Cindy Vela

Cindy Vela (born January 4, 1979) is an American actress and model. She appeared in ''Black November'' (2012), ''Endgame'' (2015), '' Camino'' (2016) and ''Run Hide Fight'' (2020).

Early life and education

Vela was born in Brownsville, Texas in 1979. She later lived in Olmito. Vela is the daughter of Lupita and Fred Vela. She has a brother named Freddy Vela. She graduated from Los Fresnos High School. Vela attended the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, where she was the lead saxophonist in the jazz band and concert band. She later received a bachelor of arts degree in music education.

She became a band director at Memorial Middle School and briefly directed the band at Harlingen High School. In 2000, she won the title of Miss Latina. A photographer discovered her while she was in college and Vela moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and modeling.

Career

Vela has played supporting roles in Mexican-American productions including ''Harvest of Redemption'' (2007), ''Desdemona: A Love Story'' (2009), and ''Thou Shalt Not Kill'' (2014). Vela's first appearance is in 2005 drama ''Puños rosas'', in an uncredited role. In a 2009 film ''Ready or Not'', she played one of Alex Rocco's mistress. She was praised for her role in ''Desdemona: A Love Story'' (2009), which won best feature film at the Boston Film Festival. Vela appeared in a music video for Kris Allen's "The Truth" in 2010. She had previously been in videos for Carlos Santana, Christina Aguilera and Daddy Yankee.

In 2012, she appeared in ''Black November'', as agent Consuelos. She appeared as a TV reporter in a 2016 film '' Camino'' starring Zoë Bell. Vela appeared in the film ''It's Gawd'' (2017) as Lucy. One of Ray Bradbury final plays he produced, ''The Wonderful Ice Cream Suite'', featured Vela. Vela appears in the film ''Run Hide Fight'' distributed by ''The Daily Wire'' and released in 2020 as the character Ms. Nunez, a Spanish teacher caught in the midst of a school shooting.

''Exhibit B5''

Vela appeared in the short film ''Exhibit-B5'' directed by Kyle Rankin and co-starring Corin Nemec and Mircea Monroe. In the film Vela is shown being hit by a car after being "pranked" by her roommate. The film was shared widely on social media as being real. The video was covered by MSNBC ''Caught on Camera'', for which Vela gave an interview. In an interview with ''Herald de Paris'', Vela states that she realised the impact of ''Exhibit B-5'' when she began to be asked for interviews from foreign media outlets.

Modeling career

Vela has taken part in several modeling campaigns. She appeared on boxes of Special K in Mexico, Colombia and Puerto Rico. She was handpicked for the campaign by designer Ximena Valero.

She appeared in campaigns for Motorola, OPI Products and Wells Fargo. She was a cover girl for ''Bella Petite'' and ''L'Estilo'' magazine.

Personal life

Vela is a trained saxophonist and a fan of ''Harry Potter''. Her brother Freddy is a local news and weather anchor in the Rio Grande Valley. Vela began dating actor Kiefer Sutherland in 2014. They kept their relationship private up until 2017. Vela goes with Sutherland and his band on tour promoting his album ''Down in a Hole.'' Vela and Sutherland became engaged in 2017.'''' , Vela resides in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, with Sutherland.

Filmography

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vela, Cindy
1979 births
21st-century American actresses
Living people
American female models
American film actresses
American television actresses
People from Brownsville, Texas
20th-century American actresses
Actresses from Texas
Women jazz saxophonists
American jazz alto saxophonists
20th-century American saxophonists
21st-century American saxophonists
American actresses of Mexican descent
Hispanic and Latino American female models
American musicians of Mexican descent
20th-century American women musicians
21st-century American women musicians
University of Texas alumni
Jazz musicians from Texas