Background

Tammy Rivera was born on July 30, 1986. She was born in Tappahannock, Virginia but was raised in Dallas, Texas. Rivera grew up without her father, Oscar Rivera as he was serving 30 years in prison. Tammy Rivera’s nationality is American but her ethnicity is black and Nicaraguan.

In a 2016 Instagram post, Rivera explained that she grew up without her father and he was not in her life due to his prison time. However, she mentioned that she finally began to get to know her father for the first time in her life and she posted a screenshot of a heartfelt message that her father wrote about her. Her message on Instagram was “It’s been a lil over a year now that I’ve been getting to know my father for the first time in my life! Never knew that this man loved me sooo much, even tho all my life my mother and other family would tell me how much he loved me and how I was his only child.”

Rivera also wrote that throughout her life her father believed that she resented him for not being at home but she explained to her followers that she always loved him and always planned to take care of him once he was released from prison, “For 30 years he sat in prison thinking I hated him or was angry at him and for 30 years all I thought was when I get in position. Ima make sure he wants for nothing in there and that he has the best lawyers. Well now that time his came. #MoneyOnHisBooksEveryMonth like clockwork #FREEOSCARRIVERA Just thought I’d share a piece of me with you.”

Television Star

Tammy had her first time in the limelight when she starred in the reality television show called Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. This television show is broadcasted by VH1, a cable network that belongs to Viacom Media Networks. The show started in 2012 and has aired for more than six seasons. Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta follows the lives of some elite women and men in Atlanta involved in the entertainment industry but has a specific focus on the hip hop industry. It covers the drama that goes on with their friends, children, families and coworkers.

Tammy starred as herself on the show for three seasons 2014-2017 in 59 episodes. She also was in the special edition episode, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: After Party Live! in 2015. Her presence in the show caught the eyes of the audience, gaining more viewers for the series. The producers of the reality series knew how to capitalize on her image and character.

Fashion Designer Career

In 2015, Rivera started a swimwear line called "T-Rivera". The T-Rivera website describes its clothing brand as "The swimwear line features all sizes for women taking a fashion forward approach. Its inspiring designs & patterns are cutting edge, yet constructed to hug all those delicious curves in the right way to beautifully accentuate the female body".