Biografia
Born to an activist, jazz singing, mother and the first and only African American Art Professor / Chairman at San Francisco City College, she was raised in the historic town of Berkeley, CA, it didn't take long for Onika Day to develop a passion to entertain. After winning several poetry competitions, performing in local talent shows and dancing in street competitions with the "Pop Locking" group The Lady UFO's, she was accepted to the Berkeley Arts Magnet School and secured a scholarship with the Bay Area Youth Theatre, where she studied Acting, Dance (Afro-Haitian, Jazz,Tap) and Voice, starring in several of their seasonal productions.
Once Onika attended Berkeley High School, known for it's cultural diversity and radical student body, she balanced her love for acting alongside a passion for sports where she earned several local titles with the Women's Water Polo and Basketball and Swim teams. She also was part of the street dance troupe "The Lady UFO's" which included members of Digital Underground.
Onika's big brother, Sway Calloway, from "MTV", "Shady45" and the "Wake Up Show", noticed her talents. He convinced her to record drops and create different on air character during his radio days at KMEL, Power 106 and HOT 97.
While working as a front desk attendant at a popular Oakland Health Club, Onika was offered a job with the Golden State Warriors and was on the road to securing a career in the NBA front offices, but after a few years in the field, she realized she couldn't shake "the acting bug" and moved to Los Angeles to make her dream a reality.
Working various jobs, which included being a personal chef for NBA players Nick Van Exel and Sam Cassell. She appeared in several music videos which included being handpicked by Photographer David LaChapelle for Amy Whinehouse's Tears Dry On Their Own and by Tupac Shakur for his last recorded music video "2 Live and Die in LA" as one of the three starring ladies next to Tupac in the infamous Yellow Lowrider.
Onika sharpened her Acting Chops living in New York and immersing herself among the Best in the Television / Film and Theater Community, having appeared various Stage productions, most notably at The Public Theater and as an active member of the Labyrinth Theater Company.
She Produced, Co-Directed and starred in her first project, "Monika's Day" that she wrote (alongside Boondock's co-writer Jason Van Veen), produced and is starring in alongside Sway Calloway and Cle "Bone" Sloan She has recently Directed and Co-Wrote the Psychological Thriller Short Film "Expiration Date" Starring Jaime Zevallos and Megan Quinn which is touring the festival circuit.
Onika Day now divides her time between New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles and is developing a night time Dramedy for television.
