 12 when she made her debut TV series appearance, playing Myra in the episode “The Weekend Aunt Helen Came” of the family comedy “My Brother and Me”, but she then spent the following 11 years focused on her education, so didn’t appear in any movies or TV series.
Mekia studied at Dr. Phillips High School, from which she matriculated in 1999, and then enrolled at Florida State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree in 2003; she spent her summers honing her acting skills at the Heritage Repertory Theatre, and appearing in plays such as “Anything Goes”, “Smokey Joe’s Café”, and “Chicago”.
Roles in TV series
In 2005, Mekia appeared in an episode of both the crime action “CSI: NY”, and the comedy “Half & Half”, and in 2009 and 2010, she portrayed Sasha in the critically acclaimed romantic comedy “90210” – the series starred Shenae Grimes-Beech, AnnaLynne McCord and Tristan Mack Wilds, was created by Jeff Judah, and follows two teenagers who’ve moved with their parents to Beverly Hills, and have enrolled at West Beverly Hills High; it ran from 2008 through 2013, and won two of its 19 award nominations.
Who’s answering!?!
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾@therookieabc #therookie #therookieabc pic.twitter.com/iT2mRyZR8J— Mekia Cox (@MekiaCox) September 7, 2022
From 2010 through 2012, Mekia starred as Lizzy Gilliam in the action thriller “Undercovers”, and the year 2013 saw her play Anya in the crime mystery “Mob City”, created by Frank Darabont, and which starred Jon Bernthal, Milo Ventimiglia and Neal McDonough. Set in 1947 Los Angeles, the series follows the lives of mob leader Bugsy Siegel and police officer Joe Teague, and was nominated for 14 awards. Mekia could then have been seen appearing in an episode or two of the crime action “Almost Human”, another crime action “Gotham”, and the action adventure comedy “Key and Peele”.
Since 2019, Mekia’s been starring as Nyla Harper in the crime action “The Rookie”, created by Alexi Hawley, and which also stars Nathan Fillion and Alyssa Diaz. It tells the story of middle-aged John Nolan who’s just joined the Los Angeles Police Department, and the series has won two of its four award nominations.
Roles in movies
Mekia’s debut film role was playing Nikki No in the 2010 romantic musical comedy “I Kissed a Vampire”, and some of her following roles were in the 2012 musical “Battlefield America”, the short romantic drama “The Exchange” and the horror thriller “After Dark” both in 2013.
The year 2015 saw her play Lana in the sports comedy “The Squeeze”, written and directed by Terry Jastrow, and which starred Katherine LaNasa, Jeremy Sumpter and Michael Nouri; it follows a humble man who’s entered a big golf tournament.
Mekia’s appeared in only one other movie: she played Suzanne in the 2019 drama “If Not Now, When?”, which Tamara Bass wrote and directed, and in which she starred alongside Shamicka Benn and Joelle Ashley. The film follows four high school friends who’ve reunited as adults, because one of them is going through a crisis.
Other credits
Mekia worked as a wrangler on six episodes of the 2008 romantic reality show “Paradise Hotel”, and performed as a dancer in the 2009 musical documentary movie “This Is It”.
She’s recently made a guest appearance in talk-shows “Tamron Hall”, “The Kelly Clarkson Show”, and “Entertainment Tonight”.
Love life and husband
Mekia prefers not to speak about her love life in public, but has still allowed her fans to have a glimpse into it. Since 28 April 2018, she’s been married to American basketball analyst Britt Leach; Britt is yet to make a name for himself in sports journalism, and seems to prefer staying away from media.
Mekia gave birth to their daughter in December 2018, and their second daughter followed on 13 May 2022.
Mekia hasn’t spoken about other men whom she’s been with, but some of her fans believe that she was in a long-term relationship with her college sweetheart, but that they broke up after having been together for six years.
She’s married to Britt Leach as of January 2023, and they have two daughters together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
More than 110,000 people are following Mekia on Instagram today, and she’s posted close to 600 pictures and videos; she’s revealed in some of her pictures that she’s a fashionista, as well as a shopaholic.
She returned to filming only a couple of months after having given birth to her second daughter.
Mekia’s a supporter of the movement Black Lives Matter, and also of the LGBT community; she’s done some charity work, mostly to bring theatre closer to underprivileged children.
She works out on a daily basis, and has shared some of her post-pregnancy workout tips with her fans.
Mekia’s favorite actresses are Rosario Dawson, Kate Winslet and Anne Hathaway, and some of her favorite movies include “Trance”, “Men in Black II” and “Alexander”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Mekia’s age is 41. She has brown eyes and long black hair, she’s 5ft 5ins (1.66m) tall and weighs about 120lbs (56kgs).
Mekia’s net worth’s been estimated at over $600,000, as of January 2023.
