In October 2007 Michelle was sentenced to 180 days imprisonment after admitting to failing to complete community service obligations despite a signed document stating she had.
In 2006 Michelle was sent to jail for violating her drink-driving probation. Her sentence was to spend 60 days in prison but she served only four hours and 27 minutes of her term before being released because the LA institution was too crowded.
Michelle's first acting audition was for Girlfight. She was successful and beat out 350 other girls for the role of 'Diana Guzman' in the film; many of them had prior acting experience while she did not.
Michelle: Whenever a female takes a strong stand for herself, the majority of the time they have to really, really narrow it down to being feminine and wearing dresses and just being lipstick chic.
Michelle: I took the GED, and left the option open to go to school. I did go to business school but left after four months because I just didn't want to be a puppet of society, stuck in an office, craving some sunlight.
Michelle: When I was about, I'd say, 18 or 19 years old, I wanted to be a part of the CIA just because they know those intimate secrets... So I was just always into knowing. I like to know things.