Constance Marie: Barrier Breaker Constance Marie was born on September 9, 1965, in East Los Angeles. Her family struggled financially and moved frequently before settling in West Hollywood. Her parents divorced when she was just five years old, causing her to suffer from low self-esteem and abandonment issues. Growing up as a young Latina in a predominantly white neighborhood only heightened her emotional problems. In high school, Constance Marie enrolled in drama class but floundered onstage because of her shyness. She came out of her shell, however, when she began dancing in the underground club scene. Unfortunately, it also led her down a path of drinking and drug experimentation. Shortly after she graduated from high school, her all-star moves caught the eye of singer-choreographer Toni Basil, who helped Constance Marie to become one of the dancers on a David Bowie concert tour. Soon she found herself dancing in music videos, commercials and the 1988 feature film ""Salsa."" At 23, s
