American professional boxer and actress Kali Reis proudly embraces her Cape Verdean and Native American ethnicity.
Apart from her presence in both the sports and entertainment fields, Reis is also active as a proud advocate for cultural heritage.
She truly embraces her identity and ethnicity as she actively supports the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) movement. Read more to learn about Kali Reis, her ethnicity, and her family.
Kali Reis started boxing pretty early, at the age of 14. She had an impressive start with her amateur career before going professional.
Reis is notably known as a former two-weight world champion, holding the WBC female middleweight title in 2016 and the WBA, WBO, and IBO female light welterweight titles from 2020 to 2022.
In terms of her acting career, Reis made her debut in 2021, starring in “Catch the Fair One,” earning her a nomination for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Later, expanding her acting career, she was recently cast in 2024 as a co-lead on “True Detective: Night Country.”
Beyond the ring, Reis advocates for the MMIWG movement, inspiring her collaboration with filmmaker Josef Kubota Wladyka for “Catch the Fair One.”
Kali Reis demonstrates remarkable versatility, making an impact in both sports and entertainment through her achievements in boxing and acting.
Kali Reis Ethnicity: Where Is She From?
Reis, born on August 24, 1986, is from Providence, Rhode Island. She is the youngest among five siblings, raised in East Providence by their mother.
Klai Reis proudly claims her ethnicity as she comes from Cape Verdean ancestry and identifies as Cherokee and Nipmuc.
Reis embraces her Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe identity, which is an unrecognized tribe in Massachusetts with pride.
Moreover, Kali said that in her childhood, she actively engaged in powwows, reflecting her commitment to cultural traditions.
Even her boxing persona, “K.O. Mequinonoag,” comes from the name Mequinonoag given by her mother, which means “many feathers” or “many talents.”
Moreover, Reis is also a passionate supporter and advocate for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) movement.
Later, filmmaker Josef Kubota Wladyka was captivated by Reis’s advocacy, leading him to propose a collaborative project that ultimately became the film Catch the Fair One.
Kali Reis Family: Parents And Siblings
Reis was born to parents Patricia Rain Gentle and Edward Reis in 1986. Kali seems to maintain a close relationship with her mother, as her father was absent after her parents split.
She gives all the credit to her mother, Patricia, who she refers to as the most influential person in her life.
After the divorce of her parents, Patricia raised Kali and her siblings as a single mother. She taught all her children to embrace their Seaconke Wampanoag cultural heritage proudly.
Moreover, Patricia serves as the medicine woman for their tribe, providing integral spiritual guidance.
In addition, Reis grew up with four siblings: three brothers and a sister. Growing up, Kali claims that she tried to keep up with her two older brothers’ activities, leading to her “tomboyish” and athletic nature.
Unfortunately, Reis lost one of her brothers, Drew, at the early age of 33. Later, she honored him by dedicating a fight to him, referring to him as her “real-life superhero.”
Moreover, Kali maintains a tight relationship with her mother and other siblings present in her life.
