Trivia

In September 2012, Rivera was signed to Elton John's management company.

Was of half Puerto Rican, one quarter African-American, and one quarter German descent.

Auditioned for American Idol (2002), but didn't make the cut.

Had a son: Josey Dorsey (b. September 17, 2015) with ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey.

Took up songwriting at the age of 15.

Was at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch twice. She was invited by Jackson's niece, who she met while auditioning when Rivera was younger.

Unlike their characters on Glee (2009), Rivera and co-star Kevin McHale were very close friends. They gave each other "Bee" as a nickname.

Died by drowning on 8 July of 2020 after renting a pontoon boat on Lake Piru (Ventura County, California), with her four-year-old son Josey. The child, who had a life preserver on, reported she went for a short swim but never came back.

In May 2011, Rivera signed a record contract with Columbia Records.

As a baby, Rivera appeared in commercials for Kmart, but her first significant acting job was at the age of four when she starred as Hillary Winston in the sitcom The Royal Family (1991).

Was on the verge of quitting acting before she got her role in Glee (2009).

Younger sister, Nickayla Rivera, called her "Little Sonic", because of her "off-the-charts energy" when she got excited.

Released her first single, "Sorry" ft. Big Sean, on September 17, 2013.

Had 6 tattoos. They included a small bow on the back of her neck, the word "Love" written in Hebrew on the inside of her right wrist, a large cross on her lower back, a small peace sign on the inside of her left ankle, and a shooting star on the top of her right foot.

Her real-life best friends were Glee (2009) co-star, Heather Elizabeth Morris, who played her best friend in the show as well, and Glee (2009) co-executive producer, John Peter Kousakis (a.k.a. Telly Kousakis).

Was an avid reader and dedicated time to various charitable organizations.

Rivera's younger brother, Mychal Rivera, has started as tight end, #81, for the Tennessee Volunteers football team. And in 2013 he was the 184th pick in round 6 of the NFL Draft. He debuted in 2013 as a tight end, #81, for the Oakland Raiders.

While joking around one day, she made up a celebratory dance that is now known as "The Naya Dance".

In 2016 she wrote her memoir "Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes & Growing Up.".

Revealed in her autobiography "Sorry Not Sorry" that she had an abortion in 2010, after discovering that she was pregnant with the child of Ryan Dorsey who she had split from at that time. She and Dorsey later married in 2014, and started a family together.

When she was 17, she worked as a greeter at Abercrombie & Fitch but quit to take a job selling memberships at Lake Elizabeth Golf & Ranch Club.

In December 2011, Rivera became the new face of Proactiv Solution.

Signed her autograph as a heart with her first name followed.

In 2002, she appeared in the music video for B2K's "Why I Love You".

Los Angeles, CA, USA: Recording for her first solo album under Columbia Records (January 2012)

Had a younger sister, Nickayla Rivera, who models.

Mother Yolanda was a former model.

Confirmed in her memoir, "Sorry Not Sorry", that Smart Guy (1997) actor Tahj Mowry was her first boyfriend. The pair dated for four years between 2000 to 2004 when they were teenagers.

In 2012, Rivera held her #1 rank on AfterEllen's Hot 100 list.

Her first concert was going to see No Doubt.

As a teenager, Rivera loved The Simple Life (2003) and wanted to be like Paris Hilton. She convinced her dad to let her get a little dog like Paris, who she named Kally.

In 2012, she ranked #27 on the Maxim Hot 100 list.

In 2011, she ranked #1 on AfterEllen's Hot 100 list.

Daughter of George Rivera.

In 2010, she ranked #61 on the Maxim Hot 100 list.

In 2011, she ranked #43 on the Maxim Hot 100 list & ranked #1 on AfterEllen's Hot 100 list.

She was a lifelong liberal Democrat.