Tia Texada is an American actress and model, born on December 14, 1971, in Louisiana, USA. She is best known for her role as Sgt. Maritza Cruz on the NBC series "Third Watch" and her recurring role as undercover agent Ribera on the CBS series "The Unit".

She has also appeared in movies such as "From Dusk till Dawn" (1996), "Paulie" (1998), "Nurse Betty" (2000), "Bait" (2000), "Glitter" (2001), "Phone Booth" (2003), and "Spartan" (2004).

In addition to her acting career, Tia Texada has a successful singing career, with her songs featured on shows like "Dawson's Creek". She also performed at the Lilith Fair tour in 1998.

She has lent her voice to animated series such as "The Wild Thornberrys" and "Static Shock," as well as television commercials. She was the voice of Maybelline New York for 15 years, appearing prominently in the brand's "Maybe she's born with it... maybe it's Maybelline" campaign.

Tia Texada has also worked as a live announcer, being the first female live announcer for the ESPY Awards, where she worked alongside celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx, LeBron James, and Samuel L. Jackson.

She was the voice for launching Super Bowl 50 for "The NFL Today" on CBS and has narrated for various events and shows, including the Golden Globe Awards, the Heisman Awards, and the World Series of Poker.

She has been featured in men's magazines like FHM and Maxim and continues to be active in the entertainment industry.