Erica Mena is ready to trade reality TV drama for aliens, screams and a whole lot of chaos. The Dominican-Puerto Rican star, best known for her fiery run on VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York, is stepping back into Hollywood with a new sci-fi horror film titled Run. And in true Mena fashion, she isn't holding back.
Erica Mena greets us from an unexpected spot in her house: her bathroom. The pink walls, the chic lamp, the oversized mirror, all glowing in the afternoon light, instantly steal the show. "Can you believe this is the brightest room in my home?" she tells The Latin Times and ENSTARZ. "I had to do it here. We need light to get ready."
That brightness is fitting for a woman who has built her career on boldness. This Latina star who rose to fame on VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York, is stepping into a new role that could redefine her future. Her latest film, Run, opens in theaters August 29, blending the thrills of a girls' trip with the terror of an alien invasion.
"It starts off like you're about to go on this fun vacation with your best friends, and then suddenly it turns into a nightmare," Mena said. "This movie is for us, for Latinas, for Black people, for minorities. It's about our people fighting back. And it takes audiences on a rollercoaster."
Run also reunites Mena with Chris Stokes and Marcus Houston, the filmmaker-producer duo who first gave her a shot at acting in The Stepmother saga. "To be back with the people who believed in me from the beginning is such a blessing," she said. "I'm still in a 'pinch me' moment."
Her earlier work with Stokes included that chilling role as a stepmother who revealed herself to be a serial killer, a part that tapped into Mena's natural edge. "I'm a Scorpio, so horror and Halloween have always been my vibe," she admitted. "Screaming without guilt feels good, it's therapy for me."
Born in the Bronx to a Dominican mother and Puerto Rican father, Mena grew up straddling two cultures before breaking into the entertainment industry as a model and video vixen. She became a household name in the 2010s through Love & Hip Hop, where her outspoken personality and dramatic storylines made her one of the franchise's most talked-about stars.
Now, she sees acting as a way to expand her voice beyond reality TV. "This isn't just entertainment. It's representation," Mena said. "I want people to see that we belong everywhere, even in sci-fi horror."
A Full House
At 37, Mena balances her career with raising three children: an 18-year-old son now in college, plus a five-year-old and a two-year-old at home. "My kids keep me flaca, grounded and always on the go," she said. "They push me to reach my highest potential. Motherhood isn't easy, but it's the most grounding experience of my life."
She admits parenting can feel like a mix of genres. "Some days it's a horror show, some days it's a reality show, and some days it's a love story," she joked.
For Mena, Run is proof that her evolution is real. "I want everyone, moms, sisters, friends to go see it. It's definitely going to keep you on the edge of your seat."
As she signed off from her perfectly lit bathroom, Mena smiled at the thought of this new chapter. "It's still surreal to me. But this is just the beginning."
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
