Tricia was born in Los Angeles, California. Her mother is from El Salvador and her father is from Ecuador. She grew up speaking Spanish at home and learned English for the first time in elementary school. When she was six years old, her family decided to move from L.A to a nearby suburb in order to give her a better education.
Being so close to Hollywood, Tricia pursued a brief acting career as a child. It was during this time when she first learned that she would be treated differently simply for being Latina. Her talent agent urged her to change her last name from Montalvo to a more “American” name like McLaine in order to be considered for more mainstream parts. At this young age the world was telling Tricia that her true self was not good enough.

Tricia at six years old