Alexa PenaVega: From Spy Kid to Bold Soul Winner

If you grew up in the early 2000s, there’s a high chance you remember Spy Kids. And if you remember Spy Kids, then you definitely remember Carmen Cortez — the fierce, fearless, tech-savvy spy kid who basically carried our childhoods.

But did you know that behind the big screen, Alexa PenaVega has been walking a powerful journey of faith, healing, and radical obedience to God?

Born in 1988 in Miami, Florida, Alexa Ellesse PenaVega is a Colombian-American actress, singer, pianist, wife, and mother. She first won many hearts in Spy Kids, especially Spy Kids 3D: Game Over — arguably one of the greatest movies of all time. You may also recognize her from films like Sleepover (2004) and From Prada to Nada.

But what many may not know is that this once teen star is now a light in the world of Christian cinema — frequently starring in faith-based films alongside her husband, Carlos PenaVega (singer of the boy band Big Time Rush, whom she married in 2014). And yes, watching Mr. Manhattan on a projector screen with a Shake Shack burger and a chocolate caramel milkshake? Certified banger.

A Heart That Always Knew

Alexa shared that she always felt God calling her — even when others didn’t quite understand the connection.

“I grew up in a Christian household,” she explained, “but it wasn’t common to read the Bible or have much dialogue about the context of God’s word.”

Even though her home was Christian in name, the depth of God’s word wasn’t explored. But God never stopped pursuing her. After going through a divorce (prior to marrying Carlos), Alexa hit a crossroads. She made the conscious decision to truly seek God — to know Him for who He really is.

She admitted, “I openly claimed the title of being a Christian, but didn’t read often or understand the Bible.” That all began to change when she started diving deep into Scripture and began to see the fruit that came from truly knowing God's Word.

Faith in the Spotlight

Finding real Christian community in Hollywood wasn’t easy. Alexa described the entertainment industry as a place where many people either quietly believe or live out what she called a “lukewarm faith.”

In an interview with CBN News, she recalled,

“Before I would be timid about bringing up God in a conversation. Jesus was off limits. I was terrified to bring up the J word.”

It was only when she began surrounding herself with other kingdom-filled believers that her boldness began to grow. Their faith fueled her own, and it inspired a complete shift in her career path — choosing more Christian-based roles while still engaging in redemption-based storytelling in secular films.

Wrestling With the Flesh

Even as her faith matured, Alexa was still deeply battling an eating disorder. She described a heartbreaking season of isolation while doing a Broadway show in New York:

“I would literally be reading the Bible while binge eating. I have a distinct memory of being in New York on my own. I was doing a Broadway show out there but I actually hated myself. Because all I wanted to do was eat food and throw it up. I had no friends. I was alone. I felt like it was the one thing I could control and yet I had no control over it, and it was this vicious cycle of like, ‘Lord, I’m going to read the Bible’ without understanding God… I would read the Bible while I’m binging and purging and none of it made sense.”

She pleaded with God for healing:

“I’m like ‘God, I don’t want this anymore. I need you to take it from me ‘cause I’m not strong enough. Like, I’m just not. I just know I’m not. I need you to take it from me.’”

Healing came slowly — not overnight — but over years of prayer, struggle, and surrender. Through a Bible study group, God began to work on her heart posture. One day, she woke up and realized something had changed:

“It was as if somebody moved out of my heart.”

And just like that, the disorder that once ruled her thoughts was gone — not by willpower, but by God's grace.

Beauty from Ashes

In 2024, Alexa and Carlos faced unimaginable heartbreak when their fourth child, Indy, was stillborn. But even in the depths of grief, Alexa encountered God’s presence.

During an interview with Stream Studio, she described a vision God gave her:

“I closed my eyes and the Lord gave me this insane vision. I was laying in the bed and Indy was next to me and they [the medical staff] were trying to resuscitate her. The room was filled with angels around every single person in the room, but Indy was in God’s arms. But she was alive in His arms. Even though she was no longer living next to me, she was alive in His arms. But God was weeping. All the angels were weeping… it gave me a whole new perspective of God — of where when we weep, He weeps, because He’s heartbroken for His children even though He knew that she was fully alive with Him.”

This vision brought her supernatural peace through the Holy Spirit. It didn't erase the pain, but it gave her comfort knowing God weeps with us and meets us exactly where we are.

Alexa PenaVega: A Faith That Speaks Louder

Alexa believes one of the best ways to evangelize isn’t always with words — it’s with your walk.

“It’s the curiosity of how you can have so much peace in the midst of the storm that can bring someone into wanting to know about Christ.”

Her closing words serve as a powerful encouragement:

“The thing I was missing in my faith was the Word of God — for real. But understanding the Word of God. Going into depth. Because I had faith. I knew that God was there for me. So I had my shield of faith, but I didn’t have the sword, which is the Word of God.”

If Alexa’s story stirred something in your spirit and you want to hear more testimonies like this, check out our other Archive Testimonies here on the blog.

Or dive into The Archives of BFF Vol. 1: 35 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Idolize — a compelling Christian fiction novel about a fictional all-star music group navigating faith and fame while exposing their secret lives to their die-hard fans.

Let their stories inspire your own.