Chance Perez

"When I was growing up, people always asked me what I wanted to be. They were telling me that I should be a singer or performer and I liked that idea. It was something I always loved but even as a little kid around 10 years old, I never thought that could be a career. I thought that there's only certain people who get to do that. I'm not those artists, I don't know if I'll ever be those artists, but it's always been something that I loved."

Chance Nickolas Perez (born November 10, 1997) is an American actor, musician, and model. He was affiliated with the boy band, In Real Life, from 2017-2020. He made his debut as an actor in the Power Rangers franchise, playing the role of Javi Garcia/the Black Power Ranger. Raised in California, he has harbored a deep passion for music since he was a child. He was inspired by his father, a musician himself, whom Chance lost when he was only eight years old. He has cited his father to be his greatest inspiration.

Early life
Perez was born on November 10, 1997, to Shawnee Lanee Perez (née Brown) and Albert Louie Perez Jr. He has two sisters: Aspen Kaye Perez (born January 4, 1995) and Presley Kaye Perez (born February 25, 2002). They lived in a small apartment when Chance was growing up, and his father would sing to him and his sister. When he was eight years old, his father died from kidney cancer and the family faced several difficulties. His mother raised him and his sisters by herself.

Perez attended and graduated from Los Alamitos High School. He admitted he fell asleep during most classes. Graduating high school early, he was not able to receive a class ring, so his mother gave him his father's blue class ring.

2014-2016: The Boyband Project and America's Got Talent
From 2014-2015, Perez was in a band called The Boyband Project with four other members: Jordan Perez, Aaron Pierce, Tyler Reardon and Colton Stevens. He was still in his teens at that time, earning his GED after his sophomore year. In late 2015, Perez formed the band The WVKE with Jordan Perez and Tyler Reardon, appearing as contestants in the eleventh season of NBC's America's Got Talent. In the audition phase, they were buzzed by the judges Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum but received criticism from Simon Cowell, which ultimately led to their elimination.

After the birth of his daughter, Perez departed from the band to search for a stable career. He began as a certified emergency medical technician to eventually work as a firefighter, and would attend classes at Santa Ana College.

2017-2020: In Real Life
In 2017, Perez auditioned for ABC's Boy Band, a new music competition show produced by Matador Content. Back then his choir director suggested for him to appear in an episode of the Steve Harvey show as a backup singer. There, he was approached by one of the casting agents of Boy Band and at first declined, but was convinced by his friends and family to participate. He sang Queen's "Somebody to Love" and immediately caught the attention of the three judges, Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter, the Spice Girls' Emma Bunton, and Timbaland. He, along with Brady Tutton, Drew Ramos, Sergio Calderon, and Conor Michael Smith were announced the winners and signed with Hollywood Records as In Real Life.

On January 26, 2019, Major Model Management announced over their Instagram account of representing Chance Perez. Perez declared:

"So happy to say that I'm being represented by @majormodelsny Never done this before, but I'm excited for what's to come! Thank you for giving me the opportunity."

In January 2020, In Real Life announced going on a hiatus, all pursuing their solo careers.

2020-present: Acting and music
Over social media, Perez announced that he had been casted as the Black Dino Fury Ranger in the television series, Power Rangers Dino Fury, that he kept as a secret for months. It is his first pursuit into acting. He also revealed upcoming music to be released. In March 2021, he posted the single, "Bad", that he is featured on, being released on April 1. His singles "Can't Trust Summer" (August) and "Stay Golden" (October) were released.

Music style and influences
Perez has cited the Jackson 5 to be his musical influence along with Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, and Jon Bellion. His father was his greatest inspiration to start singing.

Personal life
"There was troubles, you know, in our relationship with my daughter's mom. I was thinking my heart - I didn't know what to do differently, because you know, we were young. When we split I didn't really let myself feel anything, and... I just kind of accepted that it happened, and it took me two months to even try to do anything about it. And by that time it was too late. You know, I just kind of blocked that out."

Perez dated Emma Smith during high school. He was 17 and Smith was 16 at the time when she became pregnant. She later gave birth to their daughter, whom they named Brooklyn Louise Smith (born July 10, 2015). After that, the priorities in Perez's life began to change. Perez has 50% custody of Brooklyn and has a close relationship with Brooklyn's mother. As time went on, in 2020, they publicly revealed their relationship, getting back together. They are known as 'Chemma' in the fandom.

Quotes

 * "Hi, I'm Chance Perez. And my perfect date will depend on what you would like. What your interests are. What you appreciate; and I will appreciate you while taking you the places you love."
 * "If you drink hair spray, it's good for you."
 * "My favorite princess? Mulan, she saved China. I mean, Snow White is cool and all, she's the fairest in the land, good for her, but Mulan saved China. So... beat that."

Tattoos

 * Main article: Chance Perez/Tattoos

Trivia

 * His height is 5'10.
 * Over an Instagram livestream, he revealed his name would have been "Jet".
 * His favorite food is sushi.
 * His favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
 * His favorite meal is the meal after the gym.
 * His favorite school subjects are P.E. and Show Choir.
 * His biggest fear is spiders — he is allergic to them, being bitten by them twice.
 * His prized possession is his dad's class ring.