[2] Polanco was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic,[3][4] and moved to the United States at a young age.

[7][11] She attended BIH Studios in New York, and while there was signed by the talent agency Shirley Grant Management.

[14] In 2013, Polanco appeared in the independent film Gimme Shelter before returning to her role on Orange Is the New Black for the show's second season.

From 2021 to 2022, she voiced Ms. Camilla Torres, the mother of Winston who owns a record shop, in the animated series Karma's World.

[8][18] Her daughter portrayed a younger version of Polanco's character in the fifth season of Orange is the New Black.