Reyna, a one-of-a-kind individual, calls Long Beach home, yet her country roots from the Imperial Valley remain strong. Born to a handyman/carpenter father, Johnny Velarde, and a nurse/teacher mother, Susan King, Reyna credits her parents for instilling in her independence, drive, and compassion.
Reyna's academic journey began at Imperial High School, where she graduated at the tender age of 17 in 2001. Following her high school diploma, she relocated to San Diego to pursue higher education at Cuyamaca and Grossmont Colleges. In 2004, she earned her associate's degree and subsequently transferred to California State University, Long Beach, graduating with her bachelor's degree in 2006 and master's degree in 2009.
During her collegiate years, Reyna actively participated in Forensics, a speech and debate program. She took her mother's wise words to heart, prioritizing her education before embarking on her acting career.
Reyna's passion for comedy and horror is evident in her stand-up routines, which have taken her to esteemed comedy clubs like The World Famous Comedy Store, The Downtown Comedy Club, Flappers, and the HaHa Café. She has shared the stage with notable comedians such as Garret Morris, Luenell, and Dane Cook. In addition to stand-up, Reyna has honed her improv skills with LA Connections, performing short-form improv shows to live audiences.
Reyna's versatility extends to her work as a scare-actor with TenThirtyOne Productions, where she has become the company's resident chainsaw character for The Great Horror Campout and The LA Haunted Hay Ride. Her appearances have been featured on various media outlets, including LA Today, Shark Tank, LA Weekly, CBS, Yahoo! Travel, and promotional materials.
Beyond her comedic and scary pursuits, Reyna has also ventured into reality television. She was a featured guest on a season 4 episode of LA Ink, where she received a poignant portrait of her father with a 4-year-old Reyna from Corey Miller. The show's producers were so impressed that they invited her to audition for a new make-over show, which she successfully landed. Reyna's makeover episode was featured in the inaugural season of Drag U with RuPaul, where she was transformed into Candy Graham. She showcased her Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent on the runway, and even performed a choreographed dance.
