Monique Barajas, a native Angeleno and Mexican-American actor, was born in Monterey Park but spent most of her youth in Azusa, where she joined Mickey Rooney's Talent Town.
Raised by a single mother from Chihuahua, Mexico, along with her two siblings, Monique's early exposure to acting was inspired by Lynda Carter's iconic role in the Wonder Woman live-action television series at the age of 6. This sparked a desire to save the world and accomplish it through acting, leading her to stage backyard plays for family, friends, and neighbors, often enlisting the help of her siblings and friends.
High school brought drama classes, which further fueled her passion for acting. After taking a break to have her only child, Ryan de Long, Monique continued her education and pursued her craft, graduating from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.
Her education in acting continued at The Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles. Her first professional play was the acclaimed and controversial "Celestial Flesh" at the Raven Playhouse, which pushed boundaries and enthralled her as she began her journey in acting.
Monique's desire to help others merged with her acting passion when she joined the traveling theater group Educational Theater Co., a Los Angeles-based non-profit founded by Whoopi Goldberg. The group performed skits at Southern California junior high and high schools, tackling common problems faced by today's youth, and provided private counseling sessions for shy teens.
Her breakout role was in The Wailer (2006),based on an urban legend that was often present in her youth. When not performing or shooting, Monique continues to master her craft with acting coaches Ron Burrus from Los Angeles and New York.
