Gabrielle Ruiz is currently enjoying her first recurring role on CW's one-of-a-kind television musical "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." Gabrielle portrays the character of Valencia, Josh’s girlfriend and arch nemesis to Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom) with flair, style and originality. If you know the show, lots of exciting unhinged fun ensues as characters intertwine the story with song, which makes it as fun as it is unpredictable.

A theater darling, Gabrielle was inspired to become a professional performer at 12 years of age after seeing her first Broadway show, “A Chorus Line.” The impact the show had on her was immeasurable. One can only imagine the joy she felt when she got the call after college that her her first big break would be as Diana Morales performing in the first national tour of that very same show. That tour changed her career and sent her steadily upwards towards Broadway. Significant roles in Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In The Heights" followed as well as "Evita" with Ricky Martin, and being a part of the closing cast "If/Then” with Idina Menzel.  She also starred opposite Justin Guarini in Bucks County Playhouse's production of “Company,” before appearing in the new Off-Broadway musical “Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story.” It was actually Miranda himself who recommended Gabrielle for the role of Valencia in "Crazy X-Girlfriend!" 

Other television credits include, "Sex, Love and Salsa," "Law and Order SVU," "Sesame Street" and "One Life To Live” and she will appear in an upcoming episode of  “Orange is the New Black.”

In additional to acting, Gabrielle is an advocate for inspiring the next generation of professional performers with motivational speaking and master classes. Gabrielle is of Mexican-American decent and grew up Edinburg, Texas. She currently resides in Los Angeles and New York.

Gabrielle and I had a "speed dating" like meeting where we interviewed each other in this video below. This was our first time to ever meet. It was love at first site ;) Gabrielle is full of incredible energy and her positivity is infectious. Check out the video produced by my good friend Claudine at Caravan who introduced Gabrielle and me. I have gotten to know Gabrielle a lot in this past month and excited for you all to get to know her more too. Check out the video and my Q&A interview below. Thank you Gabrielle for being this week's Muse. xx Stacy

p.s. To my man I didn't mean that one sentence I said in this video "I don't care if we don't end up together"..that came off wrong i love you. Especially because my man and I have been together for a long time ;)))

1. Are you a Subway or Car (via, uber, lyft or other (bus/walk /etc) girl?

Subway girl by day, Uber girl by night.

2. Favorite spot to be creative? 

My living room. My cat, Veronica, is my muse and my dance partner. I also host monthly vision board soirées and my space is perfect for it.

3. Causes you advocate for?

I’m a passionate advocate for educating youth in the arts, especially those who do not have the resources available to them. Where I come from, I didn’t know that expressing yourself through the arts could be a profession. I feel in my heart that its time to help change that.

4. Favorite quote?

"Good luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” -Jo Rowan, Oklahoma City University

5. Tell us about your last moment you shared with someone? 

A couple of years ago, I visited Six Flags New Jersey. I was eager to join the line to ride the slow, floating gondolas when a 12 year old girl pushed passed me. As she cut in front of me, her father behind us yelled, “Gina! Where do you think you’re going?” She slowly turned around, and knowingly said to him, “I gotta live my life.” Ever since then, I share this moment with anyone who listens. You gotta live your life. 

Photography: Spencer Kohn

Creative Director/Stylist: Stacy Igel

Assistant Stylist: Puja Singh

Hair/Makeup/Nails: Caravan Stylist Studio

Hair products: OGX , Makeup products, POP Beauty & PIXI Beauty and Nail products: Color Club Nail  

Location shots: THE GREGORY

Gabrielle is wearing our Alice Logo Crew Neck Tee, a customized Coco Logo Hoodie, and our F*CK BULLIES Tee from our women's loungewear collection.

Get Gabrielle's look! Shop below and use discount code GABRIELLE10 at checkout for 10% off your order!