Gabrielle Monique Union (born October 29, 1972) is an American actress and former model. Among her notable roles is as the cheerleader opposite Kirsten Dunst's in the film Bring it On. Union also starred opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the blockbuster film Bad Boys II and played a medical doctor in the CBS drama series City of Angels. She also starred with L.L. Cool J and Meagan Good in "Deliver Us from Eva" in 2003.

Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska. However, at the age of 8, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended high school. In high school, Union was an all-star point guard and a year round athlete participating in soccer, basketball, and track. After high school, Gabrielle attended college at University of Nebraska, where she played on the soccer team; and then later transferred to Cuesta College. Eventually she ended up at UCLA. On her way to law school, just planning on being a working stiff, things started to happen during her senior year. Gabrielle had a college internship at a L.A. modeling agency, she thought it would be an easy way to pick up some extra credits. Little did she know that clients were eying the help. Upon the completion of the internship, she was asked to become a client with the agency. Gabby thought of it as a great way to pay off a stack of college loans, and modeled until her agent found that she could actually act. Her first audition/job was landed without any headshots, on "Saved by the Bell" (1989). Since then she has went on to have many small but substantial film roles and has guest starred on several hit TV shows, all before landing the role of Dr. Courtney Ellis, on CBS' short-lived medical drama "City of Angels" (2000). Although she plays parts that are opinionated and strong, Gabrielle believes that, "Hollywood needs to recognize all shades of African American beauty." Gabrielle is a graduate of UCLA with honors, in sociology. She is married to NFL player Chris Howard.