Janel Parrish Parents: Joanne & Mark Parrish – Family & Ethnicity

Janel Parrish is an American singer and actress who is known for her roles in popular TV shows and movies. Her parents are Joanne and Mark Parrish. Janel gained fame for her portrayal of Mona Vanderwaal in the mystery-drama series “Pretty Little Liars” from 2010 to 2017, as well as its spinoff “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists” in 2019.

She also played Margot Covey in the film series “To All the Boys” from 2018 to 2021. In addition to her screen work, Janel appeared as Young Cosette in the Broadway production of “Les Misérables” in 1996 and acted as Jade in the teenage comedy movie “Bratz” in 2007.

Janel has been an advocate against bullying and participated in an anti-bullying public service announcement as part of Disney and ABC’s #ChooseKindness campaign during National Bullying Prevention Month in October 2018.

Janel Parrish Parents: Joanne & Mark Parrish

Janel Parrish parents have diverse ancestral backgrounds. Her mother, Joanne, has Han Chinese ancestry, while her father, Mark Parrish, has roots in Germany, Ireland, and England.

Janel was born in Kane’ohe, Honolulu, Hawaii, and grew up in both Honolulu and California during her teenage years.

When she was nine years old, Janel attended a performance of The Phantom of the Opera, which ignited her passion for performing. She began playing the piano and started studying acting, singing, tap dancing, and jazz dance within a year.

Janel gained recognition in her local community on Oahu by participating in various talent competitions as a musician and actress.

At the age of 14, she appeared in the 2003 remake of Star Search, where she impressed the audience with her performance of “On My Own” from Les Misérables.

Initially, Janel attended Moanalua Elementary School and spent her freshman year at Moanalua High School.

However, when she was 14, her family relocated to Burbank, Los Angeles, to support her career aspirations in the entertainment industry. As a result, she was homeschooled to accommodate her busy work schedule.

Janel Parrish Family

She has an older sister named Melissa Nohelani, who served in the U.S. Army. Both of her parents were bodybuilders, and her mother worked at a health club in Honolulu.

In September 2016, Parrish entered a relationship with a chemical engineer Chris Long.

They got engaged on October 23, 2017, and eventually tied the knot on September 8, 2018, at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Long’s father was killed in a drunken driving accident just two weeks prior to the wedding.

Despite the heartbreaking circumstances, Parrish described their wedding day as incredibly special.

During their vows, as Chris spoke about his late father, it started raining heavily, creating a poignant moment that moved everyone in attendance.

Janel shared this emotional experience with ET in 2019, noting that not a single person remained dry-eyed because of the overwhelming beauty of the moment.

Janel Parrish Ethnicity

Janel Parrish is of mixed ethnicity, as her parents come from Han Chinese ancestry and German, Irish, and English ethnic backgrounds.

When Parrish was eight years old, she succeeded by winning a singing competition encompassing the entire state of Hawaii.

As a teenager, she began showcasing her songwriting abilities and eventually became the lead singer of a girl group called Impulse.

In 2007, Janel signed a record deal with Geffen Records as a solo artist, marking the start of her journey to create her debut album.

On July 7, 2007, she released her first single, “Rainy Day,” which she wrote herself. The accompanying music video was also unveiled.

The song was featured on the soundtrack for the film Bratz. Additionally, Parrish appeared in the music videos for Prima J’s “Rockstar” and NLT’s “She Said, I Said,” which were included on the Bratz soundtrack.

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