DeBose was born on January 25, 1991 in North Carolina. Her mother, Gina DeBose, is a middle school teacher. DeBose trained in dance at CC & Co. Dance Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her father is Afro-Puerto Rican and her mother is white. She has also said, "I present as black and I do have African-American lineage, but I’m also part-Italian."
Career
Breakthrough
She made her breakthrough in 2009, when she competed on the TV seriesSo You Think You Can Dance, making it into the Top 20. She later appeared on the soap operaOne Life to Live and played Inez in the North Carolina Theatre's production of Hairspray before booking the role of Nautica in the 2011 Alliance Theatre production of Bring It On. She also appeared in the ensemble of the New York Philharmonic production of Company, which was filmed for television. At the end of 2011, Bring It On embarked on a national tour across the United States. DeBose continued her role into the 2012 Broadway production, and understudied the character Danielle. Her career launched, DeBose played Mary Wilson in Motown on Broadway in 2013, understudying the role of Diana Ross. DeBose left the show soon later to play Eponine in a regional production of Les Misérables before returning to Broadway as a noble and a player in the musical Pippin, understudying the role of the Leading Player, which she ended up taking over for a short period in 2014.
''Hamilton''
DeBose left Pippin to appear as the Bullet in the ensemble of the off-Broadway show Hamilton in early 2015. The show moved to Broadway later that year, and became an overnight sensation. She was nominated for an Astaire Award for her dancing in the show.
''A Bronx Tale'' and ''Summer: The Donna Summer Musical''
DeBose left Hamilton in July 2016, and made a guest appearance on the TV series, Blue Bloods as Sophia Ortiz, and starred as Daphne in the thriller film, Seaside. She returned to Broadway in November 2016 as Jane in A Bronx Tale until August 2017. She also hosted the corresponding Broadway.com vlog Bronx Bullet for eight weeks. DeBose went on to play the role of Disco Donna in in San Diego at La Jolla Playhouse in late 2017. She reprised this role on Broadway, which opened April 2018. She received a 2018 Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. She also frequently performs at 54 Below. DeBose will play Anita in the 2020 film adaptation of West Side Story, and play Alyssa Green in the film adaptation of The Prom.
