Tanika Ray
Weekend Co-Host/Correspondent
Tanika Ray serves as the co-host of "Extra's" weekend edition. Prior to being named the host of the weekend edition, Ray spent two years as "Extra's" New York-based correspondent where she was one of Gotham's favorite entertainment reporters. Tanika's popularity followed her to the red carpets and star-studded events here in Los Angeles where she remains a celebrity favorite. Ray will appear this fall in The CW's upcoming primetime trend show, "CW Now," which will be the ultimate source for everything hot, hip and happening in the world of young adults.
Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Los Angeles, Tanika knew at an early age she would thrive in the entertainment industry. She began her career as a dancer performing with top music stars like Will Smith and Brandy and landing roles on such TV shows as "NYPD Blue," "Lois and Clark," "Living Single" and the "Wayans Bros." She also appeared as herself in an episode of "All My Children."
Most recently Barbara Walters invited Tanika to fill the famous "fourth chair" twice as a guest host on "The View." She is often requested to be an expert panelist on shows such as CNN's "Larry King Live" and MSNBC's "Live and Direct with Rita Crosby." In 2005, Tanika was a guest host for "America's Next Top Model's" popular post show webcast chat fest and as a judge, she presided over "The Tyra Banks Show" Male Underwear Model Search.
Earlier in her career, Tanika hosted Lifetime's makeover show "Head 2 Toe" for three seasons and was the co-host of the talk magazine show, "Lifetime Now," where she dished about trends in entertainment, fashion, beauty, and travel. Tanika also hosted "Soap News Update" and "Soap Center" both for the SOAPnet cable channel.
Tanika is committed to working a number of charitable endeavors into her busy schedule. In the past year she hosted Petra Nemcova's "Light of Hope" Tsunami benefit and presided over the Village Care of New York's Tulips and Pansies Headdress Affair, which raises money for New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. Additionally, Tanika is involved with BRAG (Black Retail Action Group) and hosts their Annual Gala. Tanika is dedicated to inspiring young women to live their dreams and follow their passions.
Tanika earned a Bachelor of Art degree in theater arts from Spelman College in Atlanta and studied theater at New York University.
