Kali Reis is a prominent American boxer and actress who proudly embraces her Cape Verdean and Native American heritage. Aside from her career in sports and entertainment, Reis is a dedicated advocate for cultural preservation, especially for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) campaign. She has wholeheartedly embraced her identity and actively supports the cultural cause. Let’s delve into Kali Reis’ family and ethnic roots.
Reis began her boxing journey at the age of fourteen and subsequently achieved success in her amateur career before turning professional. She made a mark in the boxing world as a former two-weight world champion, holding titles such as the WBC female middleweight championship in 2016 and the WBA, WBO, and IBO female light welterweight crowns from 2020 to 2022. In 2021, she ventured into acting, earning a nomination for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards for her role in “Catch the Fair One.” Her acting career further flourished when she was cast as a co-lead in “True Detective: Night Country” in 2024.
Aside from her accomplishments in sports and entertainment, Reis is an advocate for the MMIWG movement, which influenced her collaboration with director Josef Kubota Wladyka in the film “Catch the Fair One.” Demonstrating versatility, Kali Reis has left an indelible mark in both the sports and entertainment arenas through her boxing and acting careers.
Exploring Kali Reis’ Ethnic Background
Kali Reis was born on August 24, 1986, in Providence, Rhode Island, as the youngest of five siblings raised by their mother in East Providence. She takes immense pride in her roots, identifying with Cape Verdean, Cherokee, and Nipmuc heritages. She is also a proud member of the unrecognized Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts. Growing up, she actively participated in powwows, demonstrating her commitment to cultural traditions.
Her boxing moniker, “K.O. Mequinonoag,” is a homage to her mother Mequinonoag, which translates to “many feathers” or “many talents.” Additionally, Reis actively champions the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) campaign, which, in turn, inspired director Josef Kubota Wladyka to propose a collaborative effort that resulted in the film “Catch the Fair One.”
Kali Reis’ Family: Parents and Siblings
Patricia Rain Gentle and Edward Reis welcomed their daughter Kali into the world in 1986. Despite her parents’ separation, Kali shares a strong bond with her mother, Patricia. She attributes her mother as the most influential figure in her life, as Patricia single-handedly raised Kali and her siblings after their parents parted ways. Patricia instilled a deep sense of pride in their Seaconke Wampanoag heritage and also serves as the tribe’s medicine woman, offering valuable spiritual guidance.
Additionally, Reis has four siblings – three brothers and a sister. Growing up, she found herself struggling to keep up with her two older brothers, which somewhat shaped her “tomboyish” and athletic persona. Sadly, she experienced the loss of one of her brothers, Drew, at the young age of 33. In his honor, she dedicated a fight to him, referring to him as her “real-life superhero.” Kali maintains a close-knit relationship with her mother and her other siblings.
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