- Born
- Height1.80 m
- Erika Barker was born on July 11, 1982, in Ocala, Florida, USA. She is an actor, producer, and photographer. Outside of acting, she is known for her photojournalism work as a combat photographer in the U.S. Navy and her fashion and beauty photography work. She served five years in the U.S. Navy and decided to leave and focus on her transition since the military did not support transgender service members then. She moved to Orlando, Florida, and enrolled at Full Sail University, earning her Masters in Entertainment and Business. Shortly after graduation, she was hired as a professor in the University's New Media Journalism program, where she lectured until she moved to New York City in 2014.
Due to Erika's military and MMA experience, she has appeared in several popular television shows such as FBI Most Wanted, Law and Order SVU, and The Best Man, The Final Chapters. Erika also worked with Whoopi Goldberg, Spiegel Catalog, and Slay Model Management for the season finale of Strut, a reality show about transgender models trying to break into the fashion industry. She was featured as the prominent New York City photographer photographing the cover model for Spiegel Catalog's final issue.- IMDb mini biography by: Erika Barker
- After her honorable discharge, she returned to school at Full Sail University and earned her Masters in Entertainment and Business. Shortly after graduation, she was hired by the university as a professor for their New Media Journalism master's degree program. She taught there until she decided to move to New York City in 2014.
- Erika Barker served in the U.S. Navy as a Combat Photographer from 2004-2009. Her official job title was Mass Communications Specialist, and she excelled at video journalism. She found her voice for narrating by doing Daily News Updates (DNUs) for the Armed Forces Network (AFN).
- Outside of Erika's military experience, she trained in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Renzo Gracie's flagship academy in New York City. Some of her peers she attended class and rolled with included Gordan Ryan and Anthony Bourdain. She earned her Blue Belt under UFC Fighter Rafael Sapo Natal.
- Erika has advocated for transgender rights for military service members. She was featured in the Wall Street Journal and on a popular European Broadcast, Quotidien, with Hugo Clement, where she shared her story about transitioning and her struggles while serving in the Navy.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content