Born in (1990) Sicily, Ruby Messina was raised in an of multiple ethnic, cultural, and blended backgrounds. Ruby's father is Italian and her mother is from the Caribbean coast of Barranquilla, Colombia. Ruby was almost four years old when she moved to the United States with her family to be raised in the Southern California diverse communities. Although Ruby considers herself Mediterranean-Caribbean, she comes from a Spanish, French, Asante decent. These are factors in Ruby's life that have driven her to learn about Culture & Diversity of Dance. At the age of three, Ruby was exposed to classical music. She began learning to sing in Opera as well as Italian musical style  under the influence of grandmother and easily integrated her appreciation for song with Disney classic musicals. She also learned to play musical instruments such as the piano, triangle, tambourine, castanets, maracas, and later in her adult life, she learned to play the African drum (Jinbei). Her mother inspired Ruby to become confident and comfortable with her self and became too comfortable behind the camera. Even before turning one, Ruby was constantly favored for photography; she became everyones adored model. Today, Ruby models for commercial use in portrait, print, product, movement, athletic, bikini, and sample modeling. Ultimately, dance has been a greater shine in her life for many years and recognized amongst the dance community. Her confidence has driven her ability to perform at a very young age as she began learning the dance custom of her blended culture thanks again to the influence of her mother. Ruby began performing in carnival at the age of three while moving to the United States, she continued presenting herself in many cultural festivals representing her own identity. Her mom taught her cumbias from Colombia's traditional nationally celebrated dances as well as the mapale (a national African tribal celebrated dance of South America). Ruby's grandmother began teaching Italian traditional steps to the Tarantella when Ruby began preschool but did not began performing the traditional styles until she was in fourth grade but what she did learn at a young age was ballroom dance. By the time Ruby began Kindergarten, she was introduced to ballet & gymnastics.