Her paternal grandparents were Mexican muralist Francisco Mora and sculptor, painter, and printmaker Elizabeth Catlett.

Catlett described it as: That black marble head, Naima: we have twin granddaughters who came to stay with us one summer, they were studying Spanish.

Mora grew up near West McNichols and Schaefer on Detroit's northwest side and attended Bates Academy for middle school.

Over her stay, she was voted Covergirl of the Week ten times in a row, won four challenges, and received two first call-outs.

Mora had one appearance in the bottom two where she survived over eventual Cycle 17: All Stars contestant, Brittany Brower.

She has been seen on television as a guest on The Tyra Banks Show, on the second-season premiere of Veronica Mars, and in a CoverGirl commercial with Yoanna House.

[citation needed] Mora and Cycle 3's Ann Markley were Trophy Girls at the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards.

She got a showcard for Fashion Week SS09 and walked in the Project Runway Finale for designer Joe Farris.