LisaRaye McCoy-Misick

LisaRaye McCoy, also known simply as LisaRaye, is an American actress and model born on September 23, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois. She is best known for her portrayal of Diana "Diamond" Armstrong in the 1998 feature film The Players Club, her main role as Neesee James on the sitcom All of Us from 2003 to 2007, and her performance as Keisha Greene in the romantic comedy series Single Ladies from 2011 to 2015. From 2006 to 2010, she was married to Michael Misick, the first Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, during which time she served as First Lady of the Turks and Caicos.

McCoy grew up on the south side of Chicago as the daughter of businessman David Ray McCoy and former professional model Katie McCoy. Her paternal half-sisters include Jelahn McCoy, Cynthia McCoy Scott, and the rapper Da Brat. She attended St. James College Prep school, Kenwood Academy, and Thornridge High School, graduating in 1986. After high school, she attended Eastern Illinois University before deciding to pursue an acting career.

McCoy began her entertainment career modeling for fashion, performing in shows hosted at churches and high schools in Chicago. She made her feature film acting debut as the lead in the independent film Reasons, directed by Monty Ross. She achieved wider recognition starring as Diamond in The Players Club, directed and written by Ice Cube. Her early film credits also include roles in The Wood, Rhapsody, All About You, and Go for Broke.

In 2003, McCoy was cast as Neesee James in the UPN/The CW sitcom All of Us, playing the ex-wife of Duane Martin's character until the series concluded in 2007. In addition to her television and film work, McCoy appeared in numerous music videos for artists such as Tupac Shakur, Lil' Kim, Ginuwine, Ludacris, Jamie Foxx, Link, and Ghostface Killah. She also recorded the single "Would You?" alongside rapper Benzino.

McCoy expanded into fashion and business in 2005 with the launch of her lingerie line, Luxe & Romance, at New York's Fashion Week, as well as her women's jeans line, Xraye. In 2011, she released "The LisaRaye Collection" in partnership with PZI Jeans, along with her hair care line, "LisaRaye Glamour." That same year, she served as the Ambassador and Grand Marshal for the 70th Magic City Classic parade and football game in Birmingham, Alabama.

In her personal life, McCoy has a daughter, Kai Morae Pace, born in 1989 with Kenji Pace. Prior to her modeling career, she was married to Archie Amerson, and she was later married to football player Tony Martin from 1992 to 1994. In April 2006, she married Michael Misick in a ceremony before 300 guests, followed by a three-week honeymoon to Jerusalem, Bali, and Dubai; the couple later divorced. McCoy is a convert to Christianity. In September 2019, she was crowned a purported "queen mother" title during a ceremony at a Los Angeles nightclub, and she later visited Kwanyako, Ghana, in July 2021, promising to support a local women's vocational centre.