Elise Falanga was born in Bayshore, New York and raised in Vernon, New Jersey. At age seven Elise acted in a stage production of "Annie" at the Playboy Club/Americana, Action Park, and the Sussex County Fair. Her professional career began at age thirteen when she was the second place winner at the "Star Search" competition in Atlantic City (she did a lip-sync line dance of a number from "Dreamgirls"). Falanga enrolled at the Weist Barron School of Film and Television Art at age thirteen. Moreover, Elise studied acting in high school, became a member of the New Jersey Thespian Society, and starred in a short film during her college years for a USC student. She finished her studies at the University of Rhode Island, where she earned a B.A. in French and Communication Studies. Falanga was featured in a bilingual Biggs-Rosati production of "Cyrano de Bergerac." In addition, Elise opened a New York office for a dot-com website. She took her savings from the dot-com venture and embarked on a month long self-discovery trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. Falanga has since returned to America and has acted in several independent movies in both leading and co-starring roles.