Erica Hubbard (born January 2, 1979) is an American actress and model. Hubbard grew up in Chicago. Hubbard is best known for her roles as Kiana Anderson in the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee, Cassandra "Cassie" Sutton on the ABC Family series Lincoln Heights (2007–09) and Kita Whitmore on Let's Stay Together (2011–14) on the BET network. She is also the voice of Abbey for the TV series The Replacements. She created "The Erica Hubbard Foundation" to help youth in at-risk communities.

Career

Hubbard appeared in magazine ads for Noxzema in 1997.

Hubbard started out modeling with Ford. Ford's modeling agency told Hubbard that she needed an agency to assist with television and film.

After graduating college, she landed her first television show entitled Up 'N Running: a teen show that focused on educating kids on a variety of different topics of interest, from education to horseback riding, to playing hockey or learning how to make ice cream[citation needed]. The show aired on WPWR, a UPN affiliate in Chicago. By the time the third season had started airing, she had already won a Regional Emmy award for hosting the show and earned a Service To America Award from the National Association of Broadcasters.

Hubbard has appeared in the films Simon Says, Akeelah and the Bee, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Save the Last Dance, A Cinderella Story, as well as numerous television series including Lincoln Heights, CSI: Miami, and Everybody Hates Chris. She also had a voice role in the video game "The Walking Dead".[citation needed].

Personal

Hubbard was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. She attended Columbia College in Chicago where she majored in Broadcast Journalism and minored in Theater and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in three years.

Hubbard founded her own nonprofit called the 'Erica Hubbard Foundation'. Hubbard was inspired to create it because of her personal experience growing up on the South Side of Chicago, where she was exposed to a lot of violence. The Erica Hubbard Foundation sees Hubbard visiting community centers, high schools, elementary schools, and churches and talking to children. "I encourage them to stay in school and stay off of the streets" says Hubbard. Hubbard continued her pursuit in giving back by making an appearance on pop soul RnB artist DeAna Fai's podcast DeAna Fai presents Kings and Queens of Entertainment Reunion Recap and Giveback; along with other celebrities supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation (United States) and the American Heart Association.

Hubbard was married for thirteen years, she divorced around 2019. Hubbard has three children. Her eldest daughter is Olympic hopeful Kyla Robinson Hubbard. Her youngest daughter was born in 2012.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Light It UpGirl One
2001Save the Last DanceJasmine
2003Banged UpSable
2004A Cinderella StoryMadison
2005The Sisterhood of the Traveling PantsDiana
2006Akeelah and the BeeKiana Anderson
Simon SaysSommer
2009Someone Heard My CryAshleyShort
2011The Ideal HusbandMichelleTelevision film
Nurse JackéeChloeShort
2012Dysfunctional FriendsCatrece
2013School of Hard KnocksTrinaVideo
The Love LetterJasmineTelevision film
Forbidden WomanVanessa Young
2014Black CoffeeMita
Internal Affairs I.A.D.-Television film
2015My Favorite FiveSybil
72 HoursLanae
Fear FilesKelisia WatersTelevision film
2018No More Mr Nice GuyKeisha Smalls
The Other SideGemma
Falling In Love AgainTyra
2019Fall GirlsTyra
Perfectly SingleEdith
Professor MackAyesha Johnson
Just a FriendWanda
2021A New Kind of WomanLatavia
2022Hyde ParkAja Davies
2023The AssistantTiyana

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997ERGirl on ElEpisode: "One More for the Road"
1999Early EditionGroupie GirlEpisode: "Number One with a Bullet"
1999–2001Up'N RunningHerself/host
2000UndressedJennyEpisode: "Code of Sex"
2002PopstarsHerselfEpisode: "Showtime"
UndeclaredGloriaEpisode: "The Day After"
The Zeta ProjectLead BullyVoice, episode: "Lost and Found"
Boston PublicCindy2 episodes
Do OverStudent Body PresidentEpisode: "Joel Strikes Back"
MADtvDouble Dutch Rope Jumper #12 episodes
2003Judging AmyTeresa the HookerEpisode: "Picture of Perfect"
2004Joan of ArcadiaKaren CasperEpisode: "Double Dutch"
2005CSI: MiamiTina SaundersEpisode: "Prey"
Everybody Hates ChrisYvetteEpisode: "Everybody Hates the Babysitter"
2006–07The ReplacementsAbbey WillsonVoice, recurring role
2007–09Lincoln HeightsCassandra 'Cassie' SuttonMain Cast
2010Cold CaseWanda JohnsonEpisode: "Shattered"
2011–14Let's Stay TogetherKita WhitmoreMain Cast
2013Awkward Black GirlLucinda2 episodes
2017Chicago MedDina MorrisEpisode: "Cold Front"
2025The Family Business: New OrleansErnestineSeries regular

Podcast

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021DeAna Fai presents Kings and Queens of Entertainment Reunion Recap & Giveback!SelfEpisode: 13

External links