Tanika Ray serves as the New York based correspondent for the syndicated entertainment newsmagazine "Extra."  Delivering the most up to the minute celebrity news from her home base at Planet Hollywood in Times Square, Tanika has become one of Gotham's favorite entertainment reporters.

Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Los Angeles, Tanika knew at an early age she would thrive in the entertainment industry.  She began her career as a dancer performing with top music stars like Will Smith and Brandy and landing roles on such TV shows as "NYPD Blue,"  "Lois and Clark," "Living Single" and the "Wayans Bros." Just this year she appeared as herself on an episode of "All My Children."

Most recently Barbara Walters invited Tanika to fill the famous "fourth chair" twice as a guest host on "The View."  She is often requested to be an expert panelist on shows such as CNN's "Larry King Live" and MSNBC's "Live and Direct with Rita Crosby." In 2005, Tanika was a guest host for America's Next Top Model's popular post show webcast chat fest and as a judge, she presided over "The Tyra Banks Show" Male Underwear Model Search.

Earlier in her career, Tanika hosted Lifetime's makeover show "Head 2 Toe" for three seasons and was the co-host of the talk magazine show "Lifetime Now," where she dished about trends in entertainment, fashion, beauty, and travel.  Tanika also hosted "Soap News Update" and "Soap Center" both for the SOAPnet cable channel.

Tanika is committed to working a number of charitable endeavors into her busy schedule. In the past year she hosted Petra Nemcova's "Light of Hope" Tsunami benefit and presided over the Village Care of New York's Tulips and Pansies Headdress Affair, which raises money for New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.  Additionally, Tanika is involved with BRAG (Black Retail Action Group) and hosts their Annual Gala.  Plus any chance she gets, Tanika is dedicated to inspiring young women to live their dreams and follow their passions.

Tanika earned a Bachelor of Art degree in theater arts from Spelman College in Atlanta and studied theater at New York University.