Perseverance, a supportive family and $1500 proved to be a winning combination for Reagan Gomez-Preston to break into the entertainment industry. In the summer of 1994, the Philadelphia teen convinced her parents to let her travel to Hollywood and pursue an acting career.

Accompanied by her mother, Gomez-Preston boarded a Greyhound bus for the five-day trip to Los Angeles. Intrigued by the teenager's tenacity, "Dateline" decided to document her odyssey by providing her with a home video camera. Just before he money completely ran out, Gomez-Preston was signed by an agent and manager. Within two months, she landed a role in the Disney television movies "Freaky Friday" and the series "The Parent 'Hood.'" Gomez-Preston's other television credits include A&E's "Lift Off-Cable" and "Cable Teen Summit."

She is the youngest person ever to host "Soul Train," and recently hosted the teen pavilion at the National Council of Negro Women's 10th Anniversary Family Reunion Day in Los Angeles. Gomez-Preston began modeling in Detroit at age 5. The family later moved to Philadelphia, and it was there that she joined a theater troupe and had her first exposure to acting. She was born in Detroit on April 24.

REAGAN GOMEZ-PRESTON—“ R U STILL DOWN?”
Reagan Gomez-Preston stopped taking advice from Daddy Townsend four years ago. What has that gotten her? A role snorting coke with a bipolar DMX.

Who says child stars are destined to be destitute drug addicts with low self esteem. Not Reagan Gomez-Preston. In fact, Robert Townsend’s lil’ daughter—who began turning heads on WB’s The Parent Hood— has grown up and lives a normal, narcotic-free life. She got married, had a recurring role on MTV’s lame answer to daytime soaps Undressed and is set to play Earl “DMX” Simmons’ down ass chick in his drug lord drama Never Die Alone. Come to think of it, her life isn’t all that normal. Word to Gary Coleman.

On the kind of roles she would or would not take…
I think you can bring some integrity to any role. Not that I’ll do whatever, but I also try not to say “never.”

Does that include doing nudity?
I’m not really about that these days, but you never know. Maybe if it was really important to the part, but right now, if you just want someone to just show off their tits and ass, you might as well get someone else.

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