Born in Vallejo, California, raised in Captain Cook, Hawaii by her
maternal grandmother and step-grandfather, orphaned at 11, and
emancipated at 15, Mahal Montoya attended the University of California,
Berkeley where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She
completed her law degree at the University of Iowa and holds a Master
of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University.
Mahal made her theatrical debut as "Hazel Niles" in the Role Players
Ensemble Theater Production of Eugene O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes
Electra" fall of 2011.