Rika Givens

Rika was born in Salina, Kansas. Her parents met in Japan where her father was stationed as a military police officer in the Air Force. Both families were opposed to the union as Japan and the United States were enemies in recent history; and for a Japanese girl, it was scandalous to marry an American GI, let alone an African American. Nevertheless, a few years later, Rika was born, warming the hearts of both families as only a baby can. Rika's family moved frequently, as military families typically do, but eventually settled in her father's home town in Kansas when he retired from the military. Rika and her sisters experienced a small town celebrity status as her mother, being Japanese, was considered "exotic," and her father was popular in local politics. She attended primary schools and community college participating in athletics and social activities. When she was 19, she moved to Texas where she did small, on camera jobs until she got a gig as a stand-in for an episodic television show. She knew then that this was what she wanted to do. Rika loved the constant movement, excitement, troubleshooting and camaraderie she felt working with the crew who quickly became like family.