Jessica Pimentel Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics

Jessica Pimentel is an American actress, musician, singer, model, writer, and dancer. She is best known for her role as Maria Ruiz in the Netflix TV series Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019). She had a recurring role between the 1st and 4th season and was a series regular between the 5th and 7th season of the series.

Born Name

Jessica Pimentel

Nick Name

The Crusher, La Bruja Encabronada

Sun Sign

Virgo

Born Place

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States

Residence

• Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
• Sweden

Nationality

Education

Jessica attended The High School of Performing Arts in New York City, New York, United States, and studied music performance, composition, and theory. She graduated in 1995. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, New York, United States with a degree in Theater in 1999.

Occupation

Actress, Singer, Musician, Model, Dancer, Writer

Family

• Father – Ervido Pimentel (Former Water Polo Player, Former Competitive ) (He passed away in 2006)
• Mother – Loida Perez (Psychologist)
• Siblings – None

Manager

Jessica Pimentel is represented by –

• Smith Talent Group (Talent Agent) in New York City, New York, United States
• Stewart Talent (Talent Agent Theatrical, Commercial) in New York City, New York, United States
• Cunningham Escott Slevin & Doherty (CESD) (Talent Agent Commercial) in Los Angeles, California, United States
• TMT Entertainment Group (Manager) in New York City, New York, United States

Genre

Heavy Metal, Hardcore Punk, Death Metal

Instruments

Vocals, Guitar, Violin, Bass, Percussion, Keyboards

Build

Voluptuous

Height

5 ft 5 in or 165 cm

Weight

56 kg or 123.5 lbs

Boyfriend / Spouse

Jessica Pimentel has dated –

1. Tomas Haake (2013-Present)

Race / Ethnicity

Mixed (Latino and White)

She is of Native American, Malian, Irish, Iberian, and Italian descent.

Hair Color

Black

Eye Color

Dark Brown

Sexual Orientation

Straight

Distinctive Features

• Voluptuous physique
• Fuller lower lip

Brand Endorsements

Jessica Pimentel has endorsed brands such as –

• Spector basses
• Halo guitars
• Krank Amps

She also partook in The INN event for Cantor Fitzgerald’s annual 9/11 Charity Day. In 2018, she raised $15k.

Religion

Tibetan Buddhism

Jessica Pimentel Facts

1. Her parents immigrated from La Romana, the Dominican Republic to New York. Her mom moved at the age of 13, and her dad moved at the age of 18 or 19.
2. She started playing music at the age of 2.
3. Jessica started playing the violin at the age of 3. One of her mom’s coworkers wanted to throw the instrument out while cleaning the office, but her mom stopped her and said: “No, my daughter could play that!”
4. Jessica’s relationship with her father became alienated after her parents divorced when she was 6 years old.
5. She was raised by her mom and her grandmother.
6. Jessica was introduced to meditation as a child by her mom.
7. She was forced to stop playing the violin after she developed an unbearable pain she described as “numbness while playing”.
8. Jessica was raised Christian but started studying Tibetan Buddhist logic, philosophy, debate, and meditation in the Gelugpa Tradition in 1994. She studied under a root guru named H.E. Sermey Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin.
9. Listening to metal music helped her cope with . Singer and musician Peter Steele introduced her to his band Carnivore and the doom metal genre in 1994.
10. She played wife to actor Manny Perez’s character in 2 movies, Illegal Tender (2007) and Pride and Glory (2008).
11. Jessica became a frontman and vocalist for the death metal band Alekhine’s Gun in 2010.
12. She was a bassist for the hardcore/heavy metal band Desolate between 2010 and 2014.
13. Jessica sang for the Tijuana/Los Angeles based extreme metal band Brujeria under the stage name La Bruja Encabronada.
14. She landed the role of Maria Ruiz in Orange Is the New Black out of genuine frustration. When her talent agent described the character, she replied: “Perfect! So she’s a 30-year-old, pregnant Latina and in jail. Is her boyfriend a drug dealer?” She got the call back just a day after she auditioned.
15. Jessica has a passion for martial arts and .
16. She enjoys subjects such as mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, physics, and cosmology. She also took classes/lectures from a theoretical physicist Michio Kaku and astrophysicist, planetary scientist, and cosmologist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

Featured Image by Jessica Pimentel / Instagram