Amber Riley

Amber Patrice Riley is an American actress, singer and author, best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedydrama series Glee . She is also known for winning seasonof Dancing with the Stars.

Riley was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Tiny and Elwin Riley. She has two older sisters, Toyia and Ashley. Riley auditioned for American Idol when she wasyears old, during the shows second season, but was turned down by the producers. She graduated from La Mirada High School in La Mirada, California in 2004.

Source: Wikipedia