During the series, the former waitress touted her mixed African-American, Mexican, and Irish ethnicity and her Detroit upbringing. Her mohawk became her trademark.

Before the show, she was a coffee shop waitress. She moved from Detroit to New York to attend the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Naima helped hand out trophies at the 2005 primetime Emmy Awards. She has also appeared on the second season premiere of Veronica Mars.