Steffiana De La Cruz Ethnicity: Filipino-American Heritage and Background

Steffiana De La Cruz — born Stephanie Anna Marie Zantua — is an American actress and model best known as the wife of comedian and actor Kevin James. While she may live in the spotlight largely due to her marriage, Steffiana has her own career and a deeply rooted Filipino-American heritage that defines much of who she is. Born on August 25, 1975, her birth name Zantua is a distinctly Filipino surname, reflecting her parents' origins in the Philippines.

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Is Steffiana De La Cruz Mixed Race?

Based on available information, Steffiana De La Cruz appears to be of Filipino descent on both sides of her family. Her birth surname "Zantua" is a Filipino family name, and her features and background align with her Filipino-American heritage. She does not appear to be biracial in the traditional sense, though like many Filipinos, her ancestry may include some Spanish or Chinese admixture as part of the broader Filipino ethnic composition (Filipino people are themselves a blend of Malay, Spanish, Chinese, and other influences from centuries of colonial history).

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Steffiana De La Cruz's Ethnicity: Filipino-American

The Philippines has one of the world's most complex ethnic histories. Filipinos are predominantly of Austronesian (Malay) descent, but centuries of Spanish colonization (1565–1898), Chinese merchant immigration, and American colonial influence have created a deeply blended people. Steffiana's Filipino heritage thus encompasses this rich tapestry.

Her stage name "De La Cruz" is itself a Spanish-derived surname extremely common in the Philippines — a legacy of the Spanish colonial practice of assigning Catholic saints' surnames to Filipino families. This dual identity (Zantua by birth, De La Cruz as her professional name) reflects the Filipino experience of navigating indigenous, colonial, and modern identities.

She grew up in the United States as a Filipino-American, part of one of the largest Asian-American communities in the country. The Filipino-American community has a long history in the U.S., with significant populations in California, Hawaii, and major urban centers across the country.

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Father's Side: Filipino Heritage

Steffiana's paternal family carries the surname Zantua, which is a Filipino surname. Her father is understood to be of Filipino descent, likely from the Luzon or Visayas regions of the Philippines where many Filipino-Americans trace their ancestry. Specific details about her paternal grandparents are not in the public record, but the Filipino naming conventions of her birth name suggest her father's family maintained strong ties to Filipino culture and heritage.

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Mother's Side: Filipino Heritage

Similarly, Steffiana's maternal side is believed to be of Filipino descent. Many Filipino-American families of her generation (born in the 1970s) came to the United States following the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which opened the door to large-scale Filipino immigration to America. Her mother's family likely made this journey, bringing with them the deeply Catholic, family-centered values characteristic of Filipino culture.

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Grandparents

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Nationality: American

Steffiana De La Cruz was born in the United States and is an American citizen. She has spent her entire life in America, building a career in acting and modeling. She holds no dual citizenship information in the public record.

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Spouse and Children

Steffiana married comedian and actor Kevin James on June 19, 2004. The couple has four children together:

• Sienna-Marie James (born 2005)
• Shea Joelle James (born 2007)
• Kannon Valentine James (born 2009)
• Sistine Sabella James (born 2012)

The couple is known for maintaining a relatively private family life despite Kevin James's high public profile. They have been married for over two decades, a rarity in Hollywood.

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Celebrity's Own Words

Steffiana has spoken warmly about her family and Filipino roots in interviews. On raising children with Kevin James, she has noted the importance of family values that reflect both her Filipino-American background and their shared Catholic faith:

"Family is everything to us. That's how I was raised — family first. Kevin and I both feel that way, and that's what we want our kids to grow up understanding."

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Is Steffiana De La Cruz Alive?

Yes, Steffiana De La Cruz is alive as of 2026. Born in 1975, she is 50 years old. She continues to appear occasionally in projects alongside her husband Kevin James and maintains her role as a mother and actress.

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Visual Family Tree

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Sources

• Public biographical records and entertainment databases
• IMDb profile for Steffiana De La Cruz
• People magazine coverage of Kevin James and Steffiana De La Cruz
• Filipino-American historical immigration records
• Screen Actors Guild records