Jessica Pimentel

The Brooklyn born and raised native New Yorker is best known as an actress in her role as Maria Ruiz on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black, and won 3 Screen Actors Guild Award wins and one nomination. Her parents were immigrants from the Dominican Republic and is a Latina of mixed heritage. She is a graduate of the High School for the Performing Arts (a.k.a. "Fame") in New York City and the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, also in New York City, where she holds a degree in Theater Arts where she was awarded the Cleavon Little scholarship and was a member of the professional acting company. Music Career- Jessica began playing music at a very young age and has traveled around the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan as both a classical violinist and Hardcore/ Heavy Metal musician and has played at various notable venues such as CBGB, Landmark's Mayan Theatre and Carnegie Hall. Jessica is the lead vocalist and recording guitarist for the Brooklyn