Mala Wright first caught the acting bug at the tender age of four. She began reading at age three and used hanging bed sheets outside on the patio in the family’s backyard as a stage curtain. Mala would claim to be in a play, and she would sing and dance. Soon after that, her mother, Minnie, took her to various local theatre companies for stage work. Despite being able to read, Mala was too young to join. It wasn’t until she started Kindergarten that Mala first performed in a Christmas show. After stepping out on stage for the first time decked out in warm and cozy pajamas, Mala belted out a Christmas carol. And upon hearing the roar of the applause, this five-year-old was hooked.

With this energy, Mala later went on to appear in productions throughout her childhood and teen years. Her early appearances include local musicals and cable television appearances on telethons and showcases. In between auditioning and performing, she enrolled at the prestigious Villa Victoria Academy, where she attended from kindergarten through 12th grade. At Villa Victoria, Mala became the first minority to receive the Father Godfrey Memorial Scholarship Award. Mala also competed and modeled in pageants, winning finalist titles in the Hemisphere and NJ State Pageants. Also during this time, her artwork was exhibited and published locally in magazines and newspapers.

She followed up high school at Mercer County Community College, where she earned an Associate’s Degree in the Arts. After being awarded another academic scholarship, Wright transferred to Rider University, where she completed her studies with a Bachelor’s Degree in Radio and TV Communications. She studied Theatre and Music in Berlin, Germany, and London, England, through Rider’s Interim Studies Program, and she was inducted into Alpha Psi Omega, the National Honor Society for the Dramatic Arts. She went on to continue to compete in state pageants, winning first place talent and photogenic awards and titles for The Tri-State Hemisphere Pageant, which also won her another scholarship. Mala also won the title of Miss Jersey Hemisphere and was first runner up in the talent portion of the U.S. Show Biz Competition. She also sang in the backing chorus for music legend Ray Charles for the New Jersey State Lottery’s 30th year celebration.