Ayanna was born in Puerto Rico, but moved to Vermont at an early age. She had a troubled childhood, spending thirteen years in foster homes after her mother was judged to be mentally unfit to look after her and her two siblings. Ayanna has since become a spokeswoman for foster children.
She has appeared in the films Kate & Leopold (2001), Rennie's Landing (2001) and Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000) amongst others.