Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Vanita is the youngest of four children. A gifted child, at eight she was playing the piano and taking tap lessons. By the time she was eleven years old, Vanita had dreams of acting. She attended the Cleveland School of the Arts and went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Vanita performed on Broadway in the rousing musical, Once On This Island and was nominated for the prestigious Helen Hayes Award. She remained with the production going on the national tour.

Vanita's oldest brother, Gary, recently collaborated with Vanita on her latest project, a music CD. Vanita wrote the lyrics for Love Showed Me the Way, Gary composed the music and together they arranged it. Vanita enjoys playing the piano, walking on the beach with her husband and spending time with the newest addition to their family, son Ezra.