Born Francia Raisa Almendárez, on Jul 26, 1988, in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Reportedly 5' 3".

If you’re old enough to drink, don’t have kids, and aren’t aware of the third (yes, third) straight-to-DVD sequel to Bring It On, then there’s probably no legitimate reason for you to know who Francia Raisa is.

Those of you who do know who she is probably know her best as the hedonistic “Adrian Lee” of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, reportedly one of cable’s most watched scripted shows ever.

Which seems hard to believe, given that the show sometimes plays like a giant prime-time promise ring, with life-coaching tips delivered like stone tablets from the mountaintop.

That is, until we realize that the show’s appeal lies not in its abstinence agitprop or its contrived melodramas — it’s in the cleavagey Francia Raisa character, the Tyler Durden/Kathryn Merteuil of the show.

“All the ways you wish you could be, that’s me,” declares Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) in Fight Club. “I look like you want to look, I fuck like you want to fuck, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.”

Francia Raisa’s smart, capable, and unapologetically hedonistic Adrian is the secret envy of one and all in the show — even the purity-ring-wearing “Grace” (Megan Park). She’s the only character whose life is not weighed down by the wages of whoopee, who’s free to boink who she likes with impunity.

And also like Durden, Adrian is frequently in a state of undress for our viewing pleasure.

And that — for the Secret Life-watching generation, at least — can potentially elevate Francia from minor sex symbol and celebrity offspring (she’s the daughter of “El Cucuy”, the number one disc jockey in Los Angeles) to a symbol of philosophical hedonism in general, a new Gia-era Angelina Jolie to dislodge current pretender to the throne Megan Fox.

Not that I would know if it happened. Not my generation, after all.

In the meantime, we’ll just have to content ourselves with Francia having the best body and the sluttiest clothes on the show.

I’m good either way.

Also sprach Golem.
(More recent commentary below)

A Francia Raisa-shaped raison d’être for Justin Bieber
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Ah, Justin Bieber. Say what one will about tween America’s much maligned heart-throb du jour, but if the premiere of his concert film Never Say Never is reason enough to get Francia Raisa out on the red carpet in a boob suit, then internet pranksters should probably not be so anxious to send the kid off to North Korea, even for the lulz.... Read more

Francia Raisa goes a little south of the border
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
It’s not often that my eyes ever stray from the bustline when perusing new bikini photos of anyone, but I couldn’t help noticing that Francia Raisa Almendárez seems not only to be wearing her bikini bottom well below the shaving line, but has chosen to repurpose the region for some sort of Asia Argento-like crotch mural as well.... Read more

Who cares about that ubiquitous scam site calling itself “The Facebook of Sex” when Renee Olstead and Francia Raisa’s racks are on actual Facebook?
Sunday, June 6, 2010
There are many sites out there calling themselves the Facebook of such-and-such: the Facebook of sex, the Facebook of cash, the Facebook dieting, etc. But so far, only the real Facebook can claim to have Francia Raisa and Renee Olstead’s bikini boobs posted for the world’s enjoyment.... Read more

Film

• Bulletface (2010) .... Maria
• Fired Up! (2009) .... Marly
• ASD. Alma sin dueño (2008; aka “Underground”)

• The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream (2008) .... Alejandra ‘Alex’ Delgado
• Shredderman Rules (2007) .... Isabel

• In Plain Sight: “Jailbait” (Jul 12, 2009) .... Olivia Moreno/Olivia Morales
• The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-2010) .... Adrian Lee
• Over There: “The Prisoner” (Aug 10, 2005) .... Sawa

• Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006) .... Leti

Miscellaneous

• Francia Raisa Almendárez Filmography
  Internet Movie Database
  Always up-to-date filmography
• Francia Raisa Almendárez
  Wikipedia
  Francia Raisa Almendárez in wikireality