Ali was born in Brooklyn, New York, daughter of Sonia, a nurse, and Sheriff Ali, a police detective. Her mother is a Panamanian and her father is of East Indian descent from Trinidad and Tobago. She has two younger sisters, Anastasia and Kimberly. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.

She attended Grand Avenue Middle School in Bellmore, New York Marymount High School in West Los Angeles, Read more...

By the age of seven, Ali had begun her singing career. She also appeared with Herbie Hancock on an episode of Sesame Street. By age five, she won Star Search two times. She made her breakthrough when she was cast as Ashley Banks for the popular television sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She sang on various episodes of the show. On one of the shows Ali sings Aretha Franklin's "Respect" and the original Read more...

Ali once dated American actor Jonathan Brandis, with whom she co-starred in the TV movie Fall into Darkness.

Ali is traveling the United States as a spokesperson for Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential Campaign. Ali is heading voter registration drives at college campuses, including many historically black colleges and universities.