The daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Mendez was born on March 13, 1981 and raised in New York City. As the granddaughter of merengue artist Joseíto Mateo, Mendez has had exposure with the entertainment business from an early age.
She is an alum of both Manhattan"s Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities and Morris Brown College in Atlanta. When her career was starting to launch off, Mendez soon discovered she was pregnant and later put her career aspirations on hold. Dedicating herself to her son"s development and welfare, she placed her aspirations on hold for several years, however, in 2006 she resumed her career.
In 2011, she gave birth to a daughter, Kailey
Mendez has appeared in past issues of Glamour, Latina, Cosmopolitan Shape, The Source and many others
In June 2009 she became one of Essence"s “Make Over Magic” virtual models which was featured on the magazine"s website. She has also become one of the first full-size Latina models to have served as a featured model for such clothing line brands as Baby Phat, Apple Bottoms, Ashley Stewart, Rocawear, PZI Jeans, and Dereon.
In 2009, FoxNews.com, the internet subsidiary of Fox News named Mendez one of the most notable top plus-size models in the industry, while The Source declared her as one of the most influential Latinas in the fall of 2009. Continuing to break down barriers, Christina has participated in 2 high-profile fashion events (Fall/Winter 2013 and Spring/Summer 2014) during New York Fashion Week, where sadly, “Real Size Models” are not as prominent on the runway with avant-garde designers and/or high-end priced garments which include the “curvy” customer.
Mendez was one of four models featured in Black Entertainment Television’s one-hour television special “Rip the Runway Model Search 2008”.
This behind the scenes, model search show followed Mendez through auditions, makeovers and a day in the life. Mendez opened the "plus size" segment of the 2008 special and later walked every year after. She has served on the national board for Hispanic Support Organizations.
Her work for the group includes organizing a scholarship gala for New York area students, working with Habitat for Humanity and the Dress for Success Campaign.
The Vote. Christina has lent her support and voice to a charity which hits close to homeAutism Speaks. Christina helps spread the word of Autism Awareness (especially to the Latino and African American communities where diagnosis are sometimes ignored) as an advocate and spokesperson for the New York chapter for over 10 years now.
She was also a member of political advocacy group Women Barack!.
