As a producer, Tess has created short films with Color TV Productions, including multiple award-winning entries for the 72 Hour Film Shootout sponsored by the Asian American Film Lab. She also produced the Halo Halo Cabaret, a benefit to aid to victims of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines.

In addition to being an actress, Tess is currently the Director of Public Relations for Three Custom Color Specialists, in indie-beauty brand based in New York City (www.threecustom.com).

She currently lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Hobbies/Interests: Bikram Yoga, Zumba, Cooking (dreams of owning a restaurant one day!), Bargain-hunting, Karaoke, and Dancing (Jazz and Hip Hop)

She loves travelling: As a teen, she was selected to participate in the People to People Student Ambassador Program and traveled through Australia and New Zealand. In college, Tess spent a summer studying abroad through NYU in London and Amsterdam. As a singer/dancer on Disney Cruise Line, she spent time sailing through the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Tess graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Media, Culture, and Communication and a minor in Journalism. She was on the Dean’s List throughout college and inducted into Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Studies Honor Society. She held numerous internships in the field of Advertising, Corporate Communications, and Public Relations.

While at NYU, she performed with the award-winning a cappella group, APC Rhythm and won an award for Best Background vocals at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.

She grew up in Oak Park, California, a suburb 35 miles north of Los Angeles. While attending Oak Park High School, she served as a camp counselor for the California Association of Student Councils and also participated in the YMCA Youth in Government Program. She was also a founding member of the drama club at Oak Park High School and participated in multiple musical and theater productions. She was also Captain of the OPHS Dance Team.

Tess is a 1st generation American, of Filipino descent. Her parents, Dr. Raymundo Paras and Dr. Julieta Paras are from Dagupan and Quezon City, Philippines, respectively. She has one older sister, Rachel Paras, and one older brother, Julius Paras.

Commercial Reel.