Masiela Lusha

Masiela Lusha is an actress, author, producer, and humanitarian whose journey from child refugee to entertainer spans multiple industries, including television, film, literature, and philanthropy. Lusha and her family left Albania as refugees, moving to Budapest and Vienna before settling in Michigan. English became her fourth language, following Albanian, Hungarian, and German. At age 12, she began a modeling career in Michigan and, after a brief period in local theater, was discovered by a Hollywood agent during an open call in Detroit. Lusha graduated from high school at 15 and was accepted as a junior to the University of California, Los Angeles, majoring in English.

Lusha is best known for her lead role as Carmen Lopez on the ABC/Warner Bros. series "George Lopez." She has appeared in more than 30 film and television projects, earning two consecutive Young Artist Awards for Leading Young Actress in a Comedy or Drama. While working on "George Lopez," Lusha voiced Nina on the PBS series "Clifford's Puppy Days." Her film credits include starring in Sony Pictures' "Blood: The Last Vampire" and appearing in SyFy’s television movie "Sharknado: The 4th Awakens." Lusha has also appeared on NBC's "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" and TNT's "Anger Management."

As an author, Lusha has published five books of poetry—"Inner Thoughts," "Drinking the Moon," "Amore Celeste," "The Call," and "The Living Air"—as well as the novel "The Besa" and two children's books. She has been recognized as the youngest author to publish a book in two languages and was named among the top ten talented poets for North America for her first book, "Inner Thoughts." Lusha has also translated poems and prayers by Mother Teresa and received public recognition from former President Bill Clinton for her poetry.

Lusha credits her early experiences as a refugee for inspiring her humanitarian work. She founded the Children of the World Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing food, shelter, and education to families in need. As ambassador for Scholastic's "Read for Life," Lusha has participated in national public service announcements and reads to schoolchildren across the United States. She has served as ambassador for Sentebale and as goodwill ambassador for the World Assembly of Youth, and is an advocate for UN Women. Lusha is a speaker on topics including immigration, diversity, poetry, and women's health, combining her artistic career with ongoing humanitarian efforts.