Janel Parrish, born on October 30, 1988, in Kāneʻohe, Honolulu, Hawaii, is an American actress and singer known for her versatile talents and captivating performances. Raised in a multicultural household, her mother Joanne is of Han Chinese descent, and her father Mark Parrish, is of German, American, and English descent. She has one older sister, Melissa Nohelani, who has served as an officer in the U.S. Army.

Her passion for the performing arts ignited at a young age, with early lessons in piano and dance. She made her stage debut as Young Cosette in the Broadway production of "Les Misérables" in 1996, showcasing her vocal and acting abilities. This role marked the beginning of her promising career.

In 2007, she landed her breakthrough role as Jade in the teen comedy film "Bratz". However, she is best known for her portrayal of Mona Vanderwaal in the mystery-drama television series "Pretty Little Liars" (2010–2017) and its spinoff "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists" (2019).

Her performance as Mona earned her four Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Villain, making her the all-time winner in this category. She also starred as Margot Covey in the popular "To All the Boys" film series (2018–2021).

In addition to her acting career, Janel Parrish has pursued her passion for music. She released her first single, "Rainy Day," in 2007 and has since been involved in various musical projects. She also participated in the 19th season of "Dancing with the Stars," finishing in third place.

Her television credits include guest appearances on shows like "Baywatch," "The Bernie Mac Show," "Zoey 101," and "The O.C.". More recently, she has appeared in TV movies such as "Christmas Is Canceled" (2021) and "Right in Front of Me" (2021).

In her personal life, Janel Parrish married chemical engineer Chris Long on September 8, 2018, in a picturesque ceremony in her home state of Hawaii.